Hello again 311 community! I hope you all had great holidays, no matter which one you celebrated. It’s the last Monday of 2014 and that can only mean one thing…the last 311 fan spotlight of the year! It’s time to meet Greg “G-Dogg” Keiling!
Let us travel back to a time when record stores still existed. One particular store, which I’m sure some of us remember well, was Tower Records. It was in that store that Greg was exposed to 311 for the first time. “I was working in the loss prevention department in ’95 when I heard ‘Homebrew.’ Been hooked ever since.”
Almost twenty years later and Greg still loves them just as much as on day one. He’s seen the band live 22 times since then. Out of the 22, he says this past 311 Day in New Orleans was his favorite so far. “Made lots of new friends and saw the most epic 311 show ever.”
The song “Golden Sunlight” has special meaning to Greg since it reminds him of his friend Deora who sadly lost her life back in 2001. She was on United Flight 93 on September 11th – the flight that crashed in Pennsylvania. “Deora too loved 311. I actually saw them perform 2 days before here in San Diego at Street Scene. At the time, Deora was visiting our friend Aly in Jersey, then boarded flight 93 on September 11 bound for San Francisco. She was returning to school. Anyhow, I get happy tears when I hear ‘Golden Sunlight’.” Since it’s his favorite song, it’s no surprise that one of his favorite lines comes from it. “There’s a door open to walk through, all I want it, just beyond.”
Greg was born near College Park, Maryland, and lived there and then Ohio before he settled down in Northern Virginia back in 1976. In ’95 he relocated to Phoenix, Arizona. Then in ’97 he made his way to San Diego and has been there ever since. He funds his 311 habit working as a case manager for kids with developmental disabilities and loves what he does! Greg also has full arm sleeves which he says makes him stand out, especially at work. “I have full tattoo sleeves with lots of colors and a variety of stuff!” While his tattoos may be large and clearly visible, his fear is a bit smaller on the size scale. “I am absolutely terrified of ants.”
Guilty pleasure for Greg is a vice I know many 311 fans love – Jagermeister! His first musical love came at the age of four when he first heard KISS. “I am primarily a metalhead at heart i.e. Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Pantera, In Flames, and local San Diego metal.” Greg also has a really great sense of giving and arranges benefit concerts in his local area (he’s even done some in Arizona). “I have done 14 Flight 93 benefit shows and have raised close to $11,000 towards completion of the Flight 93 National Memorial. I’ve also facilitated other shows for breast cancer (my mom is at stage 4 and currently kicking it’s ass).” Greg has also orchestrated shows to raise money for child abuse victims services, tornado victims, and for the Dimebag Darrell Foundation.
Greg’s message to the members of 311 is a simple one – “Thanks for making me smile when I need it.”
To the members of the 311 fan community – “Thank you for being so amazing. When I hang out, rock out and party with you guys, I see Deora living in all of you, which lets me still have her. And for that, I am forever grateful!”
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Well my friends, that officially wraps up the spotlights for the year 2014. I hope you enjoyed reading about Greg and getting to know yet another fellow fan! I’d just like to take a moment to thank each and every person who reads these spotlights. You are all amazing people, and I know that because we all love a stellar band that guides us down a path of positivity each and every day! So thank you again…and as long as you keep reading, I’ll keep writing. Happy New Year all!
Much Love – The Runt