311
The Omaha band that fused alt-rock, reggae, funk, and rap into a laid-back sound built for summer. Their 1995 self-titled "Blue Album" broke them nationwide on the strength of "Down" and "All Mixed Up," and their two-vocalist lineup has stayed intact for decades.
311 formed in Omaha, Nebraska in 1988, built around Nick Hexum (vocals/guitar), Aaron "P-Nut" Wills (bass), and Chad Sexton (drums). Guitarist Tim Mahoney joined in 1991, and rapper/turntablist Doug "SA" Martinez completed the classic five-piece in 1992 — the same year they signed to Capricorn Records. Early albums Music (1993) and Grassroots (1994) built a devoted following without breaking through.
The breakthrough was the self-titled third album, released July 11, 1995 — universally known as the "Blue Album" for its cover: a blue field centered on the band's crop-circle-style logo (there's no planet or Mars imagery, a common misremembering). It reached #12 on the Billboard 200 and went triple platinum, powered by "Down," which topped the Modern Rock chart in 1996, and the mellow follow-up "All Mixed Up," which hit #4. Their blend of rap-rock and reggae grooves was a perfect fit for the mid-90s alternative moment.
311 kept rolling into the 2000s: From Chaos (2001) produced "Amber," a #13 alternative hit, and their 2004 cover of the Cure's "Love Song" became their biggest crossover. In 2000 they launched "311 Day," a marathon concert of 40-plus songs held on March 11 that grew into a biennial (now annual) fan pilgrimage. With the same five members still together and over 10 million US records sold, they're one of the more durable acts to come out of the 90s alt-rock wave.
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