Francis Healy
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| Fran Healy | |
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 Fran Healy
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Francis Healy |
| Born | July 23, 1973 Stafford, Staffordshire, England |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals, guitar, piano |
| Associated acts | Travis |
Francis "Fran" Healy (born July 23, 1973 in Stafford, England) is a Scottish musician. He is currently the lead singer and main songwriter of the Scottish band Travis, having written nearly all of the songs on their five studio albums.
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[edit] Music
Regarded as one of Britain's best present day songwriters and melodists, Healy’s songwriting has been publicly praised by numerous artists, including Paul McCartney, Elton John and Noel Gallagher (from British band Oasis). In 2005, Coldplay frontman Chris Martin called himself "a poor man’s Fran Healy". In interviews, Healy has talked of being influenced by songwriters such as Joni Mitchell, Paul McCartney and Graham Nash (of the Hollies and Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young fame). Healy has since played with both McCartney and Nash. Although Healy predominantly plays guitar, he has also recently begun to write and perform with piano.
[edit] Travis
Healy's band, Travis, are a Scottish alternative rock band from Glasgow, Scotland, also comprising Dougie Payne, Andy Dunlop and Neil Primrose. One of Britain's most popular and most respected modern bands, Travis have twice been awarded British album of the year at the annual BRIT Awards, and are often credited as having paved the way for British bands such as Coldplay and Keane. With the release of five studio albums, beginning with Good Feeling in 1997, they continue to enjoy critical and commercial success, while also being especially noted for their live performances. In addition to their music, much has been made of the likable, down to earth, and close nature of the band. A highly anticipated fifth studio album their first since 2003's 12 Memories and produced by long-time Travis, Radiohead, and more recently, Paul McCartney producer, Nigel Godrich was released in early May 2007, almost ten years since the release of the band's first album.
[edit] Biography
Although born in Stafford, England, Healy grew up in Glasgow, Scotland – his parents' hometown. His mother had moved back to Scotland after divorcing her husband, who was abusive (towards her); as a result of this, Healy continues to refuse any contact with his father. Healy has said that both his mother and his grandmother were major influences on him as a child. Healy attended Holyrood Secondary School in Glasgow.
As a young child at primary school, he had been awarded a book of Rabbie Burns poems and a certificate "For Outstanding Singing Abilities" after singing the old Scottish song "Westering Home" while dressed in a kilt. He showed no further interest in singing until his teens.
His obsession in song writing began to take shape when he got his first guitar in 1986 at the age of 13, having seen Roy Orbison perform his hit Pretty Woman on The Last Resort With Jonothan Ross. First songs played on the guitar were old rock'n'roll numbers like Johnny B. Good and 3 Steps To Heaven by Eddie Cochran. His first complete song was written about the Headmaster of his school, Peter Mullin entitled "Mr. Mullin Blues" Sample lyric: "...and there was Pete Mullin, with his pie and beans. It was then I smelled it, it filled the room. Then some wee bugger lit a match and the whole place went Ka-BOOM...Where's your tie boy, Pick up that can. Get in line girl, do you understand...Cause his name is big Pete Mullin...And he's a man" He performed it at the school talent show but failed to move judges. He played in a couple of school bands until drummer of Glasgow band Glass Onion asked if he would like to audition. This band would become Travis, named after the main character in Wim Wenders movie Paris Texas.
Travis’ first single, "All I Want to Do Is Rock", was written by Healy while on a visit to Millport on Greater Cumbrae, a small island in the Firth of Clyde. Going there with the sole intention of composing the best song he had ever written, Healy surprised even himself when the track was born. In spite of Healy’s success as a songwriter since, he is without formal musical training. As the band have risen to prominence, Healy has continued to be Travis’ main songwriter, as well as the band's main spokesman and most recognisable member.
Since 2000, Healy has been in a long term relationship with German photographer and former make-up artist, Nora Kryst. Their first child, a son named Clay, was born in March 2006. Rather than Healy, the boy took his mother's surname, Kryst. They live in London, while also having an apartment in SoHo, New York City. At a recent concert in Munich, Healy expressed his plans to move to Germany in the near future and to acquire German citizenship.
[edit] Activism
Healy is a part of the movement Make Poverty History and has, alongside his band, played at the Live 8 concerts in both London and Edinburgh. He has also participated in Band Aid 20's re-recording of Do They Know It's Christmas? – Healy and friend Nigel Godrich also playing roles in its organization.
He has so far made two trips to Sudan with the Save the Children Organization, for which he has just launched the biggest ever global campaign [1] to help the ten million children who die unnecessarily each year survive.
Healy has also taken part in and been a speaker at several anti-war demonstrations against the Iraq War.[2][3]
[edit] Misc
- As well as Joni Mitchell, Paul McCartney and Graham Nash, Healy is a fan of The Band and Arcade Fire. He is also a fan of stand-up comedy.
- Healy has a black belt in karate (gained as a child).
- During the late 1990s and early 2000s, Healy made the haircut the "hoxton fin" famous.[4]
- In January 2008 it was announced that Healy would curate a new talent compilation for Paul McCartney's Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts[5].
[edit] References
- ^ "Fran Healy launches Save the Children’s biggest ever global campaign", Charities Aid Foundation, 2008-02-20. Retrieved on 2008-02-25.
- ^ BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Music | Stars sing out against war
- ^ Sound of silence | | Guardian Unlimited Arts
- ^ Travis - Melody Maker, January 12, 2000
- ^ Travis frontman to select best new talent from Paul McCartney “fame school” « Jonathan Deamer
[edit] External links
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