1. What is 311?
311 is a musical band. They are a combination of rap, grunge, punk and the L.A. style music.
2. Where is 311 from?
311 is from Omaha Nebraska, although many people think that they are from California.
3. Does 311's name stand for the KKK?
No, It is widely belived 311's name represents the KKK. They think it was chosen to spell KKK, 3 times the
11th letter in the alphabet, which happens to be 'K'. On MTV the showed a short home video where one of the
band members said "Hey, this is what we think of the KKK." then he flicked the camera off.
4. Where does 311's name come from?
311's name comes from the Nebraska police code for indecent exposurer. It is also some type of code that
supports the legalization of marijuana, all members openly smoke marijuana.
1.What is the "NAZZ"?
the answer come directly from P-Nut:
'The Nazz--that's taken from a guy named Lord Buckley who is our guitar tech's(Trevor Cole)grandfather. He was like a Vaudeville kind of speaker. He was right before the whole beatnik thing where people would just get up and tell stories. And one of his most famous ones was called "the Nazz". It's about Jesus of Nazareth. I love that song!'
2.What is meant by "drugstore cowgirl"?
Hexum is referring to the use of over the counter medicines/drugs to get high.It is usually a desperate measure to stay high(...so afraid of getting bored..)
3.What is the noise at the end of Galaxy?
It is Scott Ralston saying, "there is just no denying it, that was it" and Chad Sexton says, "yeah"
4.What are the 9 unreleased tracks(b-sides) from Transistor?
Earth People,Grifters,The Quickening,Everything(reggae),Writer's Block Party(pnuts song),Space Funk,Old Funk,Whiteman(Clash Tribute song),To The Future
5.What are the 8 B-sides from the blue album?
Tribute,Gap,Let The Cards Fall,Firewater,JUAN BOND,Whos Got The Herb,Outside,and an untitled instrumental
6.What is Battlestations?
It is the title of a Dance/Hip-Hop mix Cd. It features Nick Hexum as DJ Lofton on tracks 4,5,6
7.Were the guys in any bands before 311?
Back in 1988, many of the boys played in a band called UNITY. They recorded a tape in Hexum's dad's basement on a four track.Hexum played bass and sang, Mahoney played guitar, Sexton on drums and percussion, and Ward Bones on keyboard. Ward also played keys on 311's album Dammit! in 1990.There was also a band called The Eds that featured Hexum and Sexton and possibly Mahoney.
8.Where and when was the first 311 show?
It was at Sokol Hall just south of Omaha, where they opened for Fugazi on 6-10-90
9.What was 311's first video?
Do You Right in 1993
10.Where was it shot at?
Cali and Omaha---Omaha sites included the Children's Museum, the Lied Jungle and the Henry Doorly Zoo, the Old Market and a wonderful free concert at Sokol Hall.
11.What is this I hear about your RV catching on fire?
During a trip from Missouri to Kansas City on I-44, Hexum was driving the RV when he noticed it was running hot.When he pulled over, he saw smoke and flames near the gas tank. The guys tried to rescue the equipment, but the RV exploded; the van caught fire and both burned along the interstate. Traffic was backed up for 2 miles! Everything was lost and several minor injuries sustained, but 311 regrouped quickly and headlined one day later at the SHARKFEST at Sharky's Brewery in Omaha with borrowed equipment and lots of determination. And the tour continued thru the fall.
12.When did the 311 hotline come along?
In August of 1993 it was formed. It is a free call except the cost of regular long distance. There also used to be a second 800 number to 311 fanclub members.
13.Who is Terrence Henry in Silver? (see my interview i did with Hexum)
14.What is that on the cover of Grassroots?
It's been told that it is either a rusty barrel or a fungus growing on the side of a dumpster or a metaphor of an instant in space/time. And the girl on the poster isnt a band members girlfriend and never was.
15.What is the song LOSE about?
I dont remember the 2 peoples names that the song is about, but it is dedicated to the memory of 2 lost friends of the band.
16.How well did Grassroots do as an album?
It debuted at #193 of 200 in album sales and appeared for 6 straight weeks on the HEATSEEKERS chart. Both MUSIC and GRASSROOTS have been in the SoundScan Top 50 newcomer albums.
17.How does 311 write new songs?
tim-"sometimes i figure new riffs in my head and then figure it out on guitar; sometimes riffs come out when i am playing."
sa-"put on a good beat and write to it.I'm down"
chad-"i write new music in my head,and then i put it to the instruments"
18.Has Ron St. Germain done work for anyone else other than 311?
He produced and/or mixed for: bad brains,living colour,tool,sonic youth,killing joke,soup dragons,soundgarden,buffalo tom,green apple quick step,jimi hendrix,souls at zero,driving&crying,keziah jones,dillon fence,buck pets,and more.
19.Who created the 311 logo?
Pawn Shop Press--a graphics/design/video company. THey did the art direction for GRASSROOTS album. They directed the Homebrew video. They also designed the Cypress Hill logo. The 2 founders are Jay Papke adn Dante Ariola--great artists and friends of 311.
20.Has 311 ever seen any UFO's?
No-but Sa claims to have had an out of body experience when he was in high school
21.What is Ginseng?
this came straight from Hexum,"Ginsing clothing is not a 311 venture, but a seperate way to get clothes I dreamed up with my partner,Brian Smith(pro in-line skater).I figure I gotta wear clothes(sometimes) so I might as well make em up. I'm into polyester materials and Chinese and Hawaiian styles. It will be ready for next summer(96)
22.Why does Hexum hang the least with the fans these days?
according to Yeti--he is trying to avoid temptation, and the easiest way to avoid that is not to be in a situation where there are alot of girls and so on.(this is in reference to nick's girlfriend Kiplyn;he doesnt wanna make her jealous.
23.What are them damn lyrics in the post chorus to Gap?
Many people have their own thoughts as to what this is saying, but according to Hexum, they are saying "eat smoked fish,that is my favorite dish"
24.What does the band say about their mixed styles of music?
In an email from Hexum he quoted "The future of music is to cross two different styles.That's what we're all about."
25.What is 311 like off stage?
I have hung out with the band on a few occasions and all I can say is they feel like really good friends of yours when you talk to them. They are the most fan caring people I ever heard of. I feel very fortunate to have had a chance to speak to all of them.
26.Is 311 involved in any organizations?
311 donated part of the proceeds from their 6-18 and 6-19-96 shows to "Artists for a hate free America"(AHFA)311 are honorary members of this organization. To get involved call 1-800-2What2Do