311 Origins
This video breaks down the timeline for 311 members early musical endeavors and how they each met each other. Nick says about this video, “It was accurate! Prolly the most comprehensive timely ever made.”
Nick Hexum
(A Tribute To) The Clash
Yes, Nick’s first rock show was under the name “The Clash”! Well technically the name was The Right Profile: A Tribute To The Clash, but his teacher shortened it.
His bandmates on this endeavor were Curt Grubb, Lon Breslow, Mark Kessler. It was at a middle school talent show, complete with rebellious shenanigans.
It’s a fun story to hear about from Nick and his longtime friend and bandmate Curt Grubb (formerly of Grasshopper Takeover).
Nick and Tim
The Ed’s
Between 1985 – 1987, Nick and Tim were in a band called The Eds.
They performed and won ‘Battle of the Bands’ beating out their later stagehand Yeti’s band.
The other members of the Ed’s include Ward Bones, Andy Gray, Lon Breslow, and Ed Birmingham.
Nick says, “Tim Mahoney and me go back the longest of anyone in the band. Before we could drive, 1985, we were playing in a couple different high school bands. One of them was called The Eds, cause our drummer was named Ed. We played alternative rock at the time, college rock was like The Smiths and The Cure and REM and stuff. The big finale (of our show was) we would do this reggae version of Wild Thing and we’d do this dueling lead guitar thing and then it would go into this battle of the guitarists. He would take 4 bars, then I would take 4 bars. We’ve always played off each other.”
Chad Sexton
Drum Corps
Chad Sexton marched in multiple drum corps before 311. This helped him hone his skills, making his sound unique in execution and precision.
Sexton played marching snare with the River City Railmen in Omaha NE and in the Sky Ryders in Hutchinson KS.
Nick and Chad
Westside Jazz Band
During highschool, Nick and Chad played together in highschool in the school’s Westside Jazz band together.
In 2012, Omaha’s Westside Highschool Jazz Band instructor retired. Mr. Groth received a send-off from former students at Omaha Westside Big Band Concert.
Nick and Chad returned for the event. Zack Hexum (Nick’s younger brother) can also be seen playing saxophone.
You can hear Chad talk about his early performance history here
Nick, Tim, Chad
Unity
Unity was the real antecedent form of 311. This were when the 311 sound began developing. Instead of covers, Unity wrote original songs, some of which turned into 311 songs.
They started up in 1988. The first line-up of Unity was Nick, Chad, Tim and Ward Bones. They broke up as the guys finished high school and went their separate ways.
The line-up changed and they tried to strike out to Los Angeles. It fell apart.
Nick on flyer, “That would have been Chad, Me, Ward Bones, and Marcus Watkins.” (Unity’s second line-up) “Double Freak was huge. One of the 2 singers went on to become Daddy X, rapper in Kottonmouth Kings. Almost no record of them exists. I lived in LA for most of 88 and all of 89. I do recall watching Gwen in her tutu.”
Nick on photo, “Here’s a photo I dug up from 1989 of us chilling on the beach.” That is the coat of many colors referred to in Homebrew. It burned in the RV fire.
Flyer photo from Adam Krupa. Candid photo from Nick Hexum.
P-Nut
Three-Eleven
So this may confuse some… Allow me to explain.
‘311’ as we know it got their name for the Omaha police code for indecent exposure.
This stemmed from an incident with Jim Watson (guitarist and friend of P-Nut). He was caught skinny-dipping in the public pool after hours and was brought home handcuffed and naked to his parents. The police code was 3-1-1.
‘Three-Eleven’ that played at the 1990 Talent show (video) was Jim Watson, P-Nut and Ray Porter. Ray (drums) filled in on this show because the drummer did not attend the school and was not allowed in. The original drummer was Rob Elizando.
Three Eleven only had a handful of school performances under that moniker and is not the ‘311’ we know and love now.
Newsletter photo from Jason Moore
Chad, P-Nut
Fish Hippos
P-Nut, Chad, and Jim Watson were in a band called the Fish Hippos. Chad talked Nick into moving back from Germany to join in their performance opening for Fugazi.
When Nick joined, he insisted on changing the name of the band. P-Nut and Jim suggested ‘311’, which was a name they performed under for the 1990 Talent Show and explained the origin. The band announced from stage on June 10, 1990 that they were now ‘311’.
Nick, Chad, P-Nut, Tim, SA
311
It was shortly after their show on June 10th that Jim Watson was replaced with Tim Mahoney. SA Martinez (who Chad met when in college) showed up as a guest vocalist frequently from the beginning, but didn’t become a full fledged band member until 1992 when the band was planning its move to LA and realized they didn’t want to do it without him.
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