I have only two words for all of you readers: Speak Easy. If who I’m writing about this week isn’t the first person who comes to mind, well then you’ve probably never met him or just aren’t on Twitter. I’m talking about the one, the only Billy Madden a.k.a. 311Phillies!

Can anyone guess where Billy might be from? Ding ding ding! Philadelphia it is. He actually grew up in a town called Montgomeryville, PA which is about a half hour north of the city. Having been a PA resident his whole life, it’s no surprise that he is a huge fan of all Philadelphia sports teams. He also LOVES soccer and still continues to play. Billy even had full scholarships to play at a number of division 3 schools, but chose to go to college at Penn State instead. Why you might ask? It’s quite simple! “[I] decided I wanted to party and have the time of my life at Penn State instead.” Billy mentions that some of the best years of his life he spent at school, having fun with his fraternity brothers, many of which he is still quite close to.

As much fun as Billy had in college, he claims he never thought he’d like being an adult more. He can thank his beautiful wife for making him think that! He met her at a party that a mutual friend was throwing and they met on the staircase of the home. “She was coming down the staircase as I was going up, and since it was too narrow for two people to pass, I walked all the way back down so that she could come down.” Who said chivalry was dead? Later on at the party his future wife Liz approached him saying how sweet it was that he had let her come down the stairs. They talked for hours and had their first kiss. He called her the next day (which as a woman, we know is next to unheard of!). They’ve been together ever since! They were married October 20th, 2012 and are expecting their first child on October 1st! Billy says he can’t wait to be a dad and says, “I have never been more existed for anything in my entire life, (yes, even 311 shows!)”

So when did Billy fall in love with 311? It was back when the blue album was released and the “Down” video was being played on MTV (anyone else besides Billy & I remember videos actually being played on that channel?). He said he was playing pool with a friend, just about to make a shot when the song came on. Billy instantly said, “This song is awesome, who is this?” He then flubbed the shot but didn’t care because he was too busy rocking out to this new band. A few days later he went to buy the album, found out there were two prior releases, and so he bought all three. As he puts it, “It’s been love ever since. The way 311 can rap along with heavy beats and switch it up so melodically to slow reggae with beautiful singing is something no band will ever compare to.”

As far as how many shows he’s seen, well he may have lost count a little after he hit 40.  He thinks it must be somewhere around 60 at this point. Billy hasn’t missed a Philadelphia 311 show since 1996, which is impressive! He mentions 311 day in 2008 down in New Orleans as one of his favorites, saying how great it was because the fans literally took over the city. Even though that was an amazing experience, he says nothing will ever compare to being on the 311 cruises. “I’m lucky enough to have been on the 2nd and 3rd cruise, and my favorite show of all time was the beach show at Half Moon Cay on the 2nd.  Just floating in the ocean, listening to Speak Easy, (and all their reggae songs), on a beautiful island with crystal clear water surrounded by my friends is something I’ll never forget.”

So needless to say, “Speak Easy” is Billy’s favorite song! As he mentioned to me, he truly believes that the song is perfect. “From the very first note, to the drums kicking in, to SA giving what I think might be his best singing performance, to the tropical sound it gets when Nick joins in, to the way Nick and SA harmonize on the refrain, it’s just a perfect song.  The message behind it holds very true.” If there is one thing that Billy could say to the band (which I’m sure he has said on numerous occasions!) it’s thank you. “Thank You for helping me become the person I am today, through your positive lyrics and amazing music, and for helping me connect with so many life-long friends throughout the years.  I’d be a completely different person without your music.”

A few fun facts about Billy: first off, he is a Christmas baby! He also has run the Philadelphia half marathon and another ten mile run on 2 different occasions. Something he told me about his wife and him that I found truly amazing: In the 6 years that they have been together, he has only not opened the car door for her four times!! It’s become sort of a cute game, keeping track of when he misses. As he says, “It’s just such a simple gesture and it’s never going to change.” How sweet is that?

So that’s Billy for you. One of the sweetest (and most chivalrous apparently!) people that I’ve met in the 311 community. He knows how to keep a positive attitude and believes that, “If there’s a shadow in your life, then there’s sunshine” – one of his favorite quotes from “Speak Easy.”  If you haven’t met Billy, make sure you head on up to a Philly show someday and say hello! Or you can just look for him on Twitter, since as he stated to me, he might have a mild obsession with it 😉

I leave you with these parting words of his to all of 311 nation:

“What makes 311 so special to us all, is not just the music, but the way it has brought so many like-minded individuals together though our connection with the band and their message.  A lot of us, I feel like, have been teased by our group of friends at one point or another for being SO into this band, but I think it’s done out of slight jealousy for not having a band they can connect with in the same way we do. Through social media, (and other avenues), we’ve been introduced to one another, and can share our passion with other people who feel exactly the same way.  It’s a beautiful thing.  It makes going to the big 311 events more than just about the show, but about seeing all the good friends you’ve met and just having the time of your life with them.  People have stopped me before and said “Hey, you’re Billy Madden, (or 311Phillies), aren’t you?  You were my first follower on Twitter.  Thanks so much for everything you do and it’s very nice to meet you.”  I’m in awe when that happens and so very humbled.  You won’t find the outgoing and caring nature in people like that from anywhere else.  It’s something that few people can truly understand, but I’m proud to be a part of the Excitable Crew, and call you all my family.”

Thanks for letting us into your life Billy! 🙂