Welcome back 311 nation to the latest edition of the 311 fan spotlight! This week let’s read the story of Billy “Boss” De Zenzo!
Late in the year 1996 was a crazy time for Billy. He was commuting in Bay area rush hour traffic over 3 hours every day and one day “Down” came on the radio. He was instantly floored and thought the song was amazing. He bought the CD and for an entire year only listened to the blue album during his commute. Then in 1997 he attended his first show on Halloween and he went alone. “Wow, what a show. It had never dawned on me that they might have other albums already, until having heard the show. The next day was like Xmas as I bought Music, and Grassroots. OMG, I instantly realized that 311was everything I had ever wanted in a band, before I knew what I wanted in a band. Hooked.”
Show count for Billy is 35. He’s seen 311 play in 6 different states. One of his favorite shows was 311 Day 2010. “It was a special experience for me, where I was serenaded with Boss Got the Herb.”
A favorite song for him is “You Wouldn’t Believe.” He said like Carly Simon says, “I think this song is about me.” Currently one of his favorite lyrics comes from the song “Wildfire” – “Someone told you that you have no chance, people told you it would never transpire. You could be defeated in advance, just let them all burn in the wildfire.” Billy said the song is fueling him as he tries to launch his new business.
Montclair, New Jersey, is where Billy was born and raised. Musical influence on him came from his older siblings and then it was in the 70’s that he discovered his hero Neil Young. Then in the 80’s it was The Police that he gravitated to out of the music of that decade. He also discovered Bob Marley at that time and was drawn to the reggae beats. “The 90’s grunge tip really hooked the energetic side of me, and it seemed like 311 filled all those gaps for me moving into the new millennium.”
In 1990 he moved to the west coast, he spent 2 1/2 years in Santa Cruz, California before moving to Oakland/Berkeley to start his adult life. “I’m a serial tech entrepreneur with varying degrees of success, currently partnered in two very different, potentially big businesses (fingers crossed).” Billy also loves the outdoors and spends a lot of time hiking, biking or skiing. He also is an avid poker player and has spent a lot of time in casinos and card rooms for 15 years of his life. “I consider myself an Imagineer and dabble in writing screenplays and sitcoms (someday will finish and sell). Living in the Bay Area through the 90’s till now is perfect for a concert nut like myself. I’m now over 1000 concerts, slowing down only a little by not being as experimental as I used to, saving the experience now for my favorites. Having no children makes this lifestyle much easier.”
Billy’s interesting fact about himself is a great one. “I uncontrollably sing Barry Manilow’s “Copa Cabana” when cooking in the kitchen.” Special talent is that he has a knack for naming things. “I’ve bequeathed many friends their long term nicknames, named several businesses, and come up with many silly names that stick for all sorts of things. In ’94 my friends and I launched The Sheath File, one of the first 500 public static pages on the Internet, which is nothing but a list of synonyms for condom. Enjoy, as many are mine https://www.lmi.net/explore/sheath.html.”
Guilty pleasure for Billy is the song “Rio” by Duran Duran. “One of the best songs ever made.” Other musical artists he enjoys include The Police, Ween, Neil Young, Bob Marley, Pink Floyd, and Rush.
Billy has something he’d like to say to 311: “I have a great idea about a 5 show summer festival tour, wanna hear it?”
His personal message to all the other fans:
“Stay positive, love your life, and respect others. Thanks for sharing the 311 experience with me.”
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Now you know the story of Billy De Zenzo! Thanks for sharing and thanks to all who read the spotlights. What an amazing community of fans and I’m so proud to be a part of it!
Until next time, keep being the beautiful souls you are.
Much love – The Runt