Days of the New

Days of the New is an American rock band from Charlestown, Indiana, formed in 1995.^[1] The band consists of vocalist/guitarist Travis Meeks and a variety of supporting musicians that briefly included future pop star Nicole Scherzinger. They are best known for the hit singles "Touch, Peel and Stand", "The Down Town", "Shelf in the Room", and "Enemy".

History

Early years

Days of the New began as an experimental rock/groove metal trio called Dead Reckoning, with Meeks, Matt Taul, and Jesse Vest. When they turned to an acoustic sound, they changed the name of the band and added guitarist Todd Whitener.

A demo version of the song "Freak" appeared on the Harvest Showcase Volume 3, a compilation of Louisville area artists. This recording features a solo performance by Travis Meeks but is credited to Days of the New. Jesse Vest and Matt Taul are listed as band members in the liner notes although they do not appear on this recording.

Producer Scott Litt signed the band after their third live show.

1996-1998

The band recorded their debut album at Allen Martin Productions in Louisville, KY in October and November 1996. The first Days of the New release, an eponymous album frequently called "Orange" or "Yellow" after the color of the disc and liner notes, was released in 1997, selling 1.5 million copies worldwide. Three songs from this album were hits: "Touch, Peel and Stand," "The Down Town," and "Shelf in the Room." The first was No. 1 on Billboard's Rock Chart for 17 weeks; "The Down Town" and "Shelf in the Room" were each top 40 hits.

They contributed the song "Running Knees" to Godzilla: The Album.

Internal problems of the band were evident early on. Shortly after releasing their debut album, Days of the New began touring for small shows. MTV reported that, after missing a Florida concert in April, the band members appeared physically black-eyed and beaten the following day after what sources claimed to be a band brawl. They then toured with Metallica and Jerry Cantrell starting in West Palm Beach, Florida on June 24, 1998. Meeks later criticized this billing, stating that, due to their acoustic sound, Days of the New should have toured with a group like Dave Matthews Band.

Just before starting this summer tour, however, Meeks had already told interviewers that all of his fellow band members were holding him back and, consequently, were being released from the group. He also said that they were disappointed by this decision but that he thought they would remain friends. An Outpost spokesperson, however, claimed that "Travis just talks" and that nothing was official. Before they could fulfill club touring duties with Finger Eleven and Flight 16 in December, without citing reason, Meeks canceled in early November. Various explanations were given by band members and a label spokesperson including poor tour scheduling, band fighting, and even Meeks being physically ill.^[2] It was finally confirmed in February 1999 that the band indeed split up. Todd Whitener, Matt Taul, and Jesse Vest would go on to form C14, soon renamed Tantric, while Meeks formed a new band under the Days of the New name.

Over the years, two somewhat contradictory versions of the original Days of the New breakup have developed. It was widely reported in 1998 and still believed that Travis Meeks fired his fellow musicians, aided largely by his personal comments; however, he has since said that this is not true and that they left out of jealousy due to the fact that he wrote virtually all of the songs and received all royalty checks. When Meeks first announced their departure months prior to its conceiving, and without label confirmation, he gave a less than positive remark, stating "It's like a journey in the wilderness - you know with like the struggle and stuff. I made it through, I survived, but the other guys didn't." Meeks also posted comments on a fan message board: "It wasn't truly a band format. It is my fault for leading you on and setting you up to get attached to the prior members."^[3] However, the following year during a live online chat, he seemed quite comfortable with the circumstance and treated it as though it were more mutual between them. Meeks has since said to have empathy toward their supposed choice to leave and claims to understand their viewpoint.

1999-2001

Just one year after the original band's breakup, Meeks recorded a second album titled Days of the New, and often referred to as "Green." The album was essentially a solo project by Meeks, who wrote and produced it, and played much of the instrumentation. Many of the album's songs contained intros and codas to seamlessly carry into the next song.

The album was released on August 31, 1999. Meeks debuted his new band on September 4, 1999 at the ear X-tacy store in Louisville.

Critics were fairly enthusiastic about "Green," but the album sold poorly compared to the first, selling around 450,000 copies. It had two hit singles, the first was "Enemy" which reached No. 2 on Mainstream Rock Charts and No. 10 on Modern Rock Charts ^[4] and then the second was "Weapon and the Wound" which reached No. 10 on Mainstream Rock Charts.^[4] "Green" also featured Nicole Scherzinger as a vocalist on six of the songs on the album including "Flight Response", "The Real", "Take Me Back Then", "Phobics of Tragedy", "Bring Yourself" and "Last One."^[5] After touring to support the album, Meeks contributed to the Doors tribute album Stoned Immaculate: The Music of the Doors as lead vocalist on a cover of "The End" and "L.A. Woman." ^[6]

In February 2000, Meeks returned to the studio with a new band and was finished by July. Still using the Days of the New name, the third album incorporated aspects of the previous two - much of the energy from the first album had returned, combined with orchestral interludes similar to the second album. In keeping with the previous albums' names, the third album is also called Days of the New, or "Red." The first single "Hang on to This" charted fairly at No. 18^[7] and was the most added song on rock radio the week of its debut. However, the album was released two weeks after the 9/11 attacks and, with very little promotion, only sold 90,000 copies. Days of the New maintained a profile touring with the likes of Creed and 3 Doors Down. Meanwhile, the self-titled debut of Tantric, featuring Meeks' former bandmates, gained strong commercial success and went on to achieve platinum status. Earlier that year, after being scheduled to play at the Atlanta Music Midtown Festival, Days of the New canceled at the last minute. This was speculated to be a result of Tantric's involvement in the event,^[8] but was due to Meeks entering rehab.

2002–present

After touring for "Red," the band went through a period of inactivity, when they parted ways with Interscope. In December 2002, Travis Meeks was involved in a high-profile audition for Velvet Revolver with the former members of Guns N' Roses.^[9] In the later half of 2003, Travis Meeks embarked on a solo tour performing at small venues. He continued to suffer from drug addiction and, in early 2005, appeared on A&E's Intervention, where his family and friends convinced him to enter rehab and battle his addiction to methamphetamine.^[10]

In September 2005, Meeks declared sobriety from methamphetamine, and resumed writing for a fourth Days of the New record, with the tentative color being Purple. He began to tour again in 2007, with a revolving cast of touring musicians, including past touring members such as Ray Rizzo and Brian Vinson, along with other session musicians.

On March 4, 2008, Geffen released Days of the New: The Definitive Collection, the first compilation of the band. In an interview that same year with LEO Weekly, an alternative magazine out of Louisville, Kentucky, Meeks stated that the upcoming record will be called Days of the New Presents Tree Colors.^[11] The record has been in production for several years, recorded in Travis's own studio. It is said to have a very theatrical sound, incorporating instruments such as the cello, harp, and koto. Several songs from the new record have been played live, such as "Where It Ends", "Superhero", and "Nothing Is Wrong".

In 2010, Mike Starr of Alice in Chains began playing with Meeks, preparing for a tour that would also feature Charlie Colin of Train.^[12] However, Starr died on March 8, 2011, before touring had begun.^[13]

In 2014, the original lineup of Days of the New announced they had reunited, and were planning a summer tour. The summer tour was titled 'Full Circle', as it was the first time in more than a decade that all four original members of the band had played together.

On May 30, 2014, through their official Facebook page, Days of the New officially announced plans to release an EP with new material in the fall of 2014.

Following a cancelled date in Columbia, Missouri, the band abruptly ended their set in St. Louis on September 6 due to Meeks being too inebriated to play. The band's bassist, Jesse Vest grabbed the microphone and told the crowd this would be the band's last show together. After the incident, the band released several statements on Facebook responding to their fans: "There are many things to address here, and we don't want to keep feeding the negativity. We do want to let it be clear that Travis was in no way pressured into this reunion. In fact, it was very much the other way around. Travis literally begged us to do this tour, on the phone, in text, and in person. He had burned so many bridges in his career that no one would hire him to play a show anymore for fear that he would not show up. He knew the original lineup would lend credibility to the project and help him rebuild his career. Unfortunately, he was not able to handle the responsibility or manage his issues."^[14]

On September 26, 2014 the band announced on their Facebook page that they again would be going their separate ways with Meeks retaining the DOTN moniker. Meeks quickly put a new band together and continued touring; however, he was arrested before a show in Portland, Maine on October 10, 2014 on a warrant for failure to appear in court to answer charges of possessing a hypodermic needle.^[15]

Visual themes

Various artistic themes are notable throughout the tenure of Days of the New. Every album focuses on a particular color and usually involves themes of small town rural America. The most obvious visual hallmark, however, is that the cover art for every Days of the New features a twisted old tree. In a 2008 interview, Travis Meeks cryptically discussed this symbol and its personal significance to him:

Current members

• Travis Meeks - lead vocals, guitar (1995–present)
• Charlie Colin - bass guitar (2010, 2014–present)
• Paul Culligan - drums (2004–2012, 2014–present)

Past members

• Todd Whitener - guitar (1996–1999, 2014)
• Jesse Vest - bass (1995–1999, 2014)
• Matt Taul - drums (1995–1999, 2014)
• Mike Starr - bass (2010–2011; died 2011)
• Geddy Friedman - drums (2010)
• Michael Anthony King - rhythm guitar, steel guitar, mandolin, harmonica (2006–2007, 2010, 2012)^[16]
• Ray Rizzo - drums, percussion (1999–2011)
• Brian Vinson - bass, upright bass (1999–2000, 2007–2010)
• Dave Neill - bass, upright bass (2010, 2012)
• Billy Youngblood - bass (2010)
• Rob Edwards - drums (2009–2010)
• Malcolm Gold - bass (2007–2009, 2012)
• Jason Fresta - bass (2011–2014)
• Taylor James - guitar, alto guitar (2008)
• Rachael Beaver - cello, backing vocals (2008)
• Brigid Kaelin - accordion, backing vocals (2008)
• Chuck Mingis - guitar (2001–2003)
• Michael Huettig - bass (2000–2002)
• Nicole Scherzinger - backing vocals (1999–2000)
• Doug Florio - guitar (1999–2001)
• Kimmet Cantwell - keyboards (1999–2001)
• Shane Vetter - guitar (2000)
• Craig Wagner - guitar (1999–2000)
• Damon Fountain - guitars, drums, backing vocals (1998-2000)

Discography

Studio albums

Live albums

Compilation albums

Singles

Notes

References

External links

• Official DOTN Site
• Days of the New discography at Discogs