Good Monday morning my fellow excitable friends! Welcome to another edition of the 311 fan spotlight!! This week we feature a friend of mine that I met at the pre-party before the first cruise.  Let me introduce you to Mr. Anthony Perazzo!

Back on Labor Day in 1994, Tony went to the 89X Fest at the Phoenix Center in Pontiac, Michigan. He went to check out Weezer and MC 9000 foot Jesus when one of his friends said they should go check out this rock/reggae/rap group from Nebraska that was on one of the other stages. While he wasn’t really into rap or reggae, he decided to check it out thinking there would at least be a pit. “We were in the front row but there was no barrier, just a couple of security goons and a lamp post. The show started with “Taiyed” and things were pretty chill and groovy. Then “Freak Out” started and I was hooked.”  The pesky lamp post became quite wobbly and was going to become a problem, so with the help of Tony and his longtime friend Chuck, they and the security guards took the whole thing down, wires and all. Then during the song “Homebrew”, Tony & the girl in front of him ended up butting heads, resulting in a mass of blood from Tony’s nose. Even with the blood flowing, Tony and the girl continued to party on with 311 playing in the background. It was when the guys played FTBS that Tony said he knew his “musical horizon had been broadened more than ever in his life.”  He even still has the setlist from that show…

Since that fated first show, Tony has seen the band 53 times, including five 311 Day’s and all three (soon to be four) cruises. He’s also been to every Red Rocks show since 2006. His favorite show so far? “Lido Deck on the first cruise was probably the most charged 311 show ever. We “borrowed” beers from the deck boy with our new great friends whom we met the night before, Chris and Chrissy, and the show was astounding.  I’ve been to every 311 Day since 2006 and they keep getting better.  Every show is a very different experience for me. Every night a different song is my new favorite.”

When asked what song means the most to him, Tony said, “Amber, because it has a Pavlov effect and I have to urinate every time I hear it.”  In reality though, I know his real favorite is “Creatures (For A While).”  As he says, “It reenergizes me after I’ve been jumping for an entire show. When it’s played my legs find the energy to jump wildly for the rest of the show.” Tony also said that the beginning of “Silver,” when Nick says, “Ok, let him in. Bobby, you be quiet out there,” reminds him of his pup Darwin every time.

Tony grew up in Oxford, MI, about an hour north of Detroit.  His father played him Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon” when he was still in the womb by putting headphones on his mothers belly. Then on the night he was born, they were hosting a party to watch Alice Cooper’s The Nightmare television special.  He only listened to one cassette tape a year because it was all he could afford to buy in those days. It started with Huey Lewis and The News Sports and ended with Pearl Jam’s Ten. Then he got a job and was able to buy more music. It was that first time he saw 311 though when his music genres started to vary.

Per Tony, Oxford was the gravel capital of the world until a Japanese company took that title over. When the economy bottomed out in 2006, he moved to Denver, CO and has been there ever since. “I love it here. In the winters I ski. In the summers I take my jeep off road. All year I go to concerts of many bands. I fund my 311 habit with a career in land surveying. I sit on my ass in the office and analyze history, law and math to figure out who owns what.”

Some other music Tony is in to: Beethoven, Alice in Chains, Anthrax, Slayer, and AJ Croce. Even his pup, Darwin, loves Beethoven. “My dog barks along with Beethoven’s 9th in tune.”  Guilty pleasure? Tony listens to the Harry Potter books on tape at least two times a year. And if you know Tony at all, you know his shenanigans can sometimes lead to injury. “I have fractured my skull after Fireball shots. I’m not sure how exactly but I woke up with a shiner and pricker bush in my underwear.”

Tony’s had the opportunity to meet the fellas but he sometimes clams up when around them. So one thing he’d like to tell them is: “You should release every show like Pearl Jam and Metallica do. I go to Live311.com every day hoping that something has been posted.”

And to all of you out in the 311 universe:

“Just let me jump and if I bump into you nudge me back to wherever I came from.”

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That my friends is Mr. Anthony Perazzo! I met him on the eve of my first big 311 event. It was like it was meant to be and we ended up hanging out all night and then throughout the entire first cruise. One thing I can say is he has a good heart and is very loyal to his friends. And he’s fun to drink with…just look at this photo of him wearing my shirt the first night I met him..

Thanks for reading my friends! Until we meet again, have an amazing week!!

Much love – The Runt