311 was formed in 1990 in Omaha Nebraska by five self-described "friends for life" (singer/guitarist Nick Hexum singer S.A. Martinez guitarist Tim Mahoney drummer Chad Sexton and the bassist known only as P-Nut) whose common link was a passion for both music and life that eventually brought them together to make music with a positive message behind it. After gigging locally (and by all reports quickly conquering the local music scene there) the quintet moved to Los Angeles where they signed with Capricorn Records in 1991.