In
1997 the band started to receive criticism due to perceived racism as "311" is used as a symbol, particularly in prison tattoos, for the
Ku Klux Klan because K is the 11th letter of the
alphabet (Three 11s = Three Ks = KKK)
It was also rumored that Nick Hexum was a member of
The National Front, which is a
white supremacy group.
The name actually came from a
skinny dipping incident when Jim Watson, the band's former guitarist, was charged with
indecent exposure by the
Omaha Police Department and was escorted home handcuffed and naked. The police code which appeared on the citation was "311". Nick Hexum has said: After the humor of the name wore off, we still kept it because we liked that it was just abstract and that it did not define us in any way. The name did not describe our sound or our politics, it just let the music speak for itself.
Released in 1994 on
Grassroots, long before the KKK rumor surfaced, the song "Silver" provides some strong words about racism:
Of the racist institutions, simple minds belong;Not happy being human, no wish to get along.Little people need exclusions; sucker groups to throng.It makes them feel special; it makes them feel strong.Now I've got a clique but it's more like a family.Not an ethnic trip more like an ethic sea.I write the rhyme today, tell it to you later.Whether we're comin' in whack or what.It's a waste to be a hater.
In response to the rumors, Nick Hexum began to write a song for the 1997 release
Transistor titled "**** The KKK". After thinking about the title and how it wasn't true to the positive nature of 311, he revised it and ended up with "Electricity", the sixth track on the album.
First two lines from "Electricity":
This song started as a rant against hatersBut that'd be giving in to the instigators
Last verse:
A call out for unityIn every province and city.What do you think we've been saying''Since we first started playing?
(These last lines can be seen as a reference to the early 311 song "Unity".) It should also be noted that singer Doug "SA" Martinez is of
Latino descent.