Happy New Year my excitable friends in 311 nation! 2021 is here and I can’t think of a better way to start it off than with a new fan spotlight. Oh and it just so happens to be fan spotlight #311. So without further ado, I give you the story of the man we all know and love as P-Nut’s Dad – Mr. Larry Wills!
Larry said it’s hard to remember what his first thoughts were when Aaron joined the band and he first heard their music. “Needless to say I did like it! I certainly had no idea they would become as famous and fabulous as they are!” Larry said he does remember when he first realized that the band was famous. “This occurred when I was visiting my twin sister and her husband in Washington state and we were watching TV we found a video of a concert in a huge venue I was stoked!!”
As for show count for Larry, he said he can only take a stab at the number he’s attended, which he believes to be somewhere around 33. This number includes the three 311 Day shows in 2020 and all six of the cruises!
Picking a favorite show or event for Larry is difficult, but theres a memorable one for him which was back in 2017 in Albuquerque where he brought 25 friends with him! “It was awesome. I was hoping for a repeat this year but the pandemic nixed that.”
One of Larry’s favorite songs is “I’ll Be Here Awhile.” “Life is brief and I seek to enjoy every day I get!” As for one of his favorite lyrics, it’s “I wanna get high, but you’re keeping me low.”
Larry loves interacting with the fans and smiles when he thinks of how much love he receives from everyone. “The hugs and requests for a “selfie” fill me up with such energy and excitement and pride! I love intermingling with the crowd at concerts and cruises and sharing a vape or a joint and getting stoned with everyone! It’s such a delight to hear fans tell me how much the band has changed their life and how much they adore my son and how he loves them back.”
Larry’s upbringing was very unique, as his father was in the Air Force so he lived many different places. “My twin sister (Sally) and I were born in Somers Point NJ but right away we moved to Massachusetts. Then we spent 3 years in Trieste Italy followed by: Biloxi MS, Panama City, FL. Tachikawa Japan, Clovis NM, Sumpter SC, Montgomery AL, Bossier City LA, and finally Wheeler AFB, Hawaii.”
Larry and his sister Sally spent their freshman year at the University of Hawaii. Then Sally joined her fiancé at the University of Colorado where she finished her degree, while Larry moved to Albuquerque and finished his degree at the University of New Mexico. He majored in History and Sociology. Then he was off to Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, where he earned his Master of Divinity degree in 1970. “From there I pastored churches in Indiana for 4 years. In March 1975 I entered the Air Force as a Chaplain with the rank of Captain. I felt I had come home! Funny how my first assignment was at Maxwell AFB in Montgomery AL where I had lived for one year in High School when my dad was stationed there! After Maxwell I spent a year at a “remote assignment” in Alaska where no families were permitted, only service personnel. Galen Air Port AK had 350 men and 15 women assigned. Those gals were very popular!! It was a tough assignment for everyone since we were all there without our families. Many of us got divorced as a result. I think a long absence from a spouse either makes or breaks a marriage. I did a lot of marital and other counseling that year, as you can well imagine!”
After that, Larry then was assigned to Tyndall Air Force Base in Panama City, Florida, where he had also lived as a child. “I love the white sandy beaches and the fabulous Gulf of Mexico seafood down there! Then overseas to jolly ole England! I spent two awesome years at RAF Mildenhall, 26 miles from Cambridge! I loved it! From there I traveled all over Europe including Scotland where my maternal grandfather was born! After two years in England they sent me to Montana! What a shock!! LOL. Malmstom AFB is a nuclear missile base with no airplanes, in Great Falls. It was almost as cold as Alaska at times: -65! Then the Air Force sent me back to Maxwell for a year at the Command and Staff College. I was one of only 4 Chaplains there among 600 other officers being groomed for higher command and responsibilities. Then my best assignment came: Aviano AB, Italy!! I loved it there so much I extended for another year. It was so wonderful to be so close to Trieste where I had lived 3 years as a child and learned the language! I also served the Embassy Personnel in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, as Chaplain to the Protestants. While in Italy, I was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and then sent to Sheppard AFB TX where I was the Senior Protestant. Sheppard is a training base for pilots and many other careers. Many young people get married upon graduation there. I remember one year I did 78 weddings! Then I was sent to Guam! Anderson AFB! 15 months on an island 8 X 32 miles big! I felt so small there! Fortunately I got certified as a SCUBA diver and spent a lot of time underwater every chance I got. While on Guam Mt Pinotubo Volcano in the Philippines blew up and Clark AFB and Subic Bay personnel were evacuated to Guam. I was tasked to assist the 20,000 men, women and children with housing and food and comfort during their transition. My chapel staff and I managed to get 2,000 volunteers from all over Guam to help! It was amazing!! We had trucks of fruit and clothing and food given to these “refugees” who could only take what they could carry when they were ordered to escape the falling debris and ash. It was beautiful how many Guamanians opened their doors and hearts to these in need. I will never forget their generosity and love.”
After this, Larry was sent to what he calls his most unique assignment, to be the Senior Chaplain at The National Security Agency on Ft. Meade between Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, Maryland. “I spent three years there as an “Industrial Chaplain” where I served the men and women at the NSA including not only Air Force and their families but also the Navy men and women at the NSA and thousands of civilians! All “hush hush” stuff but very interesting dealing with highly intelligent people doing very sensitive and difficult work with all the pressure you can imagine.” His final assignment was at the base where he said most Air Force women and men start out, Lackland AFB in San Antonio, Texas. “I was supervising 16 chaplains and flying a desk which was not my cup of tea! After slightly less than a year I felt it was time to retire and move to where I wanted to live and retire!”
Larry retired in Albuquerque and said he spent his first year of retirement getting used to the freedom of being himself as a gay man who no longer had to hide his sexuality. “I rejoice that change has come to the military where one can serve openly now! I also started volunteering as a Chaplain with our local Police Department. Then I took a job as the Chaplain for a hospice. I was the chaplain for VistaCare Hospice for 14 years. I can’t tell you how rewarding it was to be a spiritual support to patients and their families during this most difficult of times we all must face someday.”
Something that Larry believes many fans may not know about him is that for 25 years he has been living with HIV. “Fortunately I am doing perfectly well with the medications that keep me “undetectable”. Having a “terminal disease” has made me appreciate every day I get to live. It changed my life for the better.”
Larry loves all types of music, from Hard Rock to Reggae, Broadway Musicals to Country! “I love Neil Diamond, Barbra Streisand, Pink, Dolly Parton, and Jane Olivor, to name a few!”
Guilty pleasure for Larry? He loves to drive fast! “My Tesla Model 3 is such an awesome delight that thrills me every time I step on the accelerator!! I also enjoy getting stoned! LOL.” Larry has also officiated many wedding ceremonies, including ones for 311 fans and also for SA’s sister Laurie and her wife Kim!
Finally, Larry has this message to all the 311 fans out there:
“I love you so much I can’t express it in words. Three years ago I spend 6 days in Intensive Care after what was thought to be a stoke or seizure following my daily run. . I received hundreds of well wishes in cards and e-mails and such from fans all over the world, literally. Then I was crushed with hugs and love when you all saw me in Las Vegas!
Several fans asked me to perform their wedding. Such an honor and delight it was. Thank you!
Peace Love Unity Respect. 311 is not only a band, it’s family. I am so proud of my son Aaron and Nick, and S.A, and Tim and Chad!
30 years and counting. I’m still excited.”
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There you have it my friends, the story of Larry Wills! What a great way to kick off the new year. Here’s to hoping that 2021 gets us back to being able to be together and enjoy seeing the boys live again. Thank you to Larry for being a part of this excitable nation and for allowing me to interview him! As always, many many thanks to all the supporters of this little project. Have an amazing week and start to your 2021!
Much Love – The Runt