Biography by Heather Phares
Along with Cast, Ocean Colour Scene, Kula Shaker, and
Embrace, Travis was one of the most prominent British trad
rock bands in the mid- to late '90s. Following Oasis' lead
of crafting down-to-earth, heartfelt songs in the vein of
classic British bands from the '60s, Travis was more
successful and enduring than some of their peers due to
their lively, impassioned songwriting and performances. The
group formed in Glasgow around 1990 as something of a lark
for its members, singer/songwriter Francis Healy, guitarist
Andy Dunlop, drummer Neil Primrose, and bassist Dougie
Payne. After finishing their studies at art school a few
years later, the foursome became more serious about Travis'
potential and moved to London in 1996. Their self-released
debut EP, All I Wanna Do Is Rock, came out in the fall of
that year; with its earnest vocals and soaring guitars, it
captured the spirit of British rock at the time, which was
retreating from some of Brit-pop's artiness to a
back-to-basics sound. Their second single, 1997's "U16
Girls," was released by Independiente Records, the new label
headed by former Go! Discs director Andy MacDonald; a few
months later, their critically acclaimed full-length debut,
Good Feeling, arrived. Recorded in a matter of days with top
producer Steve Lillywhite, the album included hit singles
like "Happy" and "Tied to the '90s" and immediately entered
the Top Ten of the U.K. charts. The following year, Travis
began sessions with star producer Nigel Godrich for the
follow-up to Good Feeling, recording in six studios in as
many months. Though it was a slower, darker affair, when The
Man Who appeared in 1999 it eclipsed Travis' previous
successes, going platinum six times in the U.K. and spawning
more hit singles such as "Why Does It Always Rain on Me?"
and "Writing to Reach You." Nominated Select Magazine's
Album of the Year (and finishing in the Top Ten of many
other publication's year-end lists), The Man Who appeared on
U.S. shores in early 2000, just in time for a tour with
their musical big brothers, Oasis. Debuting at the number
one spot on the U.K. album chart, The Invisible Band was
issued in June 2001 just prior to stateside summer gigs with
Dido. Two years later, the band issued 12 Memories, which
was followed in late 2004 with the singles collection
Singles. Travis finally returned with an album of all-new
material in the spring of 2007 entitled The Boy with No
Name, whose arrival was announced by the release of the
single "Closer." Travis opted for an edgier sound on Ode to
J Smith, which was released in early fall 2008 in the U.K.
and later in the season in the U.S. Their seventh
studio album, Where You Stand, was scheduled for release in
the summer of 2013, five years after Ode to J. Smith. The
record was previewed with "Another Guy," which displayed a
lo-fi, angular side to Travis.
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