Nick Hexum and Tim Mahoney -- later members of 311 -- play in the Eds, an Omaha band also featuring the Ward Bones, Andy Gray and Ed Birmingham. Hexum and future 311 member Chad Sexton play in Westside High School's Concert Jazz Band. Hexum moves to Los Angeles, returns to Omaha and forms the band Unity with Sexton on drums, Mahoney on drums, Mahoney on guitar, and Bones on keyboards. One of Unity's first songs is "Summer of Love." Hexum and Bones move to Los Angeles. Sexton follows. Unity gigs in Los Angeles at clubs such as the Roxy and the Coconut Teaszer. Sexton returns to Omaha, Hexum moves to Germany and Unity breaks up. Sexton forms Fish Hippos with Aaron "P-Nut" Wills and Jim Watson.
Hexum returns to Omaha and joins the band. The name is changed to 311. 311 plays its first gig June 10 as an opener for Fugazi at Sokol Hall, with Hexum on vocals, Watson on guitar, P-Nut on bass, and Sexton on drums. Mahoney and Curt Grubb later fill in on guitar. 311 releases the self-produced cassette "Dammit." 311 gets a permanent lineup with Mahoney on guitar, Doug "SA" Martinez on vocals, Hexum on vocals and guitar, Sexton on drums and P-Nut on bass.v The band releases the full-length recording "Unity" and the EP "Hydroponic." 311 moves to Van Nuys Calif., and soon signs a record deal with the Nashville-based Capricorn label. The band makes its major label debut with the CD "Music," with producer Eddie Offord. 311 makes its first video, "Do You Right," on location in Omaha during, a staged concert at Sokol Hall.311 crossed the country numerous times, playing a total of 115 concert dates during 1993. The band releases "Grassroots," which debuts at No. 193 on the Billboard Top 200 albums chart. The album "311" is recorded with a new producer, Ron St. Germaine. "311" is released in July and debuts at No. 56 on the Billboard Top 200 albums chart. The band hits Europe and makes an online appearance on Compuserve. 311 appears on the pro-marijuana CD "Hempilation," fueling criticism
from the parental anti-drug group Pride Omaha. Complaints stemming from a rumor that 311 is a code name for the Ku Klux Klan result in a ban of the group's T-shirts in Omaha's District 66 schools. Videos for the songs "Down" and "All Mixed Up" go into heavy rotation on MTV. 7/27/96- 311 opens for Kiss at Madison Square Garden in New York City. "311" peaks at No. 12 on the Billboard Top 200 albums chart. The Recording Industry Association of America certifies "311" platinum in July. The home video "Enlarged to Show Detail" emerges as a top-selling video and appears on the Billboard Top 200 list. "311 is certified double-platinum in December. 311 begins recording its fourth album, tentatively due out in August. 311 tours America and is planning a month long European tour.
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