Editing Nick Hexum (section)

==Early life==
Born in [[Madison, Wisconsin]], to father Dr. Terry Hexum, a professor of pharmacology at the [[University of Nebraska Medical Center]] and cardiovascular and neuroscience researcher, and mother Pat,<ref name="unmc.edu">{{cite web|url=https://app1.unmc.edu/publicaffairs/todaysite/sitefiles/today_full.cfm?match=1689|title=UNMC researcher cheers on musical sons - UNMC|website=App1.unmc.edu|access-date=17 November 2017}}</ref> Hexum went to [[Westside High School (Omaha)|Westside High School]] in [[Omaha, Nebraska]]. School led Hexum to music programs, such as Westside Jazz Band, where he met Chad Sexton. Hexum views his first rock 'n' roll performance as a junior high talent show under the name The Clash.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXf8vMyZk0Y | title=Nick and Curt Grubb discuss their new song and the good old days! | website=[[YouTube]] | date=5 August 2021 }}</ref>

In 1985, Hexum also started a band with school friends. This is the first group where he had another member of 311 as a bandmate. Tim Mahoney was the lead guitarist in the group. Other members included Ward Bones, Andy Gray, Lon Breslow, and Ed Birmingham. Their band was called The Eds after their drummer. They performed at school functions, even winning local battle of the bands. The group played together for a few years before disbanding.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://311archive.com/archive-pre-311/ | title=ARCHIVE: Pre -311 | date=27 November 2022 }}</ref>

In 1988, Hexum linked with Mahoney and jazz band friend [[Chad Sexton]] to form a band named Unity. The line-up changed when they graduated highschool. Mahoney and Sexton decided to head to college. [[Chad Sexton]] returned from a short stint at University of Nebraska and Unity was revived without Mahoney. Hexum, Sexton, Ward Bones, and Marcus Watkins formed this new line-up and moved to Los Angeles to make an effort for recognition. However, this group soon parted ways.

Hexum moved to Germany for a brief stint in 1990. After a few months, he got a call from Sexton. He had linked up with [[Aaron Wills]] and Jim Watson.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://311archive.com/archive-pre-311/ | title=ARCHIVE: Pre -311 | date=27 November 2022 }}</ref> Their band, Fish Hippos, had a gig with [[Fugazi]] on June 10, 1990, at [[Sokol Auditorium]] in their hometown on Omaha, NE and he invited Hexum to join the band. Hexum agreed, but said they needed to change the band's name. They settled on [[311 (band)|311]] and announced that from stage. The band views this show as their birth.