History[edit]

Early recordings (1988 1992)[edit]

311's first independent release was the Downstairs EP, which was recorded in 198
9 in Nick Hexum's basement. Unlike many of their releases, it had no cover art.
It features the song "Feels So Good," which evolved with altered lyrics, to beco
me one of their signature songs, recreated/remastered in the album Music, which
became a staple of most of 311's live shows.[6]
In 1990, 311 produced their second independent release, Dammit!, recorded at IEV
Studios in Papillion, NE and is often considered 311's first official album.
In 1991, 311 released their third independent release, Unity, recorded at Rainbo
w Recording Studios, Omaha, which was released with far greater numbers than the
ir first release Dammit!, which was also recorded in 1989 and released in the fo
llowing year. While Dammit! only printed 300 cassettes, Unity had 1000 CDs and 5
00 cassettes printed and was distributed through consignment and also sold at sh
ows.[7] The band began to headline shows in local clubs, such as The Ranch Bowl
and Sokol Auditorium, and became a local success.
In 1992, S.A. Martinez, who had been making various appearances with 311 over th
e past years as a vocalist, was officially asked to join the band. 311 recorded
a six-track demo, called Hydroponic, also recorded at Rainbow Recording Studios,
and moved to Los Angeles. Within their first few months, 311 was signed to Capr
icorn Records.
311 considers their first show to be held on June 10, 1990, opening for Fugazi i
n Omaha, NE, at the Sokol Auditorium.
Music and Grassroots (1993 1994)[edit]
Their first major record, Music was released in 1993. The single "Do You Right"
received airplay on modern rock stations and reached No. 27 on Billboard's Moder
n Rock Tracks chart. However, the album failed to chart at the time.
Financing their own tour, the band drove around in an old RV borrowed from Chad'
s father, and towed a Volkswagen bus which held their equipment. After tackling
a steep incline while en route to an Omaha show, the RV caught fire. The only do
or out of the vehicle was surrounded by flames so the band jumped through the fi
re. All of their equipment and possessions were lost, though no one was seriousl
y injured. The band continued their tour, using borrowed equipment. The incident
is referenced in various songs, including "Omaha Stylee", with the lyrics:
When one girl dreamt a fire in hers and then it happened
To me and my family my bro's and I were driving"
The RV bleeding flames us leaping through fire surviving
Zoned with no home there was fire all on it
Umm let me have my life I want it
The following year, they released their second studio album, Grassroots. Althoug
h none of the singles charted, the album reached No. 8 on the Billboard Top Heat
seekers chart and No. 193 on the Billboard 200, and tracks from Grassroots began
popping up on college charts nationwide. It was during this time that 311's loy
al fan base began to take on the form it remains in today.
Mainstream breakthrough (1995 2001)[edit]
In 1995, 311 released what was to be their biggest selling CD, the self-titled 3
11 (also known as The Blue Album). Produced by Ron St. Germain, the album was re
corded live in contrast to their previous two albums in which all instruments we
re recorded separately. The first single "Don't Stay Home" was a modest success,
reaching No. 29 on Billboard's Modern Rock Tracks chart. But the follow-up sing
le "Down", which was released 14 months after the album, received heavy airplay

on mainstream radio and the accompanying music video was on MTV's rotation. The
song hit No. 1 on the Modern Rock chart. The band made their network television
debut on Late Night with Conan O'Brien on August 23. The third single, "All Mixe
d Up", enjoyed almost identical success, reaching No. 4 on the Modern Rock chart
. These singles propelled the album to platinum status in 1996. The album eventu
ally went triple-platinum. They also appeared on Late Show with David Letterman
playing "Down".
In the following years, 311 continued touring and on August 5, 1997 they release
d Transistor which debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200, their highest position
on that chart. While featuring popular tracks like "Beautiful Disaster", "Trans
istor", and "Prisoner," the album also dealt with more weighty subject matter su
ch as world affairs ("Borders"), spirituality ("Inner Light Spectrum"), and myst
icism ("The Continuous Life"). Although not garnering as much fame as some of 31
1's previous output, the album quickly went platinum.
In 1998, 311 released Live, a live album from a 1997 performance in New Orleans,
Louisiana. 311 also released Omaha Sessions, a compilation album from their ear
ly independent releases.
In 1999, 311 released their fifth major album, Soundsystem. "Come Original" was
the album's first single and had success on radio and MTV. The song reached No.
6 on Billboard's Modern Rock Tracks chart. The video was heavily requested on MT
V's TRL, and was No. 60 on TRL's Top 99 of '99. The second single, "Flowing", ha
d American Pie's Eddie Kaye Thomas featured in the music video.
The success of these albums helped the band's first two major albums, Music and
Grassroots, reach certified gold status.
In 1995, the band purchased a recording studio in North Hollywood, California ca
lled The Hive. The band has recorded every album at The Hive since 2000, beginni
ng with the sessions for From Chaos, 311's sixth major record release.
From Chaos was released in late 2001 and debuted at No. 10 on the Billboard 200.
Its first single, "You Wouldn't Believe" featured basketball star Shaquille O'N
eal in the video and had a solid run of success on MTV. The album is also known
for its third single, "Amber", an ethereal love song with surf guitar and the gr
oup's signature reggae-flavored sound, it became the band's biggest hit to date,
it is often seen as the band's signature song and it's the band's only single t
o have a certification by the RIAA, achieving Gold status.
Evolver and Don't Tread on Me (2002 2006)[edit]
Their seventh major release, Evolver (Produced By Ron Saint Germain), came in 20
03 and marked a return to the straightforward guitar-heavy sound that the band h
ad become known for. Evolver debuted at No. 7 on the Billboard 200, and the sing
le "Creatures (For A While)" reached No. 3 on Billboard's Modern Rock Tracks cha
rt.
In Summer 2003, 311 launched their inaugural Unity Tour. The tour included opene
rs G. Love & Special Sauce, O.A.R. and Something Corporate.
In 2004, 311 covered The Cure's "Love Song" which became a No. 1 hit on the Mode
rn Rock Tracks chart. It also reached No. 59 on the Hot 100, their first single
to reach that chart. It was featured on the soundtrack for the motion picture 50
First Dates and then a few months later on their own Greatest Hits '93-'03. The
compilation debuted at No. 7 on the Billboard 200 and was certified gold. The a
lbum also featured two new songs. "How Do You Feel?" and "First Straw". Of these
new tracks, "First Straw", was released as a single and reached No. 14 on the M
odern Rock Tracks chart.

In Summer 2004, 311 kicked off their second annual Unity Tour with openers The R
oots and Medeski Martin & Wood.
On August 16, 2005, 311 released their eighth studio album, titled Don't Tread o
n Me. "Don't Tread On Me", the first single, reached No. 2 on the Billboard Mode
rn Rock chart and No. 1 at R&R. The next two singles, "Speak Easy" and "Frolic R
oom", did not receive the same success as the first, neither of which made it pa
st No. 20 on the Modern Rock Charts.
In Summer 2005, 311 kicked off their third annual Unity Tour with openers Papa R
oach and Unwritten Law.
On July 20, 2006, 311 kicked off their Summer Unity Tour, playing 37 shows in 27
states and featuring opening bands Pepper and the legendary Wailers. Though the
ir album sales have declined in recent years, the band continued to attract reco
rd crowds to their shows. Over 18,500 people came to see the band in Atlanta, th
eir largest audience ever in the city. Other cities with high turnouts included
New Jersey (17,210 people), Boston (15,276), Washington DC (13,812), Omaha (13,4
67), Kansas City (11,156), and Colorado (10,000).
After completion of the tour, 311 announced they would be taking a break, their
first official one in over eight years.
Uplifter and Universal Pulse (2007 2011)[edit]
In January 2007, 311 stepped back into their Hive Studios with Nick's younger br
other Zack Hexum. They recorded a cover of Toots & the Maytals song "Reggae Got
Soul" for the soundtrack from the film Surf's Up, which was released on June 5,
2007. 311 is also one of the selected group of bands that have been able to succ
essfully tour "off-cycle", headlining amphitheaters each summer.
Their Summer Unity Tour in 2007 included supporting acts Matisyahu and The Engli
sh Beat. In 2008, they featured opening acts Snoop Dogg and Fiction Plane.
In 2009, they had another Summer Unity Tour which featured opening acts Ziggy Ma
rley and The Expendables[8] while in 2010, supporting act The Offspring and open
ing act Pepper were featured.[9] In 2011, Sublime With Rome and DJ Soulman & DJ
Trichrome were the openers on the Unity Tour.[10]
Uplifter, 311's ninth studio album, was released on June 2, 2009. The album, pro
duced at 311's Hive Recording Studios in Los Angeles by Bob Rock, debuted at No.
3 on the Billboard 200, the band's highest chart position in the U.S. to date.[
11] The band followed up the release of the album with tours in Summer and Fall
2009. They have completed their Spring 2010 tour, which included 311 Day 2010, h
eld in Las Vegas, Nevada. A Summer tour with The Offspring began in June 2010. 3
11 also held a 2010 fall tour. In early 2011, 311 finished recording their tenth
studio album called Universal Pulse at the Hive in Los Angeles, with producer B
ob Rock. The album was released July 19, 2011. The album's first single, "Sunset
in July" was released on June 3, 2011.[12] Universal Pulse is their shortest al
bum yet, only having 8 songs.
311 Pow Wow Festival and 311 Caribbean Cruises (2011-2013)[edit]
In March 2011, 311 began hosting a yearly Caribbean Cruise. The 2011 Caribbean C
ruise which featured three shows, over four days leaving from Miami to Turks and
Caicos, and featured guest bands: The Movement, DJ Soulman and Nocturnal Arts,
Full Service, Pepper and The Expendables. Fans were further treated to a Q&A ses
sion and a photo with the entire band before returning.
311 hosted their first ever "Pow Wow" Festival from August 4 to August 6, 2011 a
t the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, FL. Along with 311, it feat
ured DJ Trichome, Murs, SOJA, Deftones, DJ Soulman, The Movement, Full Service,

Streetlight Manifesto, The Dirty Heads, Sublime with Rome, Shinobi Ninja, Ballyh
oo!, The Supervillains, Ozomatli, G. Love & Special Sauce, and comedians Doug Be
nson and Graham Elwood. Along with fire performances by Nocturnal Arts. 311 play
ed four sets and the album Transistor in its entirety.[13]
On March 10, 2012 311 hosted their second Caribbean Cruise, departing from Miami
and landing on a private island in the Bahamas for three consecutive nights and
featured guest bands including: The Dirty Heads, Shwayze, 2 Skinnee J's, DJ Sou
lman, Outlaw Nation, among others.[14]
311's 2013 Caribbean Cruise departed Miami on March 1, 2013, but this time went
to a different private island in the Bahamas, Great Stirrup Cay. The 2013 Caribb
ean Cruise featured guest bands and comedians including: Rebelution, Less Than J
ake, Exes of Evil, DJ ABD, The Urge, Tom Green, and Doug Benson among others as
well as SA Martinez and Exes of Evil performing in their side project Ghostwolf.
[15]
To date, 311 have yet to announce a second Pow Wow Festival and have indicated v
ia their website that there would likely not be one in 2013.[16]
Live311 launched and Stereolithic (2012 present)[edit]
On August 5, 2012, 311 announced the launch of Live311, a site where live concer
ts would be made available for download in MP3, FLAC, and ALAC formats, as well
as some shows being released on DVD. To date, 311 have made twenty four of their
live concerts available via Live311, with three being released on DVD: the Augu
st 6, 2011, 311 Pow Wow Transistor Set; July 14, 2011, Chicago, Illinois, concer
t; and August 8, 2012, Columbus, Ohio, Concert.[17]
In Summer 2012, 311 embarked on their tenth annual Unity Tour with Slightly Stoo
pid, SOJA, and The Aggrolites.
On August 24, 2012, Doug "SA" Martinez told Phoenix's Up on the Sun that an elev
enth 311 studio album is in the works and planned for release in 2013.[18][19] H
owever, on July 15, 2013, their eleventh album was announced to be released on M
arch 11, 2014 to coincide with 311 Day 2014.[20] According to P-Nut, the album i
s to have "darker themes", and will be produced by Scotch Ralston.[21]
In July 2, 2013, 311 started their eleventh annual Unity Tour with Cypress Hill
and G. Love & Special Sauce. The tour ended on August 4, 2013.[22]
Stereolithic, the band's first independently released studio album since 1991's
Unity, was released on March 11, 2014.[23]
On November 18, 2014, 311 released a live album, 311 with the Unity Orchestra: L
ive from New Orleans, 311 Day 2014, on CD, Vinyl and mp3 formats. The album docu
ments a brief portion of the 311 Day 2014 concert wherein the band was accompani
ed onstage by a symphony orchestra for nine songs.
311 Day[edit]