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TRAVIS
This is one of my favourite bands at the moment,
you probably saw them on the Brits where they won two Brit awards.
Also looked quite cute in their suits that they were wearing
They Formed in Glasgow, Scotland in 1990, the band Travis is comprised
by
vocalist Francis Healy, guitarist Andrew Dunlap, bassist Douglas Payne
and drummer Neil Primrose. The quartet made their recording debut in 1996
with the self-released EP All I Wanna Do Is Rock, then signed to Sony
for their 1997 full-length effort, Good Feeling.
They took two of the biggest awards at Brit Awards,winning the Best
British Group and Best British Album (for The Man Who) categories.
TRAVIS the unassuming Scottish quartet won a lot of friends in the business
when
they first proffered their melodic and thoughtful pop in late 1997, but
the public
at large really caught on in 1999. Travis appealed to young fans discovering
guitar
groups for the first time, but also found favour with more mature
listeners.
A rare example of an act truly crossing generational boundaries. The award
was presented by Lou Reed.
When they were presented with the award for best british band, Fran, the
lead singer
of the group said 'They say liquid paraffin is the best cure for constipation,
but winning a BRIT comes pretty close, We'd like to thank everyone for
supporting
our music, because without ears the songs go nowhere.'
'The Man Who' The album took up residency in the Top Ten immediately on
its
release and refused to budge for the rest of the year. Spurred on by four
radio-friendly
singles, each charting higher than its predecessor, 'The Man Who' was the
essential purchase of 1999 but also staked its claim as a timeless collection
of lovingly
fashioned songs. This is an album that will still sound fabulous in 20
years' time.
The award was presented by Vinnie Jones.
Lead Singer Fran dedicated the BRIT to struggling songwriters everywhere:
'It's up to the men in the suits to help these people come through.
To those of you sitting on the edge of your bed playing your guitars, keep
doing it 'cause these people will find you.'
Later Fran revealed that the band had a pact not to drink until after their
performance of 'Why Does It Always Rain On Me?' earlier in
the ceremony, 'but we're really gonna make up for it now.'
FRANBest Thing about being in Travis is that I'll never ever get to see Travis live, the reason being is that I'm told that we're a pretty good live band, and I haven't seen a good live band in a long time, plus it's impossible to be objective when your as close as I am to the log. Worst thing about being in Travis is that it's like being on a really expensive three year holiday from the dole, and your never sure when it's going to end, I'm expecting the safe to fall my head any day now!
DOUGIEMy earliest memory is of me, age 3 in my orange shorts and Noddy shoes,
falling off a wall into a rose bush. I am still clumsy,and still have a
fondness for all things orange - goldfish, poolball No. 5, Glasgow buses
etc - I have, however, lost the Noddy shoes. The first and only time I
ever won anything was in a colouring competition in the local paper, I
won a fiver. I felt like I could buy anything. I wanted my Dad to retire
on my £5. Instead he took me to buy a dartboard. I still have a dartboard
in my house and my Dad is now retired.My first musical memory is, being
made to sing 'Bye Bye Baby' (the Bay City Rollers), by 2 of my older sisters
. A slightly more pleasant memory is my sister Gill playing me Hunky Dory
by David Bowie when I was about 6. It was the first album I ever listened
to, and I was immediately smitten. I was lucky to grow up with a sister
in the next room who had very good taste in music. Years later I would
buy albums by the Beatles and Bowie, and wonder how I knew all the words.
NEIL
ANDYWell it's been quite some year. Full, as usual, of new horizons and
lost landscapes. I'm really excited about you all getting to hear the new
album. We are mastering it as I write this and it sounds fantastic. Looking
forward to touring this year.Your support on the message board has been
wonderful and I can't wait to come out on tour and share some evenings
with you all again. I really enjoyed the small gig we did in London recently.
The new stuff feels great to play. I'm sure the shows will be really special
for all concerned. See you on the tourbus for a beer, Lots of luv, Andy