Travis Meeks

Travis "Maestro" Meeks (born April 27, 1979 in Jeffersonville, Indiana), is an American musician, and is the lead singer and guitarist for acoustic rock band Days of the New. Meeks is heralded for his musical ingenuity as well as notorious for his past drug addiction and introverted, sometimes erratic personality.

Early life and career

Travis Meeks was born in Charlestown, Indiana with music running in his family. His maternal grandfather was a conductor and composer whose sons were a leader of a church choir and a lounge singer. Travis's father, Gary, played with Elvis Presley's brother-in-law and, at the age of 16, recorded with The Box Tops. When he relocated to Fort Worth, Texas due to alcohol addiction, Travis moved in with him. Regarding his son's childhood, Gary said, "Travis was a real introvert. I always knew he was... The music was kind of his saving grace. It was his therapy and his way of communicating." Due to Travis's psychotic episodes and drug use, his father transferred him to a special school and admitted him to counseling and treatment for his condition. Travis has since attributed his behavior to Asperger’s Syndrome.

As a child, Meeks worked at Mom's Music in Lousville. Like his father, he began his music career at a very young age, learning how to play guitar at the age of 9. He soon started playing at clubs, and before long he received a recording contract. In 1994, Meeks started a heavy metal band, Dead Reckoning, with fellow Indiana teenagers Matt Taul and Jesse Vest, which played heavy, Pantera-like music. He began entering drug rehabilitation facilities as early as age 11. In 1995, Meeks moved to Louisville and Dead Reckoning changed its name to Days of the New as well as its genre to an acoustic, post-grunge style. Regarding that era, Meeks stated, "I went through paranoia and acid trips, separation from the mind and body... That’s where my spiritual journey begins."

Days of the New

At the age of 17, Travis Meeks and fellow teenage band members Matt Taul, Todd Whitener and Jesse Vest were signed to a major record label. In 1997, they released their widely successful self-titled "Orange" album that included the single, "Touch, Peel and Stand." The song rose to #1 on the "Billboard" charts and became the group's signature piece. Opening slots on tour with Alice in Chains and Metallica further exposed the band to fans around the country. Shortly afterward, however, Matt, Todd, and Jesse (the three of whom went on to form Tantric) parted ways with Meeks over creative differences, and the latter transformed Days of the New into a solo project with accompaniment from several backup musicians. Upon the news of their breakup, it was widely reported and believed that Meeks had in fact fired his fellow bandmates, which was later contested by Meeks when he cited jealousy over the fact that he wrote all of the songs and received all royalty checks; however, he has claimed to empathize for their actions and not hold resentment.

In 1999, Meeks released a second self-titled Days of the New album known as "Green." This effort deemphasized the post-grunge feel of the previous effort and instead focused on world music. That same year, Meeks developed a kidney stone and became addicted to pain killers. He also started using methamphetamine and lost an extreme amount of weight. During this time, Outpost was dismantled which caused unfavorable personnel changes for Days of the New. Meeks reentered the studio in 2000 to record a third self-titled release, "Red," which met with less success than previous efforts. He also abused alcohol and meth while touring for the album until one night in Dallas, Texas when his father finally drove him home and canceled the remainder of the tour's shows.

Meeks performed a solo tour of small venues during the later half of 2003. Still battling addiction in 2005, he appearing on A&E's "Intervention", entered rehab, and eventually became sober. Meeks began recording a fourth Days of the New record in October 2007 with drummer Ray Rizzo and bassist Malcolm Gold. Reportedly named "Tree Colors", the new record will incorporate classical and ethnic arrangements, in addition to the band's traditional acoustic sound. Meeks is currently looking for a distributor for the new record and touring with a five piece line-up, including a cellist.

Travis Meeks has standing invitations to perform at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, as well as to front the Boston Pops. [ [http://leoweekly.com/?q=node/7333] 'You're talking to a miracle - Travis Meeks heals one piece at a time'] He has also been referred to as a maestro due to his mastery of the acoustic guitar and incorporation of classical sounds into his music. [ [http://www.morningshowcentral.com/travis.pdf] 'Travis Meeks's Biography']

Collaborations

In 2000, Travis Meeks collaborated with The Doors on the tribute album "", contributing vocals to "L.A. Woman" and "The End." In 2002, Meeks collaborated with Lennon Murphy on the track "My Beautiful." In 2003, Velvet Revolver was searching for a vocalist. Meeks along with many other acts auditioned, but did not land the part, as Scott Weiland was given the role.

In other media

Days of the New performed their hit single "Touch, Peel and Stand" live on "Late Night with David Letterman" in 1998.

Travis performed "The End" on "VH1 Storytellers: The Doors" to a standing ovation.

In April 2005, Meeks was showcased in an episode of A&E's hit TV series "Intervention" [http://www.aetv.com/intervention/int_episode_guide.jsp?episode=113223] , which was filmed in February that year. Meeks' addiction to methamphetamines was one of the two subjects for this episode. He decided to go to rehab at Cirque Lodge in Provo, Utah, but the episode ends with Meeks checking out early after 73 days. After a period of relapsing, he remained sober since September 19, 2005 until a brief relapse in September 2007. According to a follow-up interview with "Intervention" [http://www.aetv.com/intervention/int_episode_guide.jsp?episode=113223] , Meeks has since remained sober.

On April 25, 2008, an interview with Travis was featured on the podcast series, Uncensored Net Noise. [http://podcast.morningshowcentral.com/?p=84] In it, he tells of his new project entitled "Days of the New presents Tree Colors" and reveals that he is autistic.

Personality and musical style

Aside from past problems with drug addiction, Travis Meeks is known for his past anti-social and unpredictable behavior as a young adult. In April 1997, after Days of the New missed a Florida show, they appeared the following day black-eyed and bruised - one of whom also had a broken jaw - after what sources claim was a band brawl. In the early years of Days of the New, fellow band members would often meet with fans post-concert while Meeks was reclusive, a trait characteristic of his autism. However, in later years, has become more sociable and appreciative of fans.

Contrary stories also exist regarding the breakup of the original Days of the New. While it was widely reported and still believed that Meeks fired his fellow band members, he now claims that it was their choice due to jealousy and the fact that Meeks was the principal song writer and receiver of all royalty checks. Several months before Outpost made the official announcement, or the band even finished touring, Meeks was telling interviewers and posting on fan message boards that he was dropping the band. He described them as holding him back said and that Days of the New was never actually a band project to begin with. Meeks has since said that their departure was mutual and that he understands their supposed decision.

Travis Meeks has claimed to pay very little attention to other current bands, not even knowing some of the bands he plays with on tour. He has, however, cited Dead Can Dance as a favorite group. Meeks plays Taylor guitars for their rich sound but has also used Tacomas. Much of his catalog is performed in dropped D tuning. He also favors acoustic guitar over electric, once citing::"Acoustic guitars are more musical. They're not all covered up by different sounds and distortions and stuff. Of course we put distortion on our guitars, but I like to go make campfires and sit out by the water, and you can't do that with an electric guitar. Each acoustic guitar has its own soul; it seems way more natural to play than electric." [Parker, Lyndsey [http://music.yahoo.com/read/interview/12026788 Exclusive LAUNCH Artist Chat - Days of the New] Yahoo! Music (November 8, 2008). Retrieved on August 28, 2008.]

Notes

External links

* [http://www.travismeeks.com Travis Meeks.com]
* [http://www.myspace.com/travismeeker Travis Meeks on myspace]
* [http://www.myspace.com/daysofthenew Days of the New on myspace]
* [http://www.myspace.com/treecolors Tree Colors on myspace]
* [http://www.daysofthenew.com Official Days of the New Fan Club]
* [http://leoweekly.com/?q=node/7333 Travis Meeks in the Leo Weekly]