Hellllloooooo again my friends out there in 311 nation! I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to start this week off right with our new fan spotlight. It’s time to meet Gerry Alfred!

Trinidad is where Gerry comes from and it was around 1993 that they got cable there. He was really into Green Day at the time and he was looking for some “bad ass bands” that were original and captivating. In comes MTV which was starting to show the video for “Down.” His brother didn’t like the song so for awhile every time Gerry saw the video start he would change the channel. Then one day he decided to see why his brother thought it was so horrible. “I watched the vid….my brain exploded! I loved the mix of rock, rap, reggae, funk, jazz. 311 was always too rap for the metal heads and it was too satanic for the reggae heads where I came from. It just didn’t fit in (kinda like me). It was the most brilliant band I ever heard and no one got them.”

Shows Gerry has been able to see are all great ones: 311 Day 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2016, plus Pow Wow. “I loved the long ass shows.” Favorite of these events he said was hands down Pow Wow. “I got to see Sublime back on the scene, my fav bands Deftones and 311, Transistor and Universal Pulse in entirety, the campy vibes was epic! 311 outdid themselves with that show….I’m still in awe!”

Picking just a song wasn’t an option for Gerry, he said the whole Transistor album cemented him as a hard core fan. “It is so ahead of its time, I listened to that album so many nights and days and car rides. I love the whole journey. it is by far my fav album of all time…it never gets old!” Some of Gerry’s favorite lyrics include, “Fuck the naysayers cuz they don’t mean a thing, cuz this is what style we bring.” “All Mixed Up was such a sic ass vid and the vibe was intergalactic. I liked the lyric cuz it jus meant that you should just do you no matter what people think. know yourself and don’t compromise! i carry that msg with everything that I do.”

Born in Trinidad and Tobago (the bottom of the Caribbean), Gerry grew up listening to musicians like Michael Jackson, Guns N’ Roses, Def Leppard, and Boys II Men. So when Green Day released Dookie, he realized he loved “fast paced, in your face music, with cool melodies.” It was 1996 that he says his life changed when he first heard the Deftones and then 311’s Transistor. “I got into a lot of heavier punk, metal and hardcore bands but 311 and Deftones were the loves of my life!”

Gerry got a part time job while still attending school at a record store called Just CD’s. During that gig he started researching anything 311 related. “I had all the ETSD vids and all!” He was able to attend the Warped Tour back in 2003 and got to see Glassjaw, The Used, AFI and Thrice. “It was one of the greatest concert experiences I ever had! I got introduced to a lot of sic bands at that show – Less Than Jake, Poison the Well, Brand New, Story of the Year, The Starting Line, Andrew WK, etc. I had to continue the concerts, so when i got back to Trinidad I got a job at an insurance agency and started saving.”

Gerry said his brother introduced him to a huge brodel named Landon Thomas, who ended up migrating to Orland but prior to that saw that Gerry was a huge 311 fan and told him he was as well. “I found my concert soul mate! We made a plan to go to 311 day in 2006 Memphis! I love 311 more than words can explain and I thought that Landon might get fed up after a while and that would be the end of me seeing them. Every time a big show came around he asks if I’m game and we have been hitting the shows hard since 2006.I don’t think 311 themselves know how much they mean to me and how much their music shaped my life. I remember dates by album releases since the blue album…..it would be a dream come true to meet them and tell them how much they affected me. I have PNUT on FB though….lol. PNUT RULES!”

In 2016 Gerry was introduced to the 311 Familia in Orlando. “I didn’t know there were people that felt the way i felt about 311 at all! It was frowned upon in Trinidad. when I went to their big shows, sold out arenas, it brings me to tears to see the love being shown to the band and I feel like the bumble bee girl from the BLIND MELON – no rain vid. 311 are my heroes! I love that band to no end and all the fans I’ve met along the way – Brian “HOMEBREW@ mcspadden, Sean Starr (let me crash by his pad in Vegas), Jay Scott, Lauren Scott……geez i love them all!”

Gerry carries the Trinidad flag to all shows that he attends. “It appears countless times in the center of the crowd in the live recordings. I think I will be on the ETSD!! Look out for ya boy! Red, white and black!” What makes him unique is that being born of mixed ethnicity, and not really knowing where he fit in, he didn’t have a route to follow so he made his own. “I didn’t know who I was supposed to be like….that drew me to 311. They did music on their own terms…some like it…some don’t…..but the people that do like it!!! WOW!!! I feel sorry for people that don’t know how amazing 311 really are!” Guilty pleasure for Gerry is playing competitive fighting games. “Like Street Fighter and Tekken. Look me up on PSN – gerry311!”

Gerry’s message to 311 is a request: “Time for a Pow Wow 2! 311, Deftones, Wiz Khalifa, Cypress Hill, Ritchie Spice, Dirty Heads, Skindred, JR Gong, Snoop Dogg and Incubus?? Make it happen! You know it will be Godlike!!!”

For all the other fans out there, his message is this:

“Love your life, be positive, pass on 311 to the younger generations. Let’s make our heroes into the Rolling Stones/RHCP, U2 or Led Zeppelin! Let’s show the naysayers that 311 are amazing and they will carry on into the great beyond!!! I love all you guys! 311 rules yuh dun know!! BOOM!!”

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And that my friends is Gerry’s story! A fun one and great to learn about a fellow fan in another country! Thank you all for reading, you are all so amazing. Until we meet again…go spread the love and the good karma.

Much Love – The Runt

Good day all out there in 311 nation! Are you ready for a new week and a new fan spotlight? It’s time we meet Andrew Martin!

How Andrew came to love 311 is a funny story. He was 12 years old and at the time he used Limewire to download music, but it was really his brother Ryan who used it all the time. Ryan had put all the music he downloaded in to a Windows media player which also used to be how Andrew got his music onto his mp3 player. Ryan one day added a few 311 songs to the list and when Andrew synced his mp3, he ended up with those songs. “One day I was on the bus home from school and a song called “Fuck the Bullshit” came on. I remember thinking “this is trash” and skipped to the next song “How Do You Feel?” and I remember thinking once again “what the hell is this? what is going on with my MP3?” so skipped again and thats when “First Straw” played and I LOVED IT! I promptly went back and listened to the previous tracks again and again and again and again. I couldn’t stop listening to those 3 songs and somehow I just didn’t realize how much more music they had until one day I told my brother I loved those songs and he let me borrow all of their CDs to put onto my MP3. Talking to him about 311 (as a 12 year old) is probably one of the coolest memories I have considering we were both at that age difference where we didn’t hang out or even really get along. It was probably what led us to become a lot closer as the years went by.”

So far Andrew has been to 11 shows and his first was in Mansfield, MA back in 2013. “That’s where I got myself the Poseidon poster! Still lookin’ for that sweet foil though, HMU.” His favorite show so far has been 311 Day 2014 and 2016. “It’s amazing how much a performance they really put together for those shows. I had no idea what to expect and even if I did, I’m sure my expectations would’ve been blown away.”

There are two songs that mean the most to him – “Beyond the Gray Sky” and “Don’t Dwell.” Some of his favorite lyrics come from those songs as well including, “Everything is a choice, go ahead, raise your voice. Might as well, forgive yourself, that means more than someone else. Set you free, break the shell” and “A firecracker flash of light then on to the next plane, soul remain. Come along if you dare, It’s gonna be that you’re scared. Lovely life I thank you for the reason, to see the pain through.”

Andrew was born in Massachusetts but moved to Connecticut around the age of 2 or 3 because his dad was commuting there for work. The first place he lived he said was great and all of his best childhood memories are from that home. At age 10 he moved again, about 10 minutes away from his first Connecticut location. “I remember thinking “but all my friends live here” even though i was practically moving down the street haha.” Andrew is just about to move again and they are in the process of renovating an old home that they just bought. Funding the 311 addiction comes from working at an awards business, where they build and engrave various types of awards. “My job is designing the engraving for the award itself and then printing them in some of the laser printers we have. I often print 311 things for myself haha.”

Andrew describes himself as a pretty open person so he can’t really think of anything that people wouldn’t really know about himself, but he believes his sense of humor makes him unique. “My brother Ryan and I used to joke about horribly messed up things all the time to each other. One of our favorites was about dying and haunting each other and ruining each others lives. I’m really glad he hasn’t followed through on that one though.” Andrew also plays drums and has been doing so for about 4-5 years. Aside from that he builds PC’s. “I’m always tinkering and planning my next upgrade. It’s definitely an addiction at this point.” His guilty pleasure he says really isn’t guilty for him. He loves this musician Feist. “Has got to be one of my favorite things to listen to on my record player. I mean c’mon 1234 is a classic.” 

Other bands Andrew loves include a Connecticut band Violet Mae. “I think the deserve a bit more recognition around here.” He also loves his friends band Bonsai Tree. “Everyone should go check them out!” Other than that he’s been listening to random stuff lately on his Spotify while at work. “If I were to pick a genre that sticks with me more than others though that would be punk rock for sure. I grew up playing tony hawks pro skater and Dave Mirras Freestyle BMX so I love all the classic punk rock from the 90’s: Rancid, Sublime, Agent Orange, Dropkick Murphys, Swingin Utters, Social Distortion, Pennywise. Stuff like that.” Some other favorite bands are The Thermals, A Wilhelm Scream, The Shins, Streetlight Manifesto, Jeff Rosenstock, The Planet Smashers, and Against Me!

Andrew’s message to 311 is one of gratitude: “I think its incredible that after all this time the inspiration that kept them going in their early career is clearly still there and they clearly care a whole a lot about their fans and its not often you see such

an incredible connection between a band and its fans. They managed the create a whole following of wonderful people that I’m happy to call my Familia!”

His message to all the fans is a very personal dedication:

“I want to dedicate the Fan Spotlight to Ryan Arthur Martin. I would’ve answered all these questions for him but we just weren’t able to find out even just 2 full answers.

I don’t know his first show or even his favorite song or lyric. I’m not sure what drew him to their music but I’m glad he found them somehow. He’s the reason I grew up the way I did and listen to most of the music I do. Ever since I was little he was always there for me and I owe it all to him. Stay positive and love your life! Even when its tough.”

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What a great dedication and story from Andrew Martin! Thank you Andrew for sharing your story and I think your brother would be proud of the person you’ve become and that you still carry his love for 311 on with you. Time is precious people, go out and live the best life you can with 311 as your soundtrack! Until next time, be spectacular!

Much love – The Runt

Welcome back again my excitable friends, it’s time for the latest spotlight on another amazing 311 fan! So let us not delay and learn all about Justin Hughes!

The year was 1996 when Justin saw the video for “Down” and he said something just clicked in him but he had no idea what he was in for.  He ran out an bought the blue album and it was around this time that his friend would play 311 in his car here and there (usually Music or Grassroots). “He had seen them with Cypress Hill and told me they were a good live band. I thought those albums sounded so different than what I had heard on the Blue album that it only made me more interested in the band.  A few months later they were headlining a radio show in Phoenix and we went.  September 28^th, 1996 at the Compton Terrace. That was the point at which it completely changed for me. Seeing them live and the incredible energy they possessed onstage completely drew me in and I was hooked.”

Since that first show in ’96, Justin has seen them 35 times Favorite of those he narrowed down to two, the cruise in 2012 and then 311 Day 2016. “The Cruise was one of the most amazing things to be a part of.  The idea of 2,000 positive, like minded 311 fans all having the time of their lives floating around in the Caribbean with so many other bands to enjoy and soak up was absolutely surreal to me. The beach show was so unique and one of my favorites but the final show in the Palladium Lounge is probably my favorite show ever.  All the shows are special and give me that high but there was something in the air during that show and I know that I wasn’t the only one because by the end of it a girl right nearby us was crying (a good cry) and that was something I hadn’t seen before at a show so I just had to give her a huge hug.”

When it comes to the song that means the most to him, Justin said that many come to mind. Some of his favorites include “Lose,” “Running,” “Stealing Happy Hours,” “Sever,” “Crack the Code,” “Visit,” and “Sweet.”  Favorite lyrics came a little easier and include, “The jaded ones will whither while the optimistic grow,” “What could I say vacancy sounds like,” and “ With this life not ours not for long. And for the taking take it, the birth light breaking it.”

Justin was born in Burbank, California and at the age of two his mom and dad moved to Tucson, Arizona which is where he was raised. He is an only child. He graduated from the University of Arizona back in 2003. Justin played the drums for many years and then started playing guitar around the age of 16, the same time he started getting into 311. “I am self-taught and I learned every 311 song that I could. I learned a lot about playing via Nick and miT.”

Justin has been married to the love of his life Lowry for 11 years and they have two kids together, Cayden, 9, and Hayley, 6. He and Lowry have known each other since they were 14. They met in high school and became great friends, then reconnected at the end of college and started dating. They’ve lived in Phoenix, Arizona for six years and they just returned from Fiji in August where they celebrated their 10th anniversary (it’s also where they went on their honeymoon.) 

Last year Justin finally made it to New Orleans for 311 Day and he had never been there so it was a fun time for him. “I’ve been lucky enough to share most of my 311 experiences with my best friend Samy who’s just as big a fan as me. We’ve been friends since we were pretty young. She took me on the cruise in 2012 as my birthday present so she’s been instrumental in funding my 311 habit. She also got us the 311 Day 2016 tickets (another bday present). We both have spouses that “married into” our 311 fandom. They really enjoy going to shows with us and they’ve actually become fans of the band themselves so we’re really lucky! My wife has been to about 15 shows with me as well.”

Something you might not know about Justin is that he is a cancer survivor. “In 2014 I was diagnosed with colon cancer. I spent most of 2015 fighting it and I’m cancer free today! I went through six  months of chemotherapy following my surgery, and that was on top of the chemo and radiation treatments leading up to it. I was able to get through it because of my family and a really solid support network of friends. I truly believe because of the people in my life and going into something so terrifying and unknown as cancer while keeping a positive mindset, that it held a big part in me beating it. It’s something that 311 has taught me for over 20 years. I have nothing but gratitude for them forever for that.” About 2 days after Justin was diagnosed with cancer he went to a 311 show in Tucson (where he met last weeks fan spotlight Carolyn Huerta for the first time). That show was huge for him and he came out of it with total focus and a no fear attitude to help him take his battle with cancer. “Plus having 311 in my ears going into a chemo treatment was the ultimate ammo to help me kick the shit out of cancer.”

Justin is pretty good at imitations – he can imitate people he knows, celebrities, whoever. “My wife thinks I should get an agent and do voiceover work of some kind.” Guilty pleasure for Justin is the band Third Eye Blind. “They are one of my all time favorites and I think they’re one of the great true rock bands of my generation.” Other bands he loves are Deftones, Chevelle, Blink 182, Smashing Pumpkins, Passafire, Ballyhoo!, Unwritten Law, Intronaut, Meshuggah, Silversun Pickups, Bad Religion, Pennywise, Lana Del Ray, Ernest Ranglin, Pepper, and Slightly Stoopid.

To 311, Justin would like to say “Thank you for creating something through your music that has become something much bigger for so many people.”

To all the fellow excitables:

“I’ve met so many people through this band that I wouldn’t have ever crossed paths with otherwise. All because we connect on a massive level to the same 5 dudes who make music. Attitude, religion, whatever you want to call it, it’s something we can’t really quantify but we are a part of something special. I’m better because of it.”

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That’s Justin Hughes story my friends! And an enjoyable story it was. Thank you all for reading his amazing 311 journey. You are all such wonderful beings, it’s no wonder this is the best fan base in the world! Until next time, be strong and always be positive.

Much love – The Runt

Welcome back my excitable friends to the next edition of the fan spotlight! It’s time to meet the lovely Carolyn Huerta! 

The year was 1993 when a friend of Carolyn’s introduced her to the awesomeness that is 311. They were at his house and he put on the Music CD, from that moment on she was hooked. “Immediately I was connected to this music in a way I had never felt before. There was this funk to them that I was drawn to and it was feel good music. That album had so many great songs on it and I remember loving NixHex and My Stoney Baby and soon I found myself listening to this album on repeat. I was in 6^th grade at the time.” Carolyn said this genre of music was new to her at the time. She had just started to get into Pearl Jam and Nirvana, but 311 took precedence over them.  “The reggae and funk sounds that they put out was something that made them stand out to me. It was s sound unlike any I had heard before.”

Carolyn said that at this point she has 100% lost count of shows she’s attended. However she knows the only time she missed a show in her home state was when she was 5 months pregnant with her son in 2006. She knows the show count is a high number, she just can’t keep track anymore! October 28, 1997 was her very first show at the Desert Sky Pavilion. “ A bunch of us piled into my car and headed to Phoenix to catch our first show. My car was rocking a 311 and Sublime decal by this point! The show was electrifying. Everything I could have wanted to hear and more. This was also my first time crowd surfing! What a rush that was!” 

Favorite show so far that has resonated the most with her was the sail away show on her first cruise. “I was with my best friend Casey and this was her second cruise and my first. I had no idea what to expect. We were drinking beers with thousands of 311 fans on deck and looking out at Miami when all of a sudden we start moving and 311 takes the stage and sends electricity through every single person on the boat. I had chills. A high that was natural and unexperienced before this moment. The energy was insane. That was when I knew that all of the crazy traveling I do for this band was never going to stop! I have made some of the most genuine friendships with fellow 311 familia and that has brought so much more love into my life.”

Like many fans, picking a favorite song is difficult for Carolyn. Some of the ones that stand out to her are “Crack the Code,” “Random,” “Large in the Margin,” “Sever,” “Visit,” and “Stealing Happy Hours.” She also loves “1,2,3” because of S.A.  “I love them all. I guess that during each ebb and flow of my life different songs stick out more to me but I love them all. Those are just a few that really stand out all the time.” Quote that resonates with her the most is “Stay positive and love your life.” “ I practice mindfulness every day and making sure I live in the moment so that I can get the most out of life and this quote reminds me that even though we experience hard times, staying positive and believing that life is still beautiful is incredibly empowering for the soul. It makes the bumps easier and the beautiful times even more vibrant. It is tattooed on my back.”

Carolyn was born and raised in Tucson, Arizona, and has lived there all her life. During her younger years she was a gymnast for 12 years and she loved to roller skate in her free time. She is currently an Administrative Assistant for the operating room at a hospital, as well as a freelance makeup artist for NARS cosmetics. She is married to her best friend Rob and has a 10 year old son. Eventually she plans to move to Los Angeles to work for NARS full time. 

Something very cool about Carolyn is that she and her business partner Jessica are the makeup artists for the Miss Arizona Organization. “It is an incredibly honor to be a part of that and we have met so many wonderful people. I’m exceptionally proud of this because we get to work with amazingly talented and very bright women.  Makeup has been a passion of mine since I was a little girl and I’m so happy that it gets to be a part of my professional life. It doesn’t feel like a job at all!” 

Carolyn said unique attribute is that she thinks she is funny, she can make others laugh and that has always brought her happiness. “I would love for people to meet me and remember me in a way that left them with a smile on their face. I think laughing is the best medicine. It is a positive release for your soul and laughing until I’m crying is my favorite thing to do.” Guilty pleasure of Carolyn is that she is a huge fan of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Atlanta, New Jersey and Orange County. She said she is also the “BIGGEST original 90210 fan there ever was!!” 

When not listening to 311, Carolyn can be found rocking out to many different kinds of music including Pearl Jam, Stone Temple Pilots, Incubus, Sublime, Sam Cooke, Mariah Carey (old school), Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, Elton John, Queen, Britney Spears, Audioslave, Garth Brooks, and Bob Marley. This is just the start of the list for her, she said it can go on and on. “I love all genres of music from the 50’s and on.”

Carolyn’s words to 311 are this: “Thank you for rocking my soul for the last 24 years. I will continue to support and follow this band.” She was lucky enough to have the opportunity to tell the guys this when she brought her son to his second show in Tucson. “He got to meet the whole ban and get their autographs and take pictures with them. He cherishes that day, as he is a mini excitable. Aiden has taken on a love for this band as much as I have. He knows every song and I’m confident he could win the Name thatTune competition with Nick Hexum, which makes me a very proud mom. So the band knows how much me and my family love and appreciate all they do.”

Her message to all the other fabulous fans out in 311 nation:

“I want to take this time to say THANK YOU to every single member of the 311 nation who came together in March of 2016 to help raise funds for my dear friend Evan. I started that GOFundME for him with the hopes of being able to help my dear friend and I was blown away by the love and support that this community showed. I had no idea what to expect going into that. What would the community think? Would there be backlash? But instead, there were So many people who reached out and shared the post, donated and prayed and when all was said and done. I was speechless. I love every single one of you and I thank you for the big hearts and the kindness you all showed. That awful experience turned into a positive and loving outcome for all involved. From that day forward, you all had my heart and I will always be here for anyone in this amazing 311 nation. Now let’s meet up at a 311 concert and rock the fuck out together!! XOXO.”

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Now you know the story of the lovely Carolyn Huerta! Thank you Carolyn for being part of the fan spotlight and this amazing community of fans. Is there a better fan base out there? Not in my opinion! Until we meet again my friends, go be positive and spread the love. 

Much love – The Runt

Happy 2017 my excitable friends! Kicking it off right with a brand new fan spotlight. It’s time to meet William Robinson! 

A school trip to NYC is where William’s story begins. He was listening to an alternative radio station on his Walkman when “Do You Right” came on. “I remember being mesmerized by the guitars and then the vocals. I hadn’t heard anything like it before. This was before you could easily find out who played this song. The station didn’t mention the artist so I was stuck.” It wasn’t until a year or so later that he heard “Down” and found out who 311 was. “I instantly had the same feeling. The guitars, the back and forth vocals, the drums. I was hooked. I went out bought Music, Grassroots and the blue album and listened to them over and over while reading the lyrics and reading the liner notes. The meshing of musical styles and the positive message of the lyrics resonated with me instantly.” William was in broadcasting arts in high school and had an hour long  radio show once a week, during which he would play 311 as much as possible. “It was really exciting to just learn as much about them. Sure, the rap/rock was obvious but listening deeper and discovering the moments of jazz, funk and reggae was really cool at the time.”

Show count for William is at 27. He was in the Air Force for 13 years which allowed him to see 311 in places like Germany in 2002 when the guys opened for Incubus. He’s seen 311 in about 9-10 different states and was lucky enough to see them in 2010 in Guam! “They were on their way to do shows in Indonesia and decided to stop to do a show on this tiny island. My wife got word of when they were arriving so she met them at the airport. I unfortunately wasn’t able to get out of work but the guys were really nice to my wife, they signed a poster for me and Nick was nice enough to use my wife’s cell phone to call me. It was unbelievable. The conversation is a blur to me now but it was great that he did that.” 

Of the 27 shows, William’s favorite has been the 25th anniversary show in Omaha. William and his friend (and fellow fan spotlight) Chad Evans drove 11 hours just to see the show. “When we arrived at our hotel, DJ Trichrome was outside so right then we knew it was going to be a great couple of days. We started out at The Hive that night and I was finally able to meet some other fans I had only known from social media. The show ended up being more than I could’ve hoped for. I stood next to SA’s parents which was cool and going back to The Hive for the secret show was at the time just the icing on the cake. Little did I know that myself and the band were staying in the same hotel and I was able to meet the guys as they were coming in from the secret show. They looked wore out but they were gracious as always.”

Over the years many songs have come and gone as William’s favorite 311 tune. “Listening to a particular song at a certain point in your life makes it resonate a little bit more then maybe if you listen to it at another time. Even after all these years I’ll listen to a song that I’ve heard 1000 times and something will strike me differently or I’ll noticed something that I never really noticed before. Whether it’s the guitar during the chorus of Livin’ & Rockin’ or SA’s long stream of lyrics in Salsa, it seems that it’s always something new no matter how much I’ve heard it.” With that said, there are a few songs that still stand out to William more than others including “Starshines,” “Still Dreaming,” “Freeze Time,” “Brodels,” “Visit,” “And A Ways to Go,” and “I Told Myself.” Favorite lyrics have changed over time for William too, because he said being a fan for over 20 years, your tastes change from when you are a teen to when you are an adult. “In my 20s when everything was carefree you tend to just enjoy the music overall, then you have children and life changes because you know it’s about more than just you.” From the start he said “Stay positive and love your life” was always one of his favorites and his motto, then some others are “Like the warrior souls we are, we never give in,” “venture on, the sketch is not completely drawn,” and “Desperate the cling I make to positivity.”

Hamilton, Ohio is where William grew up, about 30 minutes north of Cincinnati. He was a young 19 when he left for the Air Force and was stationed in many places like Mississippi, Germany, Spain, Nebraska, South Korea, Guam and Arizona. “I loved living in Europe for those few years. I was able to travel to almost a dozen countries and I met some great people. I skied the Swiss Alps and went to Oktoberfest for my 22nd birthday. Hanging out in some of those places you meet some interesting characters. My favorite places I visited while I was over there was Dublin, Paris, Amsterdam and Rome.”

William also said one of the coolest things about living overseas was seeing concerts there. “Europe loves their festivals, and the biggest band come over there every summer.” William met his wife when stationed in Omaha and have now been married for almost 10 years. They have a son Myles, 4, and a daughter Nova, 2. He left the Air Forces in 2012 and moved to Lexington, Kentucky, where he started school and then in December 2016 received his bachelors degree in Information Technology. 

In early 2011 William was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease called Dermatomyositis. He was medically retired from the Air Force due to it and he said it basically turned his life upside down. Thanks to his family and 311, they’ve helped him get through each day of his weakening muscles and fatigue. “Keeping a positive attitude is key to getting by. When you are struggling with something their music hits you a little different than when things are good. I see the song Showdown as “me vs this disease” and I’m going to do everything I can to win. When this illness has me down I’ll listen to songs like The Call to remind myself not to give up, it’s never too late for a beginning.”

Fun unique fact about William is that when he was in the Air Force, he was a weather forecaster! “Weather is a huge part of what the Air Force does so it was challenging. When I say I was a weather forecaster most people think that I was like someone on the news. But it wasn’t like that at all. We had to be more specific and more detailed. Billions of dollars of assets are at stake when you have heavy snow or heavy thunderstorms. It was pretty stressful at times but I enjoyed it. But never ask me if it’s going to rain tomorrow. I’ve been asked a million times.” 

Besides 311, William’s other favorite bands are Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam, Band of Horses and Guns N’ Roses. He also loves Reggae which started in his early teens. “I never grew up listening to it or was exposed to it as a kid but when I heard Bob Marley in Jr. High, that led me to discover other artists and sub genres like roots and dub.” Guilty pleasure in musical form? “I’ll occasionally listen to Limp Bizkit. They used to be staple on my workout playlist. Another would be some old 80’s/90’s country songs. My parents had it on the radio a lot as a kid, so it brings back memories.” He also said he’s a political junkie but will rarely talk politics to anyone. “Most of the time it’s just a drag, but I can’t help it. It fascinates me. Sometimes in a good way, sometimes in a bad way.”

William’s words to 311: “I can’t say thank you enough. Every album, every show I’ve attended has shaped me somehow. I wouldn’t be who I am today without you.”

Now his words to all the other 311 fans:

“We are some dedicated people. I’m so glad you all are out there. I love you all. Special shout-out to Chad Evans who’s been my travel buddy for a little while now. Thanks for being awesome.”

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Now you all have met William Robinson! Another great fan sharing their story. Thank you to all who keep reading. What a great community to be a part of! Until next time, keep being awesome. 

Much love – The Runt