Happy 4/20 my excitable friends! As always, I hope you are staying safe and healthy. Today we have a very special spotlight nominated specifically for this holiday, so let’s read the story of Antonio Roumeliotis!
It was back in high school that Antonio was introduced to 311 by his friend Mitch Lyons, “over lots and lots of blunts and hits from the bong.”
Show count for Antonio is at 74 and his first show was when 311 was touring with Snoop Dogg and he saw them in Illinois. “Have every single ticket stub saved and when I reach 100 I plan to have them framed in chronological order!”
As far as favorite event or show, Antonio said the second cruise wins hands down. “Nothing beats the splash pits at the island show. Bunch of grown ass adults splashing around like children. I’m getting chills just thinking about it!”
Song that means the most to Antonio is “Still Dreaming” and he said it’s his all time favorite song. Naturally, his favorite lyric comes from this song: “”No I’ll not renounce my views and do what others do. I’d rather drink the hemlock than be like you, to my soul untrue.” Antonio said that the Socratic reference speaks a lot to his Greek upbringing.
Chicago, Illinois, is where Antonio grew up and then in 2012 he moved to Denver, Colorado. He was raised in a traditional Greek family. “If you’ve seen the movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding, other than the windex, that is spot on how I grew up haha.” Antonio has a son, Aristotelis (Aristotle) who is one and a half years old and a daughter set to arrive in May. His non-Greek wife went to Greek school so she can help teach their kids to speak Greek.
Antonio speaks fluent Greek and guess what? His name isn’t Antonio. “I just have people call me that because it’s easier than explaining every time I meet someone that my name is Antonios. Pronounced Andonios. In Greek, if there is a T after an N it turns into a D sound. My family calls me Andoni for short.”
Guilty pleasure for Antonio is the show “Ancient Aliens.” “Don’t really believe many conspiracy theories, but love watching anything related.” Other artists that he loves include Dirty Heads, Rebelution, Beastie Boys, and Sublime.
To 311, Antonio has these words: “There aren’t words to Express the thanks I have for you and this community you have created!”
Now his message to all of the other fans out there:
“I started going to 311 shows because I loved their music, now it’s much more than that, I go just as much for the community. Seeing all the great friends I’ve met throughout the years. (Some even ended up as groomsmen at my wedding) Love you all, and I’ll see you at the next one! And p.s. Shawn Van Houten is a pussy!!!* Haha now 6 year running inside joke…”
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Thank you Antonios for being a part of the fan spotlight and sharing your story! As always a huge thank you to the readers each week. Please stay safe & healthy, support each other. We will get through this! And again, happy 4/20 to all that celebrate it!
Much Love – The Runt