Hello 311 nation! Happy 311 Day week! Let’s kick it off properly by meeting another fan – here’s the story of Stephen Murphy!
Back when Stephen was in high school there was a kid who was one grade ahead of him and he had an old Chevy pick up truck that had a huge 311 sticker across the back window. “I went up to him before class one day and asked him about it and he told me who they were and that I should check them out. That weekend I went to Newbury Comics and picked up the blue album and Music. After that first listen, I was hooked. The mixture of different sounds, how it made me move and feel. I was all over the place while coming into my own, so hearing a band that was somewhat “all over that place” as well felt pretty good. Everything about it felt good and it was for me. Little did I know that the sounds of 311 would be with me from that point on, through thick and thin.”
First time Stephen saw 311 was in North Hampton, Massachusetts, when they were part of Warped Tour. “From that point on, its has been fifty shows in multiple states and across two cruises to this point. Cannot wait for Cruise #3 in a few short weeks!!” As for his favorite show, it was the July 2008 show at the Comcast Center in Mansfield, Massachusetts. “I was on leave after my tour in Iraq and I was excited to be seeing them again. I will never forget it was during the beginning of Come Original that a thunderstorm started. Everything was hitting right, it was great.”
For songs that resonate with Stephen, there are a few including “Come Original.” “It wants you to be happy with who you are and be who you are. Do not be who you think others want you to be.” The other song is “Crossfire.” “In Iraq, there was a point in my deployment where I was in fact in a crossfire while listening to 311.”
As for favorite lyrics, there are ones from “Too Much Too Think” that hold a special place for Stephen, “I don’t got time to waste or time to kill, I’ve had too much to think. I wanna get high (I wanna get high) but you’re taking me down.” “They help me keep my mind in perspective when goals need to be achieved.”
Lowell, Massachusetts, is where Stephen is from. He is a dad to 3 amazing children – Fiona Jane is his oldest and she is 19. Then there’s Kennedy Julianna who is 18 and about to graduate high school and start college in the fall. The youngest is Clash Fenway and he just had a birthday turning 15! Stephen is also the oldest of four brothers.
Stephen lived in Lowell most of his life until he joined the Army in 2005 as a medic. Then he moved around a bit including Texas, Washington, and Colorado. “I also had a couple of overseas deployments sprinkled in before getting out in 2014. It was because of the Army that I was able to see 311 all over the country in places I never thought possible. After my time in the Army, I became my youngest brother’s caretaker and was his main person until his passing in July 2023. It has been a long year and a half of healing and figuring things out. I am currently back in school figuring out what I want to be when I grow up. I am getting close to maybe figuring it out. My kids say I got this, they haven’t been wrong yet! My kids are my biggest fans and I am their biggest fans. They keep me young at heart and keep my mind sharp.”
On April 20th of this year, Stephen is going for his third Tough Ruck marathon. “That’s 26.2 miles with my 45lb ruck sack on. I am one crazy Mother Rucker! I never in a million years thought that I would be good at something, let alone be able to do it like this. Who would have thought that carrying a heavy backpack long distance would be something a person could be talented in.
Fun fact about Stephen is that he has a large Funko Pop collection. “It’s a damn addiction! I even Funko’d my kids, lol. I am also a huge horror movie fan. From Killer Klowns to Gremlins, I am all about it.” As for a guilty pleasure, for music he likes to get down to some Twiztid. “On the down low. I also watch a lot of Supernatural! Dean and Sam, all the way!”
Aside from 311, Stephen can be found cranking tunes from artists such as Ice Nine Kills, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Avenged Sevenfold, Wu Tang, George Clinton, Ballyhoo!, Little Stranger, Aurorawave, Pennywise, H2o and Less than Jake.
To 311, Stephen has these words: “Thank you. Their music was the soundtrack to the hardest parts of my deployments. Their music kept me positive in a place that was mostly negative, Thanks Guys!”
Now his words to all his fellow fans out there:
“Always make your bed, that way you can say you accomplished something that day!”
Thank you Stephen for sharing your story with us all! As always, so much gratitude to all who read each week. Now go have an awesome 311 Day and a great week and hope to see some of you shortly on the cruise!
Much Love – The Runt