Welcome back loyal excitable blog readers! I know, I missed a week and I’m sorry! But the return is here and we feature another awesome 311 fan this week! Time to read all about one of the Unity All-Stars, Brian aka Bizzy B!!
Brian’s story takes us back to when the video for “Down” premiered on MTV. It was around one in the morning when he saw it. “I immediately said to myself that this was my new favorite music. It had everything I loved about music ‘All Mixed Up’ together!”
His show tally is somewhere around the 20 mark and he feels it’s way too low. “I need more shows!” He’ll get that when he heads to the next cruise in 2015. Of the shows he’s been to, the second cruise was hands down his favorite. “The best vacation of my life!! Between all the people and the entertainment and the beach shows and perfect weather and everything, it was perfect!”
There are many songs that mean a lot to Brian and they often change from time to time. Right now the song is “Omaha Stylee.” “It means a lot because it’s always been one of my favorites, but when my friend Chrissy and I were walking into 311 Day 2012 Las Vegas, I was singing it and it was the first song they played! It really just made that experience so much better, and that’s hard to do! The song itself, talking about being from Omaha and just doing what they love regardless of surroundings or negativity, and what that has turned in to, is amazing to me and makes THAT even much more special.”
In a little town just north of Pittsburgh called DuBois is where Brian was born. His parents divorced when he was just 5 years old, and then at 8 he moved to Pittsburgh. “First time I saw 311 live was in a small club in The Burgh in 96. It was amazing.” Brian now lives near Hilton Head, South Carolina and runs an entertainment company called BizzyB Productions! “Music recording and production, video filming and editing, and even silent disco parties! I try to do it all!” He travels as much as possible to see 311 and the family of fans he’s met, but he has to pay the bills so it may not be as often as he’d like. However he will be, “Cruisin’ to Jamaica, Mon! We will be filming a music video for the BizzyB & The Unity All-Stars cruise anthem during the cruise! Make sure you’re there!”
One attribute that makes BizzyB unique is his height! “I stand 6 feet 7 inches. I know there are people tall and taller, but it’s nice to be in the group of extra tall people.” He says it has more advantages than disadvantages such as being able to stand anywhere at a show and see over everyone. He can also locate anyone in minutes in a crowded place as well as being found himself. “If I wanna hide I just sit or crouch down! I could go on about the greatness of giantdom but I won’t bore you.”
Brian was also a math tutor in high school, but he ended up not graduating because as he says, “I thought I was too cool for school I guess.” He took his G.E.D. fourteen years later and without studying he scored in the top 5% of the whole state. “Shame I didn’t graduate legit, but it felt good knowing I still got it! Haha.”
Movies are Brian’s guilty pleasure. “I am a movie BUFF!! I watch way too many movies. The ones I really love I’ve seen way too many times. There isn’t just one particular type either, I love most movie styles – dumb, good, funny, serious, sad (not my fave though), cartoon, family – you name it, I’ll watch it!”
When not listening to 311, Brian says, “I love me some Dirty Heads! They are on my recent rotation but I really listen to a lot of everything.” Some other bands he’s into are Yelawolf, Ritz, old school Metallica, Beastie Boys, Pantera, and Richard Cheese. That’s just to name a few. “That’s another one of the billion things I love about 311 fans, their music playlists are all over the place!”
When asked what he would say to 311 if he had the opportunity, Brian replied, “Do you have a lighter? If so, would you like to hit this?” Ha ha he was just kidding…kind of! His real message to them is this: “Through good music and positive vibes, you and the fan base you have created, which I now call family, have literally changed my outlook on humanity in the most positive way imaginable.”
Now for his message to all of the family out there:
“311 has brought me to you and now you have become my family. I don’t have to say much more because you know EXACTLY what I mean. People that don’t know are the ones I tell, if you knew you would understand…”
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That is BizzyB’s story my friends! If you are heading on the cruise, be sure to show up for the video shoot and see the Unity All-Stars! You won’t be disappointed, I promise!! (Check out the video for the cruise anthem here…http://youtu.be/1ctLvni8QUo ) If you are heading on the cruise you can see Brian and the All-Stars at a pre-party the night before! See the event here – https://www.facebook.com/events/393071107517325/ As always, thank you for reading the fan spotlight. I leave you with Brian’s favorite lyrics – “The roots that grow underground are as big as the tree that you see, if not, it will fall down.”
Much love! -The Runt