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311 was formed in 1990 in Omaha, Nebraska by five self-described "friends for life" (singer/guitarist Nick Hexum, singer S.A. Martinez, guitarist Tim Mahoney, drummer Chad Sexton and the bassist known only as P-Nut), whose common link was a passion for both music and life that eventually brought them together to make music with a positive message behind it. After gigging locally (and by all reports quickly conquering the local music scene there), the quintet moved to Los Angeles, where they signed with Capricorn Records in 1991.
Since that time, 311 have released several albums, including 1992's Music, 1993's Grassroots, and 1995's 311 (aka the "Blue" album), the latter reaching number 12 on the album chart, selling three million copies worldwide, and sporting the tracks "All Mixed Up" and "Down."
In 1996, following a non-stop year of touring, the band released Enlarged to Show Detail, a home video of live performances taken from amphitheater shows in Kansas City and Denver, as well behind-the-scenes looks at life on the road. That the video has been certified platinum in sales is strong testament to the unique relationship the band has with its fans. In 1997, Transistor, a double album of new songs on one CD, was released, and the group mounted its most ambitious tour yet, a worldwide stretch of concerts intended to enlarge the band's already large and loyal fan base. "When we first started the band, we were always sure something good was going to happen," says drummer Chad Sexton, "and we've never gone backwards in any way since." Live followed in 1998, and a year later, 311 returned with Soundsystem. The band jumped to Volcano for From Chaos, which appeared in summer 2001, and followed that with Evolver two years later. By now 311 had been together over ten years, and they celebrated with a Greatest Hits comp. Released in July 2004, it included all of their hit singles, a few new tracks, and the band's gracefully-reggaeing cover of the Cure's "Love Song," originally from the soundtrack to Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore's 50 First Dates. 311 came back with new material in August 2005 with the Don't Tread on Me LP. ~ Cub Koda, All Music Guide
311 eyeing time off after tour
Frontman Nick Hexum says it's not an indefinite hiatus, but rather an exercise in musical creativity.
It's not a farewell gambit of any kind, but 311 may be taking some time off when it finishes touring to promote its 2005 album, Don't Tread on Me.
311's Nick Hexum
The frontman of the funk-rock-rap group, Nick Hexum, said he foresees the group taking its first extended break since 1998, when 311 built its own studio.
"It's time for a step," he explained. "I wouldn't feel satisfied if our next album can be so closely compared to our last one. I think it's time for a little bit of a break and a little time away from each other, not out of necessity but as a pre-emptive thing, before we get sick of it.
"At certain points you have you have these revelations of, like, 'OK, this is where we need to go,"' he continued. "I think we need to step back and I need to talk to the guys and we need to think about that for awhile."
Hexum noted that it is "a risk to let your name die down by stepping out of the spotlight a bit. But I feel like our roots are so solid that if we took a little time off, that'd be OK."
Hexum plans to fill his time with other projects, including the LiberalHexum.org Web site he launched to discuss global warming and other environmental issues. Musically he plans to return to the ongoing concern of "continuing my musical education"--primarily by recording reggae-fied covers of songs by Nat "King" Cole, Chet Baker, and "a really eclectic variety of stuff," he said.
"I've been doing some jazz standards but also some rock and pop things," Hexum said. "Me and Dryden [Mitchell] from Alien Ant Farm got together and did an Edie Brickell song, so there's a lot of different things."
Whether any of these recordings will ever be released "remains to be seen," according to Hexum, though he said there are "no plans" to do so at the time. Mostly, he said, it's a creative exercise.
"I haven't had the bolt of lightning hit me that I get when I write my best music," he explained, "so in order to keep my chops up and so forth, doing the covers is a great way to practice."
311 is currently touring with the Wailers and has dates booked into early September.
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