I can only think of a very few bands that manage to create and maintain a solid fan base despite being “dormant” in the music scene: Grateful Dead and Dave Matthews Band.
It’s amazing how bands like these manage to fill up show venues and keep a huge following despite not having released records for a long time. Normally, a music act would have to have a current album before they can go on tour and promote it. In the case of these bands, you’ll really see that they have kept a very firm hold on their fans through their music.
311 music can be considered as such. In fact, I can barely remember when they were ever on after their “Don’t Tread on Me” in 2005. However, they have managed to pack venues and arenas in their tours.
Their summer tours are usually packed so you’d wonder how famous these bands could have been had they made it a point to release records regularly.
Chad Sexton, 311’s drummer, has the answer: it’s because they have assembled a rabid fanbase that has supported them through thick and thin.
And my guess is he’s right. Without a very loyal and strong fanbase, 311, or any other band for that matter, would be able to still sell out tickets without a lot of releases.
Chad, in an interview, talks about their similarities with the Grateful Dead:
“I think we have the same appeal as a band like the Grateful Dead. We have some Deadheads in the band, and when they stopped touring, Phish kind of took over for them, and maybe Dave Matthews Band has some of that same appeal as well. We can jam on our [songs] like those bands, but I’d say we’re kind of a band between — and I’m not comparing us to these bands, but just in the level of status and accomplishment, and that they’re still together — U2 and Phish. It’s somewhere in the middle of that, and we’re hoping to define that a little better over the next couple of years. It’s a weird phenomenon: We keep playing, and kids are having a great time every summer.”
It’s great how 311 has approached their music career. They feel like it’s more important to go out and play for their audience instead of spend too much time inside the studio coming up with a record.
The band makes it a point to tour every summer, regardless of their records. After all, they are meant to play live music. And so far, this is working out very well for the band.
But for all the 311 fans out there, the band will soon be releasing a record which they collaborated with Metallica producer Bob Rock since last year.
For this particular album, 311 plans to go back to basics since they have always tried experimenting with music—which, although they enjoyed doing, was something that could have caused their sales decline.
So now, they are thinking of going back to the 311 basics, as Chad calls it.