Hello again my friends! Welcome back to another 311 fan spotlight. Let’s get right to it and meet Jimmy Clausen!
The year was 1995 and Jimmy was sitting in a friend’s college basement apartment, waiting for them to get ready so they could head to a party. They tossed in a CD and skipped right to track number 6, which was “Guns (Are For Pussies).” Then the next two tracks played and Jimmy was thinking, who the hell is this band? “The punchy verse’s, the rhythmic bass and melodies encapsulated me. I sat there alone tuned into the lyrics (trying to understand what Nick and SA were saying. I knew it was something I wanted to listen to! After Purpose played thru, I had heard 3-4 different styles of music between 3 songs, that blew me away. The friends surfaced from the bathroom and bedrooms by the end of Don’t Stay Home, I was waiting like 10 minutes to ask who the hell is this BAND! Instant Fan, bought CD’s the next day I think.”
Show count for Jimmy is a little fuzzy, but he believes it to be somewhere in the 35-40 range. First show for him was at the Barrymore Theater in Madison, Wisconsin, on September 16, 1995. As for favorite show, it’s a tough choice, but he said it has to be his first show. “Went with a large group of friends, many of which was their first show also. We all became loyal fans, and saw many more shows together, but always talk about #1 the most. Nick started the show with, “Yo Madison WI, what up? I was born here if anyone gives a fuck!” I think he was still finding a little positivity in the Fall of 1995. He also lit a J on stage, passed it down to the crowd, and surfed during the show at one point. No Doubt was the second act on, before Tragic Kingdom was on the radio, they were pretty punk, and played super hard and that was cool to see.”
Song that means a lot to Jimmy is “Silver.” “There is no major reason other than I just want to nod and dance to it. It has a funny intro and I like the message.” As for fave lyrics, he loves these from “Silver:” “Now I got a click but it’s more like a family, not an ethnic trip, more like an ethic. See, I write the rhyme today, tell it to you later. Whether we’re coming in whack or what it’s a waste to be a hater.” Jimmy also loves the opening verse from “Applied Science:” “Nod your head to this, as a lot of apprentice, some of this were standing on the shoulders of giants.”
Jimmy was born and raised in the midwest, Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin. He was pretty quiet as a kid and didn’t talk much because he stuttered (which he still does but uses speech skills to try and be more fluent). “It’s a horribly psychological impairment (especially as a kid) because you know what you want to say, it can be hard to get it out, and then the cruelty of kids can leave some scars.” He played a lot of sports and liked exercising growing up. When he was around 10 years old his father bought a southern Wisconsin tavern and from 13-18 years old he worked there. “I definitely learned a lot in that place and got more confidence.”
Jimmy attended college at the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater, then he had a daughter at the young age of 21. He then graduated and had 2 more children with his wife Dawn, and they’ve been together for 20 years now. “We have lived in Central Florida now for 7 years, and I am a sales manager for a fitness equipment manufacturer. Our oldest daughter has a child, I’ve been a grandfather since March 11th 2020, yep…. a 311 Granddaughter!!!!”
Interesting fact about Jimmy is that he can flex and/or shift something in his inner ear! “I really don’t even know what part it is that I’m moving. The same function that most need to hold their nose for and blow out? (I think) I can do it without anyone knowing I’m doing it. This is especially helpful on airplanes, which I am on often!”
Something that makes Jimmy unique is his “big” laugh, which he says is utterly ridiculous. “It’s super loud, like a major Cackle. If something gets me good I’ll laugh about it for days, replaying it in my head. I try to laugh as much as possible, I think it keeps us young!”
Guilty pleasure for Jimmy is the music of Ke$ha! Other than 311 and Ke$ha, other music he can be found jamming out to include Mighty Mighty Bosstones, NOFX, Pennywise, Passion Pit, Everclear, Lupe Fiasco, Bad Religion, Postal Service, Ween, Atmosphere, and lots of 90’s hip hop like Tribe, De La Soul, Wu-Tang, Fugees, and Busta.
To 311, Jimmy would like to say: “Thank you for a partial lifetime of joy. There really is not much better in life than that one simple feeling.”
Now here are his words to all the other 311 fans out there:
“This is going to be a little trite but, I love that a lot of us are very much alike in many ways. I have made some of my best friends through the journey of following this band. If you are passing through the Tampa Bay area hit me up, we have a good fam down here!”
Thank you to Jimmy Clausen for sharing his story! As always, much gratitude to all the readers each week. Have an amazing day, week, month, year! Sending good vibes to you all.
Much Love – The Runt