Welcome back my friends out there in 311 nation! A new week is here and that can only mean one thing – it’s time for the next edition of the fan spotlight. Let’s meet Dennis Jewell!
It was the 1992 Lollapalooza that Dennis had his musical awakening. Now flash forward to 1994, where now he felt like he had a good ear for music. He was driving in his car one day when “Homebrew” came on the radio. “I go absolutely nuts I am dying to find out who this band is. Honestly I don’t remember how the knowledge came to me I just know I went home and told my ex-wife who had very similar musical taste all about the song I was like”they were rapping and singing…. I think there were two of them… The music was unreal…”I found out somehow the album had just came out and went out and bought it immediately we listen to it a couple times and I was absolutely blown away… I called a drummer friend of mine and asked him if he had heard of them and he was like bro this band is for Real and told me that Grassroots was their second album…. He told me to go get Music that he thought it was even better.. I went out the very same day bought it…”And I will never be the same…👽”
Exact show count Dennis has yet to really dig in to, but he believes he’s around the 50 mark. First show for him was in 1994 or 1995. “I’m pretty sure it was 94 because we followed them in 95 after The Blue album came out…. It was at what was then called The Roxy in Atlanta. That’s all it took I was a Brodel for life.” As for a favorite show/event, it was hard to pick just one. “311 Day 2020 was magical.. I had always wanted to go to one and for whatever reason just was never able to… I decided on a whim that I was going went by myself didn’t know anybody and became a true part of this wonderful family… That being said what can I say about my first cruise 2023….wow…. With the combination of all the other bands I got to see and meet hang out with and enjoy the cruise might trunk 311 day slightly.”
Some of his top songs include “Flowing” and “Large in the Margin,” as they are both from his favorite album. It’s “Visit” however that takes top billing as Dennis’ favorite song. “Get Down” he said is a close second. “The lyrics just mean so much to me.”
Some lyrics that really resonate with Dennis include: “Music’s what I need to keep my sanity’,” “If you don’t have someone to do it with it’s not worth doing,” “We only enter in one contest that we made up ourselves it’s to be the 311est,” and “It’s alright, wherever you are right now. I tell you it’s alright, that’s where you’re supposed to be now.”
Dennis is a military brat so he’s lived all over the place. Born in Ohio in 1972, he then moved to Colorado, then Georgia, then Germany, Kentucky, Virginia, Texas, and New Mexico. He lived in Germany for 7 years. He lived in Virginia and Georgia twice, and said his heart is really in Atlanta. He has two older brothers and an older sister that all have different musical tastes, so he gathered a little bit from each of them in his quest for what he calls “real music.” “Music that touches my soul music that makes me move in a way I cannot control…. Cuz I do not dance LOL.” Dennis has five daughters….you heard me right – five! He’s a total girl dad. He also has one son that is a musician and huge 311 fan also. “I also have six grandchildren who are the loves of my life. My Kids range from 12 to 36 😲 ,”
Getting back to 311, in the 90’s Dennis actually hung out on the bus with 311 a few times and Tim would put him on their guest list at small venues that he couldn’t get tickets to. “. dude actually gave me the shirt off his back once… I gave him some weed after a show and he like touched his pockets and was like man I don’t have anything to give you he was wearing a hempilation shirt the album had not come out yet and he took his shirt off and handed it to me… We used to be really close his eyes would light up every time he saw me and we had some amazing conversation about other guitar players during that time including my favorite Mike McCready… We actually rode on the bus with them and the Phunk Junkeez to an after show party once and walked right in like we were just part of the crew it was amazing… I could go on for hours with some of my stories but they are real and these dudes were absolutely amazing back in the day I haven’t had a whole lot of interaction with them in the past 20 years but when I got to see Tim on the Cruise he remembered me and it was an amazing moment… Sweet was always one of my favorite songs back in the day cuz I love to hear SA sing…. I used to always ask them to play it…. One of my greatest concert moments ever was in New Mexico when Nick walked up to the microphone and said this one goes out to one of our greatest fans and played Sweet after telling me before the show they probably weren’t going to play it cuz they had played it the night before….YES… What a moment.”
Something that makes Dennis special is he said he’s a true extension of 311. “I truly connect with others during their shows. If you don’t have someone to do it with it’s not worth doing.” Guilty pleasure for him is country music. When not listening to country or 311, he can be found playing tunes from Pearl Jam, Blind Melon, 7 Mary 3, Janes Addiction, Soundgarden, Live, Pink Floyd, and Audic Empire.
Dennis has these words to say to 311 (which he hopes they already know): “Thank you for ALWAYS being there.”
Now his words to the other 311 fans are simply lyrics from 311 themselves:
“Don’t Stay Home.👽👽 🙏”
Thank you Dennis for sharing your story with the community! Of course, my sincere gratitude to the readers each time. Hope you all have an amazing week, sending you all the positive vibes.
Much Love – The Runt