Welcome one and all to the the latest edition of the 311 fan spotlight! As always, I hope you are staying healthy and well friends. Let’s get to it and read the story of Pat White!
The year was 1995 when Pat first heard of 311. He was sitting in a car with his sister at the age of 14. “She was the coolest person I knew to that point in my life. Used to take me and my friends skateboarding. Had a real solid relationship. ‘Don’t Stay Home’ came on in that car and she asked me, do you listen to 311?… that was the song that started it all. Got the blue album the next week.”
Pat has been to over 35 shows. First show for him was in 1996 at the new Daisy Theater in Memphis, Tennessee. “Snuck out and got in with my friends ticket. Was just gonna look for my sister. All the sudden intro to Omaha Stylee came on. Was supposed to go return the ticket. But I couldn’t leave. That was my first concert ever. My mother had just died..That show changed life absolutely.” His favorite event so far was this years 311 Day.
As far as favorite song, its “Use of Time,” but he said that “Golden Sunlight” has gotten him through many tough times. Favorite lyrics were harder to choose because there are so many great ones. Ones that stood out to him are as follows: “At the end of the day the relentless always win,” “This moment is a gift, it’s why it’s called the present.” Plus he said pretty much all of “Golden Sunlight.”
Pat was born in 1981 in Memphis, Tennessee. His mother passed in 1996 and he went on a downward spiral because of it. “Made the lessons of day to day life as a sober person mean that much more. Running from her death for 16 years almost took my life several times. But the recovery, the vigilance and steadfastness is what it takes to push forward. One day at a time. She taught me all that. And I had to trust God and instill it in myself in order to learn.”
Pat funds his 311 habit being a chef and kitchen manager at Roma Old Town wood fired pizzeria in Winchester, Virginia. He’s lived all over VA including Newport News, Portsmouth, Chesapeake, and Virginia Beach. “My addiction took me many places but I found home and sobriety in Winchester. First place in my adult life I can actually call home.”
Finding something that most people don’t know is hard for Pat because he lives his life pretty much like an open book. Unique attribute for him is his work ethic and stamina. “I’m 38 years old and I can go harder than kids 20 years younger than me. On 4-5 hours of sleep lol. Running a kitchen even with a co kitchen manager is hard work. My passion and drive keep me alive and well.”
What really makes Pat tick is his daughter. “She makes my whole world. She is every dream I’ve ever had come true. She loves 311 and loves her Life. I had to save myself from myself. Couldn’t get sober for her but I have to include her all over this thing, she is My Story. She is my legacy. She is all my reasons.”
Some other artists that Pat loves include Sublime (which got him started on his reggae journey), Bob Marley, Stick Figure, Tool, Deftones, The Movement, Chris Cornell, System of a Down, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Iya Terra, and many more. Guilty pleasure? It’s John Mayer!
Pat’s words to the members of 311 are: “Thank you for always being there. With so much fakeness in the music biz, chaos In the world, they’ve always been an Uplifting constant. No matter what. Thank you for always staying true.”
To all the other 311 fans out there:
“This life is what we make of it. Hold yourself accountable and be there for your brothers and sisters. It’s more than blind positivity. Gratitude is an action word. We must live it everyday…love yourself and love your life and above all, To Thine Own self Be true.”
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Thank you Pat for sharing your story! Another great fan spotlight in the books. Muchas Gracias to all the readers each week as well. Go have an amazing week and please stay safe & well!
Much Love – The Runt