311 - 411
Just some interesting info and articles/interviews about 311
The band members:
What's the deal with the bands name:
The KKK Rumor:
Supposedly certain white supremacist groups use the numbers 311 to represent the KKK (3 times the 11th letter in the alphabet "K". This is purely coincidence and goes against everything the band believes in. Anyone familiar with 311's lyrics knows that theirs no way in hell that they would ever try to associate themselves with such an organization.
The Truth Behind The Name:
So if it isn't supposed to represent the KKK, then what does it mean? Its actually pretty funny how they came up with the name. It turns out 311 stands for the Ohmaha police code for indecent exposure. Supposedly 311's original guitarist went skinny dipping in a pool. He was arrested for indecent exposure (he was only 15-18 something like that). Hence the name 311.
311's First Video:
311's first video was "Do You Right" . Some of the filming sites included the a museum, the Lied Jungle at the Henry Doorly Zoo and a free concert at Sokol Hall (wish I was there). About 700 fans were lucky enough to see and be part of the video filming that night. The video was aired on MTV and other TV stations.
311 interview on Prodigy:
Roy Trakin (Speaker) Welcome, everyone. We've got Nick Hexum, P-Nut and 311 guitarist Tim Mahoney in the auditorium. And we're gonna be talking about the price of success and how you keep your credibility even while living it in rock & roll. So let's go. Thanks for being here guys... Roy Trakin (Speaker) Wow. We've got a lot of questions coming in and we'll try to get to you all, so bear with us.... First of all, guys, my question is, has success changed that all? And, if so, how? Nick Hexum (Speaker) Things have changed for sure Roy Trakin (Speaker) For the better or worse, Nick? Nick Hexum (Speaker) We're more comfortable now so we can branch out musically without worries Nick Hexum (Speaker) That's better to me Roy Trakin (Speaker) P-Nut in the house as well. Welcome, Mr. Nut and thanks for being with us... P-Nut (Speaker) How the hell are you? Nick Hexum (Speaker) Word Roy Trakin (Speaker) You guys have always been pretty much a people's band...worked hard for everything you got. Do you see it as a problem getting all these new fans from MTV? Do you worry about overexposure? Nick Hexum (Speaker) The only worry would be if we made a crappy album MrPhunkieman (Prodigy Member) Just got the "Enlarged To Show Detail" video, just wanted to say that you guys seem to be the nicest guys in the world. Even live your awesome. Saw you with The Urge and No Doubt at Mancuso Hall in Omaha. Never moshed and had more fun in my life. Thanks for putting on a great show. Nick Hexum (Speaker) I think, the bigger the party, the better Nick Hexum (Speaker) That was a fun show Nick Hexum (Speaker) Thanks Roy Trakin (Speaker) P-Nut- how do you feel after your first experience with the major label success? Did you always feel this is what it would be like? P-Nut (Speaker) We love a good show as much as the fans z e r0b o y (Prodigy Member) Do you think that chick from No Doubt is hot? I bet both of you were hitting on her constantly. MrPhunkieman (Prodigy Member) How do you feel that Prodigy called Down "Drown" in the info box. I think that's hilarious.. Good job P*! Nick Hexum (Speaker) easy big guy P-Nut (Speaker) The feeling is a little more dreamy than i thought when i was a kid Roy Trakin (Speaker) That was a typo, Mr. Phunkieman.... Let he who is without sin cast the first stone--at my copy editing... Nick Hexum (Speaker) ha Munky 15 (Prodigy Member) There's a kid in my class, Andrew, who's a real big fan of yours, and it was his 16th birthday recently, could you wish him a happy birthday? Nick Hexum (Speaker) Happy b-day Andrew Nick Hexum (Speaker) Smoke a phatty P-Nut (Speaker) This is P-Nut and i want everyone to have a happy whatever Nick Hexum (Speaker) Just kidding Roy Trakin (Speaker) That was nice, Nick... Whaddya guys think this is... request radio? Roy Trakin (Speaker) How do we know that's really you, P-Nut? vinyl unity (Prodigy Member) Nick...how come you don't have the eyebrow ring anymore? ~Jen P-Nut (Speaker) Can't you smell me vinyl unity (Prodigy Member) P-Nut, I really appreciate your mom doing the Hive and all that stuff. She's really nice. Do you, or any other member miss family when on tour? ~Jen ! Nick Hexum (Speaker) I kept looking at it Nick Hexum (Speaker) So it had to go (the eyebrow ring) Nick Hexum (Speaker) Yes Glenn Roy Trakin (Speaker) When did you guys feel the turning point in terms of acceptance? Was it all at once or a gradual thing? How big a turning point was the KROQ show you played with Kiss? Nick Hexum (Speaker) Joan rules P-Nut (Speaker) Of course, when you spend nine months inside someone you tend to get a little close P-Nut (Speaker) Nick rules Nick Hexum (Speaker) We were happy before the buzz bin Nick Hexum (Speaker) But then it got crazy Nick Hexum (Speaker) The kiss show was ok Roy Trakin (Speaker) Do you feel the effects an MTV has? That must be weird... all of a sudden, for a tight-knit group like you, all these new-found fans... P-Nut (Speaker) It was a gradual thing, even though everything seemed to happen at once from the fan standpoint Roy Trakin (Speaker) How much different is it being with Mercury than just Capricorn? Nick Hexum (Speaker) It's more weird for the kids that complain about trendy people at school all the sudden being down P-Nut (Speaker) More flex to the muscle Nick Hexum (Speaker) I can relate Nick Hexum (Speaker) Mercury is a good label primus200 (Prodigy Member) Does 311 have a web site? If so what is there web address? P-Nut (Speaker) Capricorn is a good label, hi guys Nick Hexum (Speaker) Has anyone noticed the astrological connection between our two labels? P-Nut (Speaker) That's new to me nick P-Nut (Speaker) And cool Nick Hexum (Speaker) We're getting a web site going soon Nick Hexum (Speaker) It's gonna be phat Roy Trakin (Speaker) Yeah, good point... Hey, what's you guys' take on that whole thing with the Omaha school system banning your T-shirts because 311 is supposed a code word for the Ku Klux Klan? P-Nut (Speaker) And it's going to be large Nick Hexum (Speaker) That's just a huge mistake SPIT GIRL (Prodigy Member) Whats the best part about being in a band?? Do u get laid alot?? Are u guys stoned?? Will u answer all my questions? Nick Hexum (Speaker) I hope it will go away Nick Hexum (Speaker) The best part about being in a band is the enjoyment of playing music Roy Trakin (Speaker) What does 311 stand for? The police code for drunk and disorderly or something? jXx kHiK jXx (Prodigy Member) Hey, good evenin'! It's nice to see someone kEwL on Prodigy. I really like your sounds. How do you guys get the ideas of how to mix the melodies? Especially in the song "Down", which, of course, is my fave. Nick Hexum (Speaker) Everything else is overrated P-Nut (Speaker) #1 attention, #2 by my lovely girlfriend, yes #3 always stoned #4 yes, Nick Hexum (Speaker) 311 means 5 friends making music Roy Trakin (Speaker) Hey, you guys must have been overjoyed that the medical marijuana initiative passed. Have you been getting prescriptions for your glaucoma lately? Nick Hexum (Speaker) The melodies happen naturally Nick Hexum (Speaker) No but I know people that have P-Nut (Speaker) You spell well DA BEST 311 (Prodigy Member) P-Nut and Nick, ever since i found out about you guys I have wondered what 311 means i would really like to know because my friends are always asking me and I say I dont know. Thanx Again SPIT GIRL (Prodigy Member) Why do u guys do this?!? You know your gonna get swamped with questions and s**t. If I were u I wouldnt do it unless I had time answer 2500 questions. By the way my favorite song by u is ALL MIXED UP. That song rules. How much money do u guys make?? Are your parents happy about the songs you have produced?? Nick Hexum (Speaker) It started from a ticket for indecent exposure Nick Hexum (Speaker) Omaha police code that's thal story Nick Hexum (Speaker) The mystery is over twift2 (Prodigy Member) I AM WONDERING IF YOU ARE PLANNING ON PUTTING OUT ANY MORE VIDEOS? I HOPE NOT, I KNOW YOU HAVE TO MAKE A LIVING AND IT'S A GREAT WAY TO GET YOUR MUSIC TO BE HEARD. BUT I CAN'T STAND HOW PEOPLE WHO LISTEN TO GIN BLOSSOMS AND BUSH NOW WEAR 311 SHIRTS AND LOVE THE BAND!!!!!! BAN MTV. P-Nut (Speaker) Our parents are all very pleased with our accomplishments Nick Hexum (Speaker) What about people that can't attend shows for some reason? Roy Trakin (Speaker) What do you guys think of Pearl Jam's strategy? Are they cheating their fans or preventing overexposure? And haven't people lost interest because they don't go out to talk to the press and stuff like that? Nick Hexum (Speaker) I don't think we have many gin blossoms wearing our shirts Nick Hexum (Speaker) PJ rocks eklads (Prodigy Member) 2 years ago, would you have ever thought that you'd be this big? P-Nut (Speaker) Yeah, we come from a town that didn't get many shows and mtv was the only way to find out about something without buying it Nick Hexum (Speaker) I did Roy Trakin (Speaker) Is this what you guys want? Do you want to get bigger and bigger until yo have no place to go but down? P-Nut (Speaker) Heck, I'm slow Nick Hexum (Speaker) We just want to make music Roy Trakin (Speaker) P-Nut, why are you typing with two fingers? Nick Hexum (Speaker) Can we talk about music? P-Nut (Speaker) Hey Roy watch your tone Nick Hexum (Speaker) F**k marketing Moderator (Speaker) Who are your three biggest musical influences? Roy Trakin (Speaker) You got that out quick enough, Mr. P... Nick Hexum (Speaker) The Clash, The Smiths, Bob Marley Nick Hexum (Speaker) Boom P-Nut (Speaker) I have better thing to do than type all day Nick Hexum (Speaker) Like what? P-Nut (Speaker) Stink Roy Trakin (Speaker) I guess the key is to maintain your focus while all around you are doing their jobs... Starrgirl311 (Prodigy Member) Do you think it was harder getting started (on a bigger scale), coming from Omaha? Nick Hexum (Speaker) P-nut was braggin up his typing skills today Nick Hexum (Speaker) Ha P-Nut (Speaker) I love you nick, your creamy Roy Trakin (Speaker) You should have followed your parents' advice and taken typing in school like I did P-Nut. In the cyberworld, this is how people will be communicating... Nick Hexum (Speaker) Omaha is a great place to grow up and start a band no question P-Nut (Speaker) The only thing hard about coming from Omaha was having to explain Roy Trakin (Speaker) Then why did you move to L.A.? Munky 15 (Prodigy Member) What group or band would you most like to go on tour with? Haywood (Prodigy Member) I saw you in Sioux City which is about an hour and a half away from Omaha, and I'm sure that you already knew that--but how often do you actually come back to your hometown? Nick Hexum (Speaker) Korn, Urge, No Doubt, Pharcyde P-Nut (Speaker) I did take a course, I need to get back on it P-Nut (Speaker) We go to Omaha about twice a year Nick Hexum (Shere are no labels in Omaha Nick Hexum (Speaker) We had to move zer0boy (Prodigy Member) First thing I have to know...311...that's the police code for exposing yourself or whatever, isnt it? Nick Hexum (Speaker) It didn't end up helping, ironically Roy Trakin (Speaker) Geez, are we still on that topic? Nick Hexum (Speaker) Yes P-Nut (Speaker) Next Nick Hexum (Speaker) We got signed off of Omaha demos and an Omaha show Roy Trakin (Speaker) Nick, P-Nut--isn't there too much separation in music today? Don't you feel you could break through to a black audience if given the chance? Nick Hexum (Speaker) Maybe Nick Hexum (Speaker) Who knows? P-Nut (Speaker) That would be a dream come true Nick Hexum (Speaker) Music is the universal language MAGNIFICENT7 (Prodigyber) What was you guys big break? Nick Hexum (Speaker) I heard were hitting in Central America Nick Hexum (Speaker) No big break here Nick Hexum (Speaker) Just 500 shows hindulovegod (Prodigy Member) I'm in a band right now and just wanted to now how you guys survived? It's a real pain to do something different because it seems at first nobody wants to hear it which means no shows. Where we're at, they hardly even play you guys on the radio (such a shame) Nick Hexum (Speaker) Hang in there kid Nick Hexum (Speaker) That's all I can say DEWEY 42 (Prodigy Member) What was your favorite part of making the music video for "DOWN" Roy Trakin (Speaker) I mean, 311 made it the old-fashioned way, purely through the music, which is cool. I can see Nick feels that's what it's still about, but when you get to this level of visibility, doesn't it become about something else? Nick Hexum (Speaker) Stick to your guns and keep growing P-Nut (Speaker) Persistence is the key, uniqueness is good too Nick Hexum (Speaker) The levitation in down was fun Nick Hexum (Speaker) And scary P-Nut (Speaker) Music is #1 DA BEST 311 (Prodigy Member) Yes I Just Wanted To Say that 311 Rocks And Is THe Best Band In The World Thanx!!!!!!!!!!!!!! xgirl311 (Prodigy Member) The new "Enlarged to Show Detail Video" is super cool!!!! How do you all feel about the finished product? Nick Hexum (Speaker) Thanks Nick Hexum (Speaker) It's very funny Nick Hexum (Speaker) P-nut and Chad are hillarious P-Nut (Speaker) We like the video , watch it every night Munky 15 (Prodigy Member) Why do you like Les Paul guitars so much Roy Trakin (Speaker) A lot of people want to know about touring plans and the next record. Doesn't that make up 99.9% of what everyone wants to know? Nick Hexum (Speaker) I no longer play les pauls P-Nut (Speaker) That munky from KORN Nick Hexum (Speaker) Our tour is too far off now SPIT GIRL (Prodigy Member) Nick, do u consider your self cute?? AddieWaddie (Prodigy Member) So Nick, how did it feel when you first saw the video for "Down" on MTV? Nick Hexum (Speaker) F**k no Nick Hexum (Speaker) Stoked TooI (Prodigy Member) Tim and Nick--your guitar parts in some songs almost have a hardcore sound. Do you guys play in dropped-d very much, and were you influenced by any hardcore bands? Nick Hexum (Speaker) It felt stokey xgirl311 (Prodigy Member) Hey Nick, in the "Enlarged" video it shows you getting your eyebrow pierced whenever Tim is getting his nipples done.....Tim still has his nipple rings, what happened to your eyebrow one? Nick Hexum (Speaker) No we tune regular Nick Hexum (Speaker) I love NOFX, Pennywise, Descendents, Bad Brains Nick Hexum (Speaker) P-Nut has his tongue pierced Munky 15 (Prodigy Member) P-Nut, what kind of gear and/or bass do you use? P-Nut (Speaker) I play warwick basses and swr amps zer0boy (Prodigy Mer) Do either of you listen to Green Day? Do you respect their (great) work or do you think they suck like most people do now? Nick Hexum (Speaker) I don't have their albums but the rocked live Nick Hexum (Speaker) We did a show with em P-Nut (Speaker) Shorty Garbage13 (Prodigy Member) Have you ever been sexually harrased? Nick Hexum (Speaker) Right now Garbage13 (Prodigy Member) Have you ever been at a really cool concert that you'll never forget? Nick Hexum (Speaker) Many Nick Hexum (Speaker) Pantera Nick Hexum (Speaker) Rage P-Nut (Speaker) I saw Ween open up for Beck two weeks ago vinyl unity (Prodigy Member) Nick, what's your hair like now? ~Jen! Nick Hexum (Speaker) De la soul Nick Hexum (Speaker) Short and blond SPIELBERG2 (Prodigy Member) Nick, let's face it, you're pretty cute! Has your new found fame made you a bit more self-conscious? Nick Hexum (Speaker) Thanks errrrrr yeah lets talk about somthing else O ZeroCool O (Prodigy Member) Post mine NOW! Nick Hexum (Speaker) Now Robert 17 SF (Prodigy Member) Hey guys. How's it going? I am going to you concert on DEC. 11 in SAN FRANCISCO and I was wondering what kind of show I am going to be in for? TooI (Prodigy Member) You guys had a huge undergound base before your 311 album became recognized as "radio-friendly." Are you worried you will lose your "original" fans who claim you've "sold-out"? P-Nut (Speaker) Sweaty Nick Hexum (Speaker) Sweaty, funky primus200 (Prodigy Member) Is 311 coming out with a new album soon? WWWWWWWWWWBW (Prodigy Member) Hello, I am Brandon, from Hillside a suburb of Chicago. I was wondering, on the blue album 311-311, the 12 track DLMD, the song is about abuse. But who is the song writen about, please tell the story. Nick Hexum (Speaker) Our album is not radio friendly P-Nut (Speaker) Hey we're not radio friendly they had to change to us jXx kHiK jXx (Prodigy Member) I've just got to say that you rule, I mean who else can mix music like you? I've never seen a better band as far as tunes go.. XtwiggyX (Prodigy Member) I am straight-edge and darn proud. I've noticed a lot more kids getting into the scene. How do you guys feel about the sXe-vegan thing? P-Nut (Speaker) Vegen is cool with us TVR (Prodigy Member) Which do you prefer? Playing in front of an audience in a festival type setting or in the more intimate confines of a club? P-Nut (Speaker) I like being able to play both Nick Hexum (Speaker) I like both Moderator (Speaker) Nick Hexum, what other bands, before us were all over the radio with dancehall reggae mixed with punk? P-Nut (Speaker) Nick, you and me are thinking the same I love it Nick Hexum (Speaker) A big PA and moniter system rocks primus200 (Prodigy Member) Where can I find out information on getting shirts, hats, stickers, etc....? Nick Hexum (Speaker) Adam Mage Merik (Prodigy Member) I WENT TO YOUR MTV ROK THE VOTE SHOW, IT RULED, DID YOU VOTE?? DO YOU THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO? P-Nut (Speaker) 1-402-731-3110 zRickets (Prodigy Member) Do you guys think that putting your music on MTV makes you look bad or good? Nick Hexum (Speaker) Whooo Clinton! P-Nut (Speaker) Yes vote Nick Hexum (Speaker) If our video looks bad then it's bad Nick Hexum (Speaker) It's just a different medium Nick Hexum (Speaker) I accept video Nick Hexum (Speaker) If you don't that's cool.. don't watch P-Nut (Speaker) If you were on an island.. Cwazygirl (Prodigy Member) What inspired you to do the song "All Mixed Up"? Roy Trakin (Speaker) I want to tell you guys. This is the best Rant & Roll crowd we've had yet. More than 462 questions logged. You guys have an incredible grassroots following... Nick Hexum (Speaker) I kept re-thinking everything P-Nut (Speaker) Thanks for the stats Roy Roy Trakin (Speaker) Excuse me, we just went over the 500 mark to break Mel Ott's record... jXx kHiK jXx (Prodigy Member) Are you working on a new album? If so what kind of music should we expect? Nick Hexum (Speaker) So I kept telling myself to trust my instincts P-Nut (Speaker) New album is going to make you crazy with joy Nick Hexum (Speaker) The new album will be on some old next, future tip BIG VAMPIRE1 (Prodigy Member) You guys rule! Roy Trakin (Speaker) With alternative over, what do you guys think will be the next big thing? Some combo of ambient, trip-hop, rap and funk-metal, perhaps? Sounds like you guys... Nick Hexum (Speaker) Combination music is where it's at P-Nut (Speaker) Roy, my good man, you got it Nick Hexum (Speaker) I love trip hop Roy Trakin (Speaker) Do you still believe in the power of rock & roll to change society? Or is that some old hippie canard? P-Nut (Speaker) Music changes everything Nick Hexum (Speaker) Art is a great communication that can bring change Nick Hexum (Speaker) Or at least some fun Nick Hexum (Speaker) Both are good Roy Trakin (Speaker) How do you feel about communicating with your fans in this manner? xgirl311 (Prodigy Member) Do you guys have an all time favorite performance? The first time I saw you in Austin (at Liberty Lunch) was probably my favorite 311 show, but New Orleans ran a close second!!!! P-Nut (Speaker) Very hands on Nick Hexum (Speaer) I want 311 shows to be a short vacation StarkyLuvOne (Prodigy Member) I had a hard time finding your album a few months ago. Some places had it in the number section, others had it before "A", in the "T" section and behind the "Z" section. Do you think this affected sales? Now the stores keep it in the top ten section. Nick Hem (Speaker) We love the south P-Nut (Speaker) New orleans is one of the best SA PNUT 311 (Prodigy Member) P-Nut-- shoot the acid between your toes and get high--What inspired you to say that? Nick Hexum (Speaker) I spend two hours a day online P-Nut (Speaker) If you know you're looking for Nick Hexum (Speaker) Acid Nick Hexum (Speaker) Shut it P-Nut (Speaker) Acid has a special place between my toes Nick Hexum (Speaker) So does funk Roy Trakin (Speaker) Do you guys do psychedelics? DarknesQueen (Prodigy Member) Why is your name P-Nut? Nick Hexum (Speaker) Not lately. Got any? P-Nut (Speaker) Got any P-Nut (Speaker) Nick I love you Nick Hexum (Speaker) Beat you Mage Merik (Prodigy Member) Uhhhhh. I'm a skater that went too the warped tour and I was skating, did you notice the skating while you were onstage? Nick Hexum (Speaker) I love you too Nick Hexum (Speaker) Yeah it was fresh Roy Trakin (Speaker) These guys are on one wavelength. Is that how the band works? P-Nut (Speaker) How can you miss the skating if you're on the warped tour? Nick Hexum (Speaker) Totally P-Nut (Speaker) Yes JENR5367 (Prodigy Member) Do you wear boxers or briefs? eklads (Prodigy Member) How are your love lives? Nick Hexum (Speaker) I learned one of chad songs in 3 minutes today Nick Hexum (Speaker) Dead Nick Hexum (Speaker) Boxers for support P-Nut (Speaker) I am lovely in love Roy Trakin (Speaker) Dead to love lives? WWWcruiser (Prodigy Member) Nick, how do you do gin-seng, cause you talk about it in your lyrics. I know it's a Chinese herb, but can you get high from it or something? P-Nut (Speaker) Cleaner Nick Hexum (Speaker) Not a drug, but a herb XtwiggyX (Prodigy Member) Hey guys, I was wondering how you got together? Nick Hexum (Speaker) Homies from Omaha on a mission P-Nut (Speaker) Any extraterrestrials out there? Nick Hexum (Speaker) Has anyone noticed the astrological connection between our two labels? Is that why the CD looks the way it does? King guido (Prodigy Member) In your oppinion, what's better to smoke out of, a bowl, or a bong? Nick Hexum (Speaker) It's all a glorious coincidence Nick Hexum (Speaker) Syncronysity P-Nut (Speaker) Variety SPIT GIRL (Prodigy Member) Do u guys ever think about all the fans you have?? I would be totally pscyhed. At least u know youll always have a place to go!! So, do u like being in the spot light?? What am I saying!! I'm chatting with 311 here!! I'll have something to tell chriss and matt and christa tomorrow!!!!!!!! u guys are so cool. u reggins have to come to md DA BEST 311 (Prodigy Member) 311 why do you guys but some sort of alien stuff on your CDs. Thanx I love You Guys Nick Hexum (Speaker) Serrendipidy Agentge (Prodigy Member) Why the hell would 311 be on Prodigy? Nick Hexum (Speaker) Thanks!! P-Nut (Speaker) Spit girl's excited Nick Hexum (Speaker) It's all about communication, bro Roy Trakin (Speaker) Why don't you make Spit Girl's day and send her a private e-mail? xgirl311 (Prodigy Member) Hey Nick, I heard that you were starting a clothes line. Info? Nick Hexum (Speaker) I can't keep up on my email anymore P-Nut (Speaker) Agentorange should be asking that question to himself XtwiggyX (Prodigy Member) I heard Gwen from NoDoubt was a 'witch' from someone else who toured with them... all lies or truth? Any opinion? Nick Hexum (Speaker) Yes I am making a few shirts, that I can't find Roy Trakin (Speaker) Every 311 fan seems to know the name is shorthand for indecent exposure. It's entered apocrypha by now... Nick Hexum (Speaker) Gwen is a wonderful person P-Nut (Speaker) Gwen is a sweetheart ROMEO 15 (Prodigy Member) YOU KNOW THAT THIS WILL PASS SO JUST GET OFF OF YOUR ASS (ALL MIXED UP IS SOME KICK ASS S**T) XtwiggyX (Prodigy Member) NIck, you are the man of my dreams... (as i bat an eyelash).. DA BEST 311 (Prodigy Member) 311 I think You Guys Should Be Played Alot More On MTV And On The Radio Im Getting Sick Of Hearin Like Bush On All The Time I Want To Get All Mixed Up And Listen To 311!!!!! Nick Hexum (Speaker) Thanks!!!!! P-Nut (Speaker) Thank you eklads (Prodigy Member) Do any of you or have any of you ever had a problem with drugs? Nick Hexum (Speaker) I don't care for bush either StarkyLuvOne (Prodigy Member) In Random, who is Sound Boy?? Thats my fav song. Nick Hexum (Speaker) Uh xPerplexYx (Prodigy Member) Will there be another single off the 311 self titiled album? If so, what?? Nick Hexum (Speaker) Pass the bong Nick Hexum (Speaker) No more singles Raspberrie (Prodigy Member) You guys ever heard of KNDD, 107.7 The End? We love you up here in Seattle!! P-Nut (Speaker) Say no to coke Lone Locust (Prodigy Member) What clubs did you guys play when you first started out in Omaha? I'm just curious since I live there. (Unfortunately......) Nick Hexum (Speaker) We're not trying to run it into the ground Nick Hexum (Speaker) Ranch bowl P-Nut (Speaker) We don't keep up on radio stations but we love Seattle vinyl unity (Prodigy Member) Nick....is it true that you have e-mail? ~Jen Nick Hexum (Speaker) Or raunch bowl as it'lled Roy Trakin (Speaker) Ever think of working with some of these new guys like Tricky, Chemical Bros., Dust Bros., et. al? P-Nut (Speaker) Free bowling Nick Hexum (Speaker) Yes Nick Hexum (Speaker) Yes Roy Trakin (Speaker) Any ideas on who the next producer might be? Would you work with St. Germain again? Starrgirl311 (Prodigy Member) Coming from Omaha (By the way, I live in Omaha!!), how did it change you when you moved to L.A.? Nick Hexum (Speaker) Adam, get my ass on the guest list for the Chem bros show tomorrow P-Nut (Speaker) Was it chemical that did Paul's boutique? Nick Hexum (Speaker) Noooooo Nick Hexum (Speaker) Duh Roy Trakin (Speaker) Dust Bros. did Paul's Boutique and Beck's Odelay... P-Nut (Speaker) Thank you Silverbox (Prodigy Member) Hi Roy Trakin (Speaker) Those two records are genius.... Aren't they? Nick Hexum (Speaker) LA made us more tan from basketball Mobster 77 (Prodigy Member) You guys rock..........You think you will be around in the years to come or die out like most cool bands who get famous fast on one album????? Roy Trakin (Speaker) I don't think you ever answered the question about L.A. Why did you move here? For your career? Nick Hexum (Speaker) I think we will die out when we die P-Nut (Speaker) Mobster you're ask a jaded question Nick Hexum (Speaker) Blam blam MrPhunkieman (Prodigy Member) Hydroponic, Firewater, and Freak Out have to be my 3 favorite 311 songs... Nick Hexum (Speaker) My dog is on my lap Nick Hexum (Speaker) Thanks Agent0range (Prodigy Member) I never liked your music.... Nick Hexum (Speaker) I like gap JENR5367 (Prodigy Member) Will you give me free tickets to one of your shows, please? P-Nut (Speaker) Agent get out eklads (Prodigy Member) What would you be doing if you weren't in the music business? tORd MaN (Prodigy Member) Nick are you talking to me? P-Nut (Speaker) Sippin on gin and juice WWWcruiser (Prodigy Member) Nick, are you ever going to release that c.d. before Music, called Unity??? Nick Hexum (Speaker) I would be the new leader of the branch davidians
Critics have ripped their new album, Transistor, to shreds, but the fans still love 311's homebrew mix of dub, rap, reggae, and rock. Maximum Guitar goes on the road with guitarists Nick Hexum and Tim Mahoney to see how they recreate their phat, funky sounds on stage.
Only a few hours before 311 is scheduled to perform at Colorado's famed Red Rocks Amphitheater, the skies darken and rain begins to fall. But even thought weather conditions are dismal, an ever-growing crowd of fans gather in eager anticipation of the nights show. Most of the audience is decked out in bright orange ponchos that they've purchased at the venues concession stands, endowing the seating area with an oddly festive hue. A pair of girls who are braving the elements laugh as their clothes become soaked, never showing any signs of dismay, even as they attempt in vain to light a soggy cigarette.
Backstage, 311 guitarists Nick Hexum and Tim Mahoney relax and trade licks. In tribute to bands who have previously graced the stage that 311 is about to appear upon, Mahoney plays the intro to U2's "Sunday, Bloody Sunday." Hexum answers back with one of his favorite licks, the beginning chord progression of the Clash’s "Should I Stay or Should I Go?" They don't, however, play any Grateful Dead licks, even though Mahoney is an avowed Jerry Garcia fanatic.
A few minutes later, one of the crew members walks into the dressing room holding a Denver newspaper and shows the band an article. "Check this out," he says. "It says here that, 'half the tickets for the Denver Lollapalooza show are still available, even though it's only a few days away. However, tickets for 311's concert at Red Rocks were sold out five months before the event.'" This is encouraging news, but the band only needs to look outside at the seating area for confirmation that they've acquired and extremely dedicated following.
Perhaps more surprising is the paper's positive report about the band, who have recently received nothing but harsh words from the press. Magazines like Rolling Stone and Entertainment Weekly gave 311's new album, Transistor (Capricorn), extremely disparaging reviews, which would lead the uninitiated to assume that the record was a complete failure. But nothing could be further from the truth, as the album sold 130,000 copies in its first week.
Transistor is an ambitious effort that combines hard rock, rap, funk, jazz, and trip-hop influences with strong, memorable melodies and an ample dose of dub-inspired production techniques. The result is a style of music unlike anything else out there. Transistor is not a dub album in the pure sense of the word, but a fascinating update of the genre that is sure to make dub more accessible to a mainstream American audience. In a way, 311 have done for dub what the Police did for reggae 20 years ago.
Meticulously-produced albums aren't currently in fashion, however, which, may be one reason for the harsh reviews. The band holed up in the studio for more than two months making Transistor, whereas nowadays most bands are in and out of the studio within two weeks. But with its lush ambiance, trippy echo effects and huge vocal harmonies, Transistor sounds like the kind of record that most bands would take two years to complete. The album boasts 21 songs and over 70 minutes of material. Surprisingly, Hexum reveals that a lot of good songs didn't make the final cut.
But even more amazing is the fact that Hexum, who wrote about half of Transistor's songs, is already working on music for the next album. He's put together a portable computer-based recording studio that he's taking on the road so he can write songs and record demos in his hotel room, on the bus, or backstage. He also plans on incorporating the rig, which features a sampler and a few synthesizer modules, into his stage setup so he can duplicate many of the sounds heard on Transistor.
Unlike most of their alternative rock contemporaries, Mahoney and Hexum are unapologetic about 311's pursuit of musical chops. In fact the band's performance later that night features brief solo segments from both drummer Chad Sexton and bassist P-Nut, something that most critics consider passe. But the smiles that grace the faces of a few thousand cold, wet but satisfied fans as they file out of the venue after the performance show that maybe it’s the critics' sour attitudes that are out of fashion.
Maximum Guitar: Transistor is quite an ambitious and well-produced record. How are you going about recreating the record's sounds and effects on stage?
Nick Hexum: Scotch Ralston, who produced the record, also mixes our live sound, so he knows where the delays are supposed to go. He's responsible for creating many of the dub effects. Tim also uses his own analog effects for some stuff. I've got my guitar synth going. I'm only using it on one song now, but I'll be phasing it in more and more. The guitar synth has tons of internal sounds, but I've got this other rack that has different synth modules and a sampler, so I can MIDI it up and trigger samples from the album, scratch sounds or whatever. Every day I'm trying to phase that in a little more.
Tim Mahoney: I have a guitar synth, too, but I used it on two songs that didn't make the record. I really got into analog effects like the Electro-Harmonix Memory Man delay, analog choruses and phasers. There's a lot more effects and tones than on the last record. I was excited to do that. The last record was more stripped down. On this one we both wanted to get cooler tones.
MG: There are a lot of keyboard sounds on the record. Were they actual keyboards or did you use the guitar synth?
Hexum: I have a real Clavinet, and I used a Roland JV-1080 a lot. There were also samples from a wide variety of sources that I stored in my Akai S3000 sampler. Before we started recording the album, I would record guitar parts or a vocoder part on the hard drive on my computer. When we got into the studio I would make a full version of the song using just samples and a drum machine, mostly electronic stuff, and maybe a few live instruments that were recorded straight onto the hard drive. We'd put all my songs down on tape first so we at least had it sounding as good as my pre-production demo. Then we would go back and redo a lot of the guitar parts, although sometimes we'd keep the old ones if they had a nice sound to them. We already had a good sketch of my songs down on tape. Other songs we'd start from scratch. I'm the only one who's into the synth world.
MG: Listening to the revord you can't tell that those songs started off primarily as a synth demo.
Hexum: We tried to make it sound as organic as possible. We also decided not to be purists. We weren't worried about using sounds that we wouldn't be able to pull off live. On stage we skip that sound and let it take on a more raw form.
MG: Transistor is a production-oriented record, in the classic sense, where the record stands apart from the live show. What effect did recording this album have on how you approach your live show?
Hexum: I always try to make sure that the song sounds good when it's played just on guitar. Once I'm comfortable with that I'll phase in the guitar synths and delays. Chad is also starting to use his d-drum a lot and triggering samples. By our next album, I imagine we'll be more fluid with that stuff. Then we'll work on triggering stuff in a live setting during pre-production rehearsals, rather than trying to add it after the fact.
Mahoney: For live performances, I've tried to keep a lot of the same sounds. There are a couple that I'm still trying to dial in. The song "Prisoner" has a lot of different tones in it. There's one tone that I lost that had an octave-up effect and a T-Wah. It's a matter of finding those sounds again and programming them into my MIDI board. On our first two records I did a lot of switching between clean and distortion. On a lot of our new songs there's a lot more than guitar tone. It took a little while to warm up to get all the switches down after being in the studio.
MG: There are some lush reverb sounds on the record. Was it recorded that way or was it added in mixing?
Mahoney: Both of us recorded all of our effects on tape.
Hexum: For guitars, at least. On vocals they were added after they were recorded.
Mahoney: We worked to make sure all of the tones were the way we wanted them. Once you record a phase shifter you can't change it.
MG: The phasing is very thick and distinct, like on those old dub records from the Seventies. What kind of phase shifter did you use?
Mahoney: I used a reissue Small Stone, one of those Russian ones. I also used an MXR Phase 100.
Hexum: I used my Rocktron Replifex a lot. I have a Boss SE-70 that I use on stage to re-create the sounds on our older records, like the T-Wah. The Rocktron stuff is really advanced. One of the key effects on the vocals was an old Roland Space Echo, which is a tape echo. The Memory Man has a distinct sound, too.
Mahoney: I have three Memory Mans that I travel with so I can have each set at different times -- a fast one, a slow one and one that I adjust. The delay times aren't always right on there, but I guess that's the nature of dub. Those and the Small Stone really made the record for me. Analog delay seems to have a mind of its own. Sometimes when you hit it, it sounds different than it did before.
Hexum: Some company has got to figure out that there's a demand for being able to control that analog sound with MIDI and saving your settings without having to twiddle the knobs each time. I have a Waldorf Pulse in my synth rack, which is a true analog synth, but you can recall all of the parameters with MIDI. I'd immediately snap up an analog delay or tape delay that would let you do that.
Mahoney: It's difficult to travel with Echoplexes. The maintenance is too much. Even so, we're having trouble getting Scotch into the MIDI controllable world.
MG: It must have been difficult getting the echo times lined up in the studio.
Hexum: You have to listen to the echo with a click track. You put it down on tape, so once it's down, it's down. You don't run the effects live. When we do dub, we put the effects down on another track. That way we don't have to worry about any variables when we’re mixing.
MG: What would you recommend to someone who wants to art making their own dub mixes?
Hexum: I usually start with a track where it's just a standard reggae bass line and a drum loops sampled from the Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare sampling CD. Then I'll add a couple of tracks of offbeat keyboard and guitar. To do dub, all you need to do is phase those things in and out and put different effects on them. It's basically a straight song all the way through, but the character of the song comes when you mix it and you take instruments in and out and add effects. Learning how to do that is crucial. You've got to be familiar with King Tubby, so you should go out and get all the Blood and Fire label reissue stuff.
MG: What you're doing with dub is not traditional, though. You've taken it in a new direction.
Hexum: We're using turntable scratching and making it a little more trip-hop sounding, like on "Light Years." It's cool because SA (Martinez, vocalist) is becoming an instrumentalist now. He's got his scratching to a level where it really adds something, and he has something to do when we play instrumental jams.
MG: There are a lot of cool wah tones on the record. Was that mainly an envelope follower?
Hexum: Most of it is a Boss T-Wah.
Mahoney: I used a wah pedal on "The Continuous Life," but I don't use it that often.
Hexum: I don't use it at all.
Mahoney: We use T-Wahs, mostly.
Hexum: The Boss T-Wah and Octaver are the signature of the 311 sound.
Mahoney: I hope they don't stop making those octave pedals. The T-Wahs are discontinued and they're hard to find. I'm using a Boss FT-2 Dynamic Filter now, because I lost my T-Wah in a fire. That one was the best. The T-Wah in the SE-70 is pretty good, too. We've got a couple of envelope followers right now, but it's always good to get more.
MG: Nick, you seem to prefer Les Pauls and hollowbody Gibsons.
Hexum: I've always played Les Pauls because Mick Jones was my first guitar hero. In our first band, the Eds, Tim and I both played Les Pauls. Paul Reed Smith is probably the top guitar maker out there but the hollowbody thing for me is really big, and PRS doesn't make a hollowbody.
Mahoney: I know that PRS is making hollowbodies now, but I haven't played one yet. Up until recently I had the PRS Standards, which have mahogany bodies. Then I got a Santana model, which has a maple top. I recorded all of Transistor with the Santana model. But it's set up differently than the Standard--the toggle switches are different and the scale length is not the same. I wanted to get a new guitar, so I got two Customs with maple tops. They did them custom for me and put a bird of prey inlay on them. I still love the warmth of the all-mahogany ones. I also love the sound of hollowbodies. There are a couple of songs where I could use it, but I tend to use the same guitar through the whole set. The Paul Reed Smith is really good for doing nice clean tones and the heavy metal distortion.
MG: You've been in a battle with music critics for awhile now. The reviews on this album in particular have been really brutal.
Hexum: Critics don't feel like they had a part in supporting our band, so they feel like they've got to say that we suck because they never covered us. Now they have to cover us, so they pan us. Bad reviews really don't affect us much. That's been a long-standing realization with us. Critics only have an effect on a very small amount of the actual record buyers. Sure, when there's a mean-spirited attack it pisses me off, and it stings when you read it. But I save them all so I can laugh over their grave one day. What are most of these people's qualifications? Are they at least a one-time fan of the band so they have some legitimate interest in listening to the album, or are they just forced to because it was an assignment? Are they a musician? Why is one critic's opinion more important than anyone else's? I guess I wouldn't be saying this if they liked us more, but you have to move on.
Mahoney: We'd like everyone to praise us, but we’d rather see a sticker with our logo on someone's skateboard than a ton of good press. We've been playing for a while and have a lot of core fans who don't care what anyone else things. They just want to come listen to the music.
Hexum: There are plenty of critical darlings who can't fill Red Rocks. I'd rather be hated by critics and loved by fans.
MG: Your songs generally have a very positive message, which isn't exactly in fashion right now.
Hexum: When I get a letter from a fan that says, "I just went through a hard time in my life, and your record is something that pulled me through," that to me is a purpose that transcends entertainment. It's connecting with someone on a deep level. The lyrics are not 100 percent "be happy," but when I write a song about a problem there will invariably be a solution or a positive outcome. I guess that's because we're healthy people. We try to be positive and maintain a good attitude. I would really hate it if my influence was not constructive.
MG: Do you feel that coming form Omaha, Nebraska, had an influence had an influence on you?
Hexum: We expected to have to work hard. People in the Midwest don't expect to take the easy route. We feel that if you work hard you will have a good life. That work ethic influenced us to stick with it, no matter what problems came our way. Musically speaking, all of our influences are from Jamaica, New York, L.A., or England. I can't think of any band that I'd listen to that’s from the Midwest. But attitude-wise our background has been a huge influence.
MG: What are some of your biggest musical influences?
Hexum: The Clash and Bob Marley are some of the biggest ones. I also like the great jazz songwriters like Cole Porter, Johnny Mercer, and George Gershwin. On this last album I only did one rap. I'm really getting back into making classic melodies and writing songs that are more timeless. That's the result of me listening to more melodic stuff.
Mahoney: We all have a lot of the same influences, like the Bad Brains and Bob Marley. We like bands that mix up a lot of different styles, like Urban Dance Squad and Jane's Addiction. I like lot of the older guitar players like Jerry Garcia, Carlos Santana, John McLaughlin and Jimi Hendrix, and jazz players like John Scofield. To me, jazz players are the ultimate. We also listen to a lot of modern music.
Hexum: I make a lot of my own trip-hop compilations. There's some really great stuff out there, but there's also a lot of crap. I got through the CDs, extract whatever songs I like onto my hard drive and burn a CD that's my own "best of" compilation. A lot of trip-hop is on compilation records because many of these acts aren't signed. It's just one guy with a computer. But some of it is really creative and cool. There are artists who put together full-length albums that are great. Tricky's first album was a masterpiece. Portishead is great, and so are both Massive Attack albums. I also like the Chemical Brothers quite a bit.
Mahoney: We're both really into Ernest Ranglin.
Hexum: I couldn't believe it when I first heard that album. It's an instrumental album with really great jazz-level players but doing reggae. I love that hollowbody tone that he has. It's classic reggae grooves but with technically skilled players.
Mahoney: It's like rasta Wes Montgomery.
MG: You put quite a bit of material on the new album, but are there any other directions that you want to explore?
Hexum: There was one acid jazz and one old-school, straight funk instrumental
that didn't make the record. I wanted to put them on there but I got outvoted.
We're going to keep expanding, speaking more through melodies than words.
A lot of bands complain about how difficult it is to write songs on the road, but Nick Hexum has remedied this situation by assembling a portable studio that makes it easy for him to capture his creative ideas. The entire system fits into a small rack that can be wheeled backstage, into a hotel room, or onto the bus.
The core of the system is a Macintosh Powerbook computer loaded with Opcode's Studio Vision sequencing/hard disk recording software. The computer has three gigabytes of internal storage, and Hexum has connected a two gigabyte drive and a CD-ROM burner to the computer for additional storage. Sound sources include an Akai S3000 sampler, and Roland JV-1080 and Waldorf Pulse synth modules. Hexum controls the sound sources either with a Roland PC-160 keyboard controller or with his guitar synth setup. Hexum also uses Steinberg's ReCycle program which changes the temp of the drum loops without changing the pitch.
"The JV-1080 had thousands of patches, including every hip-hop drum sound you could imagine, drum loops and scratch sounds," says Hexum. "I have this sound card for the JV that features a bunch of bass and drum samples done by Abe Laboriel Sr. and Jr. Sometimes I'll extract beats straight from a CD and put it on the hard drive. I also have loads of sampling CDs."
For guitar parts, Hexum plugs his guitar into a Korg Pandora and records direct to hard disk. "I can play anything and get a really good-sounding demo," he comments. "First, I'll sequence everything in MIDI and then I'll record my guitar. Once it's all exactly where I want I’ll record it on the hard drive or burn it on a CD. This system lets me do everything except lay down vocals and live drums. I also use Studio Vision to make continuous dance mixes. I'll have a 30-minute sequence that has seven songs in it, and I'll fade in from one song to the next. I can also make my own custom compilations by extracting songs that I like from CDs and burning them onto a separate CD.
"Now I have something to do while I'm waiting for the show," says Hexum. "It helps me keep the songwriting going. Before I just had a guitar and a tape recorder. Now I can make demos that sound good."