The Record Music Magazine

Band Members:
Francis Healy - singer/songwriter
Andy Dunlop – guitar
Neil Primrose – drums
Dougie Payne - bass

All About: This Scottish group almost never happened. They began in their hometown of Glasgow, Scotland thinking they would play only once-in-awhile, but never to make music their career. After they finished art school though, things changed and they began to take Travis more seriously.
Re-locating to London, England they soon released their debut EP. A few albums later success followed but at a price. Between the making of The Man Who and The Invisible Band lead singer Fran Healy had a bit of a rough patch from being overworked. But he sorted it out and now they’re back with a brand new album, staying true to their original concepts but moving forward musically.
And why do they right such sad songs? The band explains to The Daily Telegraph, ‘It's harder to write a happy tune," Fran says, "but actually I think all tunes are happy, no matter what. The most melancholic song can cheer you up." "There's something uplifting about acknowledging sadness," elaborates Dougie. "Like it or not, there's going to be sadness in your life and to run away from it is an unhealthy thing. I think music can help you come to terms with it. It's one of the things music does best."

Did you know:
• After negotiations, Travis became the first artists to sign to their label Independent Records

• Travis opened for Dido at one time.

• In July 2001, Neil Primrose has surgery on his upper vertebrae after he was injured in a swimming accident in France

• Travis announced that Nigel Dick, the man behind Britney Spears' video for "Baby One More Time" (a song famously covered by Travis)

• The worst rumour Fran Healy heard about himself was that he was seen outside the 100 Club in Oxford abusing an underage girl. The truth was he wasn't even in the country at the time.