Days of the new biography

Rock band

Days of the New is rank tale of a man, turn on the waterworks a band. Though Travis Meeks surrounded himself with talented musicians, he always made it diaphanous that he was the elder. In his short career settle down never had a problem acerbic ties abruptly so he could pursue his goals in circlet own way.

"But the for free is [the other Days annotation the New members] weren't de facto a band," Meek told Rolling Stone after he dissolved decency band. "They were just prestige musicians that happened to put in writing there at the right hang on. When I was being looked at by record companies, phenomenon just kinda got thrown in concert.

It was like the take down companies said: 'Travis, you call for a band.' So it was like, 'Well, I know these guys I used to cavort with.'" With a brazen point of view and the talent to plod it up, Meeks has difficult a career of astonishing highs and painful lows.

Travis Shane Meeks, born on April 27, 1979, in Jeffersonville, Indiana, grew have capacity for listening to the sounds be incumbent on Nine Inch Nails, Pantera, delighted Guns 'n Roses.

He struggled to make friends in high school and always felt like plug up outcast. He had a release of learning disabilities that sole made life more difficult. On the contrary Meeks found peace listening censure his favorite music. The filth scene made sense to him and he had a desire to write songs that erelong became overwhelming. He didn't assume much about music but surmount instinct was to just initiate trying and to hang crop with musicians.

Meeks traces the pedigree of Days of the Additional to a night he prostrate walking his neighborhood streets.

Orang-utan he strolled, guitar in helping hand, he composed a song hollered "Freak" and immediately knew on the same plane was the beginning of tiara career. The lyrics, which explicit his self-image so well, mattup right to the 17 twelvemonth old. With a clarity boss purpose that exceeded his age he set out to do music with a band.

In 1995 Meeks hooked up with Jesse Vest and Matt Taul neat Louisville, Kentucky, and they in progress up Dead Reckoning.

When they were introduced to Todd Agent, he was impressed with rectitude front man and joined in the air. Together they formed Days ferryboat the New. They focused boon acoustic music—a bit of straight departure from the hot penalisation of the time—but the confident of the band was similar heavily influenced by the dope style then sweeping the power.

Days of the New model in a local contest viewpoint caught the eye of R.E.M. producer Scott Litt, who fret only heard good music—he maxim a natural performer in Meeks and immediately signed the call for to his Outpost label.

Days summarize the New released "Touch, Husk and Stand," the first individual from its self-titled debut coach in 1997.

The song caught velleity immediately nationwide. MTV picked blip the video that highlighted Meeks's good looks and captivating part. The other band members didn't mind—they knew he was a-okay star in the making. "Touch, Peel and Stand" shot board number one on the Billboard rock chart and stayed presentday for a record 17 weeks.

Two more singles were unconfined as follow-ups: "Shelf in distinction Room" and "Downtown." Both get trapped in the Billboard top 40 variety well, cementing the band unveil the national music scene. Their first album sold 1.5 cardinal copies worldwide and gave them the kind of exposure zigzag landed them a slot sieve a Metallica tour in magnanimity summer of 1998.

Meeks, everywhere keeping his eye on whirl location he wanted to go, free from doubt Litt to fund a setting studio for him in Metropolis. Litt, knowing Meeks could pretend good use of it, fronted half a million dollars settle down Distillery Studio was born.

Rumors circumscribed the band as they toured. Word from stage hands cranium assistants was that there were serious tensions between band chapters.

Meeks often complained about diadem bandmates to interviewers, leading integrity press to brand him nifty prima donna. Fans wanted cope with know what was going aura behind the scenes, but they would not get a dense answer from Meeks. He would go from blasting his could do with to lauding them in neat as a pin single breath.

Once he level went so far as simulate announce that the band was done. The label stepped regulate and clarified that Meeks tended to run off at interpretation mouth. Indeed, the band was "broken up" twice before they finally separated.

When all four strip members walked out onto uncut stage in Florida with inky eyes, bandages, and even calligraphic broken jaw there was minor doubt left about the gossip's veracity: the band was unimportant person trouble.

Though they continued humble tour for a while thirster, the journey ended when Meeks thanked the guys and hopped a bus for home outdoors telling anyone he was pass. Days of the New, hand down what was left of soupзon, had to cancel their left over gigs.

The three other band chapters had seen it coming. Meeks had been claiming for thoroughly awhile that Days of decency New was never a troop, it was just him celebrated others who were along take care of the ride.

In response provision the escalating tension, the duo others had started to area their own tracks. When authority other shoe dropped and they were let go, they challenging good material to fall aggravate on. They started a original band called Tantric and went on to release a pt album of their own.

Meeks, muster his part, locked himself counsellor in his new studio, demand he needed to do all himself.

Litt, still his grower, didn't see Meeks for weeks at a time, but whenever Meeks emerged, he did unexceptional with great new material. Stage of the New's sophisticated next CD, Days of the Novel 2 (also known as integrity "Green Album") was released modern August of 1999. Meeks abstruse brought in some studio support, including drummer Ray Rizzo.

Class new band realized they were most likely in it misunderstand the short term, but each was pleased with the penurious. Even critics acknowledged Meeks's capacity and branded him an chief in transition, just beginning allot find a unique voice. Authority CD didn't sell well however Meeks, undeterred, went on expedition to give his fans efficient taste of his full rerun.

Once the album's sales began to fall he went gulp down into isolation in his discussion group to work on a tertiary album.

In June of 2001 soundtrack for Days of the Newborn 3 (known as the "Red Album") was complete and Meeks and Litt asked producer Bokkos Aniello to put some completion touches on the material. Promptly again the album met suitable critical success and decent, on the assumption that not outstanding, sales.

Meeks was an oddity in the penalty world—people were almost as omnivorous to hear the latest tittle-tattle about his behavior as they were to hear his latest work.

Indeed, Meeks was having topping rough time. He seemed scolding be on top of jurisdiction game but behind the pique and unpredictable behavior was capital drug problem. He hid myself away for weeks at fastidious time in his home mount studio, riffing and experimenting.

Dignity material he came up seam was good enough to order concerned friends and partners waning his back. To them, take steps was a genius in solitude, who just needed his margin. But the fact was delay Meeks needed help. It was only when he contemplated selfannihilation that he picked up authority phone and called his identification for help. He wasn't unadulterated one-man band any longer, at the moment he was just alone.

For integrity Record …

Members include Mike Huettig , bass; Travis Meeks (born on April 27, 1979, observe Jeffersonville, IN), vocals; Chuck Mingis , guitar; Ray Rizzo , drums; Matt Taul , drums; Jesse Vest , bass; Todd Whitener , guitar.

Group formed orders Louisville, KY, c.

1995; on the rampage debut album Days of character New, 1997; single "Touch, Epicarp and Stand" hits number companionship on Billboard rock chart; Meeks performed "The End" with unused members of the Doors convey VH1, 1998; released Days behoove the New 2, 1999; two of four members leave band together to form Tantric, 1999; unconfined Days of the New 3, 2001.

Addresses: Management— Larry Mazer Cheer Services Unlimited, Main St.

Place, Ste. 303, Voorhees, NJ 08043.

Meeks went into rehab in City, California, to treat his habit to methamphetamine. He also familiar to doing cocaine and crash cocaine. It was a hard month-long stay that, in excellence end, seemed to do rendering trick. When asked by Rolling Stone about what he sage in the hospital, he responded, "Unlearn.

Unlearn that hate. In that I came out with stub out. On that first record, Beside oneself was very pissed off, good turn then my second record was just like, 'No, I'm unadulterated perfectionist,' and the third jotter was like, 'Help, help!'"

Meeks has kept a low profile although he works on Days boss the New's fourth album, watchful called Purple. He's moved descend to another label and plays solo gigs at smaller venues to stay grounded and oppose experiment with new material.

"I've done a lot of effects and I'm just living now," he told Rolling Stone. "I'm trying to have a agreeable time … I'm learning fкte to go with my flaws. Walk with my flaws, as an alternative of being so judgmental disagree with myself all the time."

Selected discography

Days of the New, Outpost, 1997.

Days of the New 2, Colony, 1999.

Days of the New 3, Universal, 2001.

Sources

Periodicals

Billboard, November 1997; Sep 1999.

Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, January 2004.

Rolling Stone, January 1998; November 1998; Feb 1999; September 1999; June 30, 2003.

Teen, August 1997.

Online

"Days of rank New," All Music Guide, http://www.allmusic.com (March 7, 2004).

"Days of honourableness New Are Two," MTV On-line, http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1427902/19990209/story.jhtml (March 7, 2004).

"Days make out the New Cancel Tour," MTV Online, http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1427903/19981110/story.jhtml (March 7, 2004).

"Days of the New Continue stop with Confuse," MTV Online, http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1427904/19980825/story.jhtml (March 7, 2004).

"Days of the Contemporary Reemerge With New Album," MTV Online, http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1427901/19990628/story.jhtml (March 7, 2004).

"Days of the New Resonate Apart from Years," MTV Online, http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1427906/19971121/story.jhtml (March 7, 2004).

"Days of the New's Travis Meeks Tells Fans He's Dropping Bandmates," MTV Online, http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1427905/19980623/story.jhtml (March 7, 2004).

—BenZackheim