311 Day!

[poolshark5226]

Who here likes 311?

I like them a lot, the newer album is so-so, I really like Sound System a lot though.

[Automaggin2]

I think Sound System was one of there crappy albums, I dunno. I live self titled the best.

[breg]

I like the self titled the best as well. Is it just me or did they mellow out a lot in the last few years?

[ZAust]

yknow what 311 actually stands for, dont ya?

[breg]

Yeah, what the band is named after. One of the original member was running around a public or hotel naked pool back in the day and got arrested for it. The police radio code for that particluar offense was/is 311.
There was some scuttle butt about them being a white supremisist band, but if that were true, then why in hell did they tour with the Wu-Tang Clan?

[breg]

This was taken from 311.com

6. How did the name "311" come about for the band?



311 is an Omaha police code for indecent exposure. One rainy day, P-Nut and some friends went skinny dipping in a public pool. They were apprehended by police. One of P-Nut's friends (Jim Watson) was arrested, cuffed (naked) and taken home to his parents. He was issued a citation for a code 311 (indecent exposure). We thought this was funny, so we took it as our band name. After the humor of the name wore off - we still kept it because we liked that it was just abstract and that it did not define us in anyway. The name did not describe our sound or our politics, it just let the music speak for itself. Since most interviewers always ask us "What does 311 mean?", we have come up with lots of different answers over the years. Some include.... Nick - "five friends making music", Tim - "a number dictated to me by a higher intelligence", P-Nut - "knowing a little numerology and studying a little magic, which I do; in some factions, three is man and 11 is magic. So 311 is like male magic."

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7. Even though you have made it clear that 311 does NOT stand for KKK, can you explain the 311/KKK rumor?


In 1997 there was a rumor going around that the name 311 stood for KKK because K is the 11th letter of the alphabet (3K). As a result, some high schools, including Westside High School, banned students from wearing 311 t-shirts. We issued the following statement:

"It has come to our attention that there is a very unsettling rumor circulating regarding the name of our band '311.' We have been told that certain white supremacist groups use the numbers 311 to represent KKK. This is a most unfortunate coincidence and one that is extremely disturbing to us. We would like to state for the record that this is completely at odds with our personal beliefs. We believe the only people worth hating are organized haters like the KKK. Anyone familiar with our lyrics knows how we feel. Our lyrics make a strong stand against racism and a strong stand for positivity and unity. The name of our band originally comes from an Omaha police citation for indecent exposure. We thought it was funny at the time. Now our name simply means - five friends from Omaha making music. Music that stands for peace and unity."

A quote from the song "Silver" that speaks out against racism -

"Of the racist institutions, simple minds belong, not happy being human, no wish to get along - little people need exclusions, sucker groups to throng - it makes them feel special, it makes them feel strong. Now I got a click but it's more like a family, not an ethnic trip, more like an ethic see - I write the rhyme today, tell it to you later - whether were comin' in wack or what - it's a waste to be a hater."

[Dayspring]

I thought Soundsystem was one of their best.

Transistor was ok.

Originally posted by Automaggin2
I think Sound System was one of there crappy albums, I dunno. I live self titled the best.

[frenchman309]

311 is a great band in my opinion. I did not know where the name came from though, i feel enlightened now.

[chairman_mao]

I love the old school 311. Music and Grassroots have got to be two of my most favorite albums ever. There newer trip-hop stuff never really caught on with me but I heard them the other day and they seem to be going back to their original sound sort of.

[Eric Cartman]

Never liked The Cure, but 311's cover of Love Song is great.

I also thought it was pretty goofy to accuse a band with such an obvious reggae influence of being white supremacist.

[wish-had-a-mag]

I am priveleged to say, I WAS THERE!!!!!!!

The most unbeleivable concert I have ever been to.

I got there at 11, figuring I'd have a good spot in the line for floor wristbands-holy shiz was i wrong-for the 1100 wristbands they were giving out, they had over 3000 people in line. There were guys there from Canada, Jersey, Detriot, all over the place who had like 4 hour flights to get there. I had a 15 minute car ride ahaha. O yea the concert was for 7 30 too, so they were all waitin for 8 hours. When they started playin, the place was just swarming with people, they sold out like a week before. The concert was 5 hours--yes 5-- hours long with only a ten minute break. They musta played like at least half the songs theyve ever written. You know how most bands play like **** live? Not here. The only difference from the recordings were some extra instrumentals and the arena echo.


P-NUT, BEAT THAT THANG!!!!!!!!

[MagMan5446]

I don't like the band myself but in my town 311 is something that white boys will throw up for the kkk.


They had that one good song though....can't remember the name.

[who_311]

I used to like 311, as you can see by my name. I have drifted away though, pretty far away. I dont like my name anymore.