May 2, 2007 10:00

Travis pushed apart by success

Fran Healy says drummer's accident saved band

Travis were forced to take two years off after success started
ruining the friendships within the band.

Frontman Fran Healy admits it took drummer Neil Primrose’s spinal accident in 2002 to make them realise how much they needed to regroup.

Healy told ITV.com, “When you start getting successful the business starts to seep in to any sort of cracks, and then they expand and push everyone apart.

“You then start to see each other as workmates and not friends. It is bizarre but when Neil had his accident and broke his neck we were like – ‘oh no, it's Neil!' - not ‘oh God, our drummer!'. I think we suddenly became friends again.”

The group's new album 'The Boy With No Name' is released on May 7.

Travis also embark on a full UK tour in May, calling at:

Grimsby Auditorium (May 15)
Dundee Caird Hall (16)
Glasgow Barrowlands (17)
Aberdeen Music Hall (19)
Newcastle Carling Academy (21)
Manchester Carling Apollo (22)
Bournemouth International Centre (23)
Birmingham Carling Academy (25)
Plymouth Pavilions (26)
Reading The Hexagon (27)
London Hammersmith Carling Apollo (29)
Suffolk Thetford Forest (June 8)
Kent Bedgebury Pinetum (10)
North Yorkshire Dalby Forest (23)
Gloucestershire Westonbirt Arboretum (29)
Nottinghamshire Sherwood Pines Forest Park (30)

To check ticket availability and get all the latest listings, go to NME.COM/GIGS now.