For any music fan looking for unique blend of music that includes elements of rock, punk, hip hop, reggae, metal and funk, a match can be found with the band 311. Originally from Omaha, Nebraska, 311 has enjoyed widespread commercial success over the years, and their fan base has grown by exponential proportions. To think this was the group that started their career playing in Omaha pubs and bars and was known as the Fish Hippos. Luckily the lead vocalist Nick Hexum made it a point to get the band's name changed to what would eventually be 311, which was the number of a police citation given to one of the former band members.The group actually released their first album in 1990, a little record known as Dammit! The first attempt became a local success, but the members of 311 had their gaze set on bigger dreams. Only a couple years later the band released their very first major record, Music. Their single "Do You Right" received a considerable amount of airplay on the radio and the song itself reached the number 27 spot on Billboard's Modern Rock Tracks Chart. It was a good start for the little band from Omaha and they were just heading up from there.311's mainstream breakthrough came in 1995. Their self-titled CD, would be hailed as their biggest selling album, featuring songs like "Down," "Don't Stay Home" and "All Mixed Up." The band appeared on numerous television shows, including a highly publicized appearance on David Letterman, and they also set up a touring schedule around the United States to help introduce fans to their unique blend of various musical genres.311 followed up their initial success with Transistor and Soundsystem, both of which fared well among music critics and helped to further establish 311 as a competitive band on the market. The 1990s were a time of evolution for 311, they nailed down a cohesive sound that would be hailed as original and refreshing and they set themselves up to head defiantly into the 2000s with determination to create and record more albums.With songs like "Love Song" and "Don't Tread On Me," 311 defined themselves as one of the top bands of the new decade. They are constantly collaborating to envision a sound that is bold and innovative and the resulting product is almost always hailed as another ingenious contribution by 311. Their presence on the world stage will likely not fade anytime soon.
