311 Biography

311 (pronounced "three eleven") is an American rock band formed in 1988 in Omaha, Nebraska. The founding members include vocalist and guitarist Nick Hexum, lead guitarist Jim Watson, bassist Aaron "P-Nut" Wills, and drummer Chad Sexton. Tim Mahoney replaced Watson in 1990, and Doug "SA" Martinez joined the group as a second vocalist and turntablist in 1992.

The band initially gained attention with their independently produced EPs, starting with Downstairs, which featured the song "Feels So Good." They followed this with two additional EPs, Unity and Damnit, and by the early 1990s, 311 was performing regularly in local venues. Their growing popularity led to a deal with Capricorn Records in 1991, resulting in their debut album, Music, released in 1993, followed by Grassroots in 1994. Both albums achieved modest commercial success.

311's significant breakthrough came with their self-titled third album, released in 1995. This album included the hit singles "Down" and "All Mixed Up," with "Down" reaching the top of the Billboard Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart and contributing to the album being certified triple platinum. The band's subsequent albums, Transistor (1997), Soundsystem (1999), and From Chaos (2001), continued to perform well, with both Transistor achieving platinum status and Soundsystem and From Chaos earning gold certifications.

Throughout their career, 311 has released a total of fourteen studio albums, two live albums, four compilation albums, four EPs, and four DVDs. As of 2022, the band had sold over 10 million records in the United States. Their music spans several genres, including rock, reggae, and rap, which has contributed to their distinct sound.

In 2024, 311 announced the release of their fourteenth studio album, Full Bloom, along with the single "Need Somebody." Earlier that year, they debuted the music video for "You're Gonna Get It," marking their first new release since 2019.

311 remains active in the music industry, continuing to tour and produce new material.