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Timeline:
October 29th, 1969: SA is born
Douglas Vincent Martinez born in Omaha, Nebraska.
February 17th, 1970: miT is born
Timothy Jerome Mahoney born in Omaha, Nebraska.
April 12th, 1970: Nick is born
Nicholas Lofton Hexum born in Madison, Wisconsin.
September 7th, 1970: Chad is born
Chad Ronald Sexton born in Lexington, Kentucky.
June 5th, 1974: P-Nut is born
Aaron Charles Wills born in Indianapolis, Indiana.
1987: Genesis
Nick graduates from high school early and moves to L.A. to become a rock star. Coming back home for graduation, Nick, Chad, Tim, plus keyboardist Ward Bones, jam together and realize they have a strong musical connection and call themselves "Unity."
1988: Move to the West Side
Nick, Chad and Ward move to L.A. and try unsuccessfully to get a record contract.
1988: Gigs in L.A.
Unity gigs in Los Angeles at clubs such as the Roxy and the Coconut Teaszer.
1989: Back To Omaha
Deciding L.A. is not for him, Chad moves back to Omaha and begins jamming with P-Nut and a guitarist named Jim Watson. They are known as "Fish Hippos". A few months later, Chad persuades Nick to follow suit.
1990: "Downstairs EP" Released
Recorded in Nick Hexum's basement and released without cover art.
1990: "Dammit!" Released
Three-hundred copies were made, released only on cassette. S.A. Martinez makes a brief appearance on "Fuck The Bullshit".
June 10th, 1990: First 311 Show
Opened for Fugazi at Sokol Hall just south of Omaha, Nebraska.
1991: Elementary, my dear Watson Mahoney
The band parts ways with Jim Watson and adds Tim Mahoney on lead guitar.
1991: "Unity" Released
The first album 311 could afford to release on CD, in addition to cassette, sold a couple thousand albums locally, and helped 311 gain a good following in Omaha.
1992: Completion of 311
Making guest appearances with the band for about a year, SA is added as the last member of the band.
1992: "Hydroponic" Released
311's third Omaha release, before they signed with Capricorn Records and moved to Los Angeles, was only released locally.
March, 1992: Migration to Cali
311 moves to a small house in Van Nuys, California. Thanks to a demo tape sent in by producer Eddy Offord, Capricorn Records notices the unknown Nebraska band.
1993: RV Explodes
While on the road supporting Music, Nick notices smoke rising from the RV and pulls over to the shoulder of the road. Their RV catches fire and explodes. The band escapes with just minor cuts and bruises. However, all of the band's equipment, clothes, money, and personal possessions are destroyed. Nick was forced to shave his head after his (then) long hair caught on fire. But the band misses only one show, and soon return to the stage with equipment donated by fans and friends of 311.
February 9th, 1993: "Music" Released
Signing with Capricorn Records months prior, 311 releases their debut album, Music.
July 12th, 1994: "Grassroots" Released
311 releases their sophomore album Grassroots. To promote the album, the band moves out of their Van Nuys home, leave all of their belongings in storage, and live on the road. They gain a big grassroots following.
July 25th, 1995: "311" (The Blue Album) Released
The band's third album, an epnoymous release, is eventually certified triple platinum, owing much to the success of singles "Down" and "All Mixed Up".
September, 1996: "Down" Single Released
Over a year after the "Blue Album" was released, "Down" hit the airwaves. The song became 311's first #1 hit and arguably their most successful single to date, catapulting them to fame.
November 5th, 1996: "Enlarged to Show Detail" Video Released
The long-form home video debuted at #1 on Billboards Music Video Sales Chart and was later certified platinum. The band bundled the video with a bonus EP of unreleased recordings (outtakes from the Blue Album).
August 27th, 1997: "Transistor" Released
311's fourth album debuts at #4 on Billboard's Top 200 chart and is now certified platinum. Following the release, 311 tours extensively, their headlining show getting an average of 10,000 people a night.
October, 1998: "Omaha Sessions EP" Released
311 reissues some of its independent 1989-1991 material on their Omaha Sessions album. The album is only available on their official website (http://www.311.com).
November 3rd, 1998: "Live!" Released
A collection of live recordings from the 1997 U.S. Tour.
October 12th, 1999: "Soundsystem" Released
The band's 5th studio album, Soundsystem, peaks at #9 on the Billboard's Top 200 chart.
2000: 311 Buys "The Hive"
The band purchases a recording studio in North Hollywood. After making some renovations and bringing in their own equipment, they rename it "The Hive" (which is also the name of their fanclub). The studio was active in the 70's / 80's: Missing Persons and Adam Ant recorded albums there, and, most recently, it was used as a voiceover studio for movies.
June 19th, 2001: "From Chaos" Released
311's sixth studio album, also the band's first Volcano Records release, is the first special enhanced CD from 311, featuring exclusive interviews with the bandmembers, an in-studio photo gallery, and video trailers for ETSD 1 & 2.
December 11th, 2001: "Enlarged to Show Detail 2" Video Released
The second home-video style documentary includes more behind-the-scenes footage, music videos, live videos, and other special features. It is now certified Platinum.
July 22nd, 2003: "Evolver" Released
The band's seventh studio album is the second album to be released on Volcano and the second enhanced album as well.
February, 2004: "Love Song" Released
The first 311 single of 2004 quickly topped the charts, becoming the band's second #1 hit. "Love Song" first appeared on the soundtrack to "50 First Dates", later appearing on 311's "Greatest Hits '93-'03".
June 8th, 2004: "Greatest Hits '93-'03" Released
The first 14 tracks are previous hits from 311, track 15 is a cover from the "50 First Dates" soundtrack, and the last two tracks are previously unreleased. "Homebrew" was also rerecorded for this release.
October 26th, 2004: "311 Day: Live In New Orleans" Video Released
The 2-disc DVD set includes 64 of the 68 song setlist played on March 11, 2004 at Uno Lakefront Arena in New Orleans, LA. Also includes behind-the-scenes footage with the band and the fan-party the night before.
August 16th, 2005: "Don't Tread On Me" Released
The band's eighth full-length studio album debuts at #5 on Billboard's Top 200.