311 Release Don't Tread on Me (Music Remedy)

Volcano/Jive Records will be releasing 311’s 8th studio album Don’t Tread On Me August 16. The album consists of 11 new tracks produced by Ron Saint Germain and 311. The title track “Don’t Tread On Me” will be the first single impacting at radio July 25.

Omaha-bred, Los Angeles-based 311 have released seven studio albums (four Gold, one Platinum, and one Triple-Platinum), a live album and three DVD’s (one Gold, two Platinum). Four of their releases have reached the Top 10 on Billboard’s Top 200 Album Charts. Six singles have gone into the Top 10 on Billboard’s Modern Rock Chart including the #1 hits “Down” and “Love Song.” The band has sold over seven million albums in the U.S.

The band, known for their dynamic live shows, will go back out on the road in support of the new album (and in celebration of their 15 year anniversary) starting July 27 in Santa Cruz with support bands Papa Roach and Unwritten Law in select cities.

QUOTES FROM 311 REGARDING THE NEW ALBUM “DON’T TREAD ON ME”:

NICK:
“To me, the meaning of the album title, "Don't Tread on Me" is simple - it's about freedom. Personal freedom. Freedom from any kind of oppression - political, religious, or social.”

NICK:
“The title track "Don't Tread On Me" is really about emotional volatility when you feel like your freedom is being encroached upon.”

SA:
“The title track - "Don't Tread On Me" has a great melody with a dope rhythm underneath. Slightly skanky, but in a good way. Catchy, aggressive at times, and never a dull moment. Classic 311.”

PNUT:
“Don't Tread On Me" has us embarking on what I know will be a great journey. More shows, more reactions; being pushed to my physical limits by the egging on of thousands. This collection is as diverse a group of songs as can be written by 311 and we had fun putting it all down. We love being allowed to continue on our musickal journey and we have you, our fans, to thank for our future. Let there be rock!”

NICK:
“I think we had a lot to say on this new album (themes range from personal freedom and emotional volatility in “Don’t Tread On Me” to life and mortality in “It’s Getting OK Now” to questioned celebration in “Frolic Room” to sexual abuse in “Getting Through to Her” to the politics of fear in “Solar Flare” to the ups and downs of love and personal relationships in “Speak Easy”, “Waiting”, “Long for the Flowers” and “There’s Always an Excuse”) and I'm very happy with the combination of new styles that we've come up with. Overall, this album musically is a little more straight-forward than our last. It's more like what you see at a 311 show; two vocals, guitar, bass, and drums. Evolver had more overdubs and was more influenced by the British heroes of the past. This one is pure America (with a little Jamaican herb!).”

NICK:
“The new songs are eclectic as always. There are a handful of reggae influenced tracks, but they're more up-tempo and funky than our reggae has been in the past. There's also a fast punk song with a melodic vocal that Tim & SA wrote called "It's Getting OK Now" and a super slow and heavy rap rocker called "Solar Flare". On "Solar Flare" SA's delivery and lyrics skewer people who use fear to stay in power.”

SA:
“When we first started rehearsing "Solar Flare", I thought that the vocal needed something with as much attitude as the music was communicating. I kept getting these apocalyptic visions - these you and I against the world scenarios.”

SA:
“The true origins of the song "Frolic Room" lie in the fact that Nick has frequented a bar called "The Frolic Room" in Hollywood ever since he's lived in this city. The bar has had 311 songs on their jukebox for quite some time. This new song is basically an insurance policy to reserve a slot on their juke for eternity.”

SA:
“I got the lyrical inspiration for the song "Speak Easy" from Wilhelm Reich's belief that any emotion we carry we must let out - otherwise that emotion will sit within us and manifest itself in ways that may not be good for our health. We can create blocks that turn into physical symptoms that were initially just emotions that we denied ourselves from experiencing. I shared this idea with Nick. I told him that lyrically I wanted to hit on the idea of letting out emotion, relaxing and breathing - because breath is life. I sang, "Nice and easy, and your breathing will be pleasing..." and Nick was quick with the rejoinder "..just speak easy and say what's on your mind.”

NICK:
“After finishing our eighth album, I look back and notice how lucky we are to have been able to make music for a living for fifteen years! This is due entirely to the level of dedication of the fans we have and the bond that we've developed as a band over the past 15 years. We know we're truly blessed.”