INTRO
Long before the current rap-metal genre became part of mainstream rock, there were already many bands who were playing this hybrid music. One such band is 311 who have been fusing hip-hop, funk, reggae and hard rock since 1990.
Formed in Omaha, Nebraska, 311 almost broke up after a couple of years because they were broke and their brand of music wasn't very popular yet. Fortunately, they were signed up by Capricorn Records and released their debut album "Music" in 1993. Touring became second nature to this very hard working band and their second album "Grassroots" was released in July '94.
All the touring and energetic live shows paid off as their fan base kept growing. 311 finally made a breakthrough with their self-titled third album in 1995 which gave them two hits, "Down" and "All Mixed Up," on Billboard Modern Rock Chart and MTV. "311" sold over three million copies and the band began drawing huge crowds to its shows. Two more studio albums -- "Transistor" (1997) and "Soundsystem" (1999) -- proved that 311's success was no flash in the pan.
After fighting a legal battle with their record company, the band is back with their sixth album called "From Chaos." 311 frontman Nick Hexum talks to MTVAsia.com's Patrick Chng about the new album, the state of rock music, Napster and keeping things fresh.
How do you think the rock music scene has evolved since you guys were formed in 1990?
One of the biggest things is when we started out in 1990, there was really no genre of rap-rock, you know. When we first started out, we didn't really have that bit much of a chance of getting on radio because radio at that time was dominated by grunge and Nirvana, Pearl Jam... you know. Then when we finally had a hit with "Down," we were one of the first rap-rock groups to do that. It's been a really big change.
You guys were mixing hard rock with hip hop, funk and even reggae way back when, who were your main influences when the band was just formed?
When the band was just formed, we were into the Chili Peppers, Bad Brains, Urban Dance Squad... a lot of different things, definitely more straight hip-hop like Beastie Boys and stuff like that. We just try to be really open-minded and we're into all kinds of things.
I think you guys were described as rap-metal long before this genre became immensely popular, did you feel pigeon-holed by that categorization?
Not really because I thought it was a genre where you can make your own rules. Modern Rock is one of the most open-minded genres to be in because you can have anything from ska to metal to hip-hop to reggae influences, Latin, funk, whatever. It's a pretty wide open spectrum. I've always felt pretty free to make whatever kind of sound we wanted.
Rap-metal is huge now with bands like Limp Bizkit, Linkin Park and Papa Roach, do you feel part of this scene?
Yeah, I think we're definitely part of that scene but I kinda see us as being a band that... you know, there's newer rap-metal type like you said, like Papa Roach, Linkin Park and stuff like that, that more appeals to younger audiences. And then there's more sort of adult-oriented rock which would be like Radiohead and U2 and stuff like that. And I think we're somewhere in between that where maybe people in the 30's like Radiohead and people in their teens like Linkin Park, people in their 20's are going to be more appealing to 311 I think.
Whenever a genre becomes huge, there are bound to be bands who would jump onto the bandwagon. Already we're hearing loads of bands who sound really generic. How do you feel about that?
It happens but I don't mind it. If anything now, the music industry has to take rap-rock as a serious form of music and would have to consider us more where before when we first started out, they just figured that rap-rock in general is just a fad and they would just dismiss the whole genre. But now, they have to acknowledge the whole genre or at least give it more of a chance to be acknowledged.
One thing that sets 311 apart is that you guys have a very positive vibe as opposed to just angst and whining. Do you agree that this is one of the things that make you guys different?
Yeah I think that that's something that is definitely kind of unique for us but we just kinda happen to grow into that. But we feel in this day and age with all the blessings that we've been given and the chance to do this, that probably the last people who should be complaining about how tough life is, is the people in modern rock who are complaining about life sucks... whatever. To me, I would feel embarrassed to be saying that because these people who are saying it usually have every advantage in the world, so I just feel it's our duty to balance all that stuff out by spreading more positive messages.
You guys came up before those bands who are now bigger than you guys. They're selling more records than 311. How do you feel?
I would say that... we feel that we have sort of a comeback to make but I don't feel any spite or jealousy of bands who are maybe influenced by us and are bigger than us now because, if anything, they've helped get the genre of hybrid music acknowledged. If people are sort of acknowledging it, then rap-rock is a force to be reckon with and that's only going to help us in the long run.
Why is the new album called "From Chaos?"
"From Chaos" just means that it came out at the time when we sued our record company and got off that label. It was a lot of uncertainty and chaos during the time that we made the album. But we just try and take that chaos and have it make us stronger, make us more focus and more hungry for the mission to be accomplished.
How has that incident affect your views of the music industry?
I think it's a unique thing because most people when they sue the record company, they're just doing it to try and get a better deal. But we were actually doing it to get off the label. And we did that and that's a pretty rare thing. Most people are usually just doing it to try and get more money. And we were able to re-negotiate our deal as well as get on, what we consider, to be a way better label.
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