Travis Morrison
Travis Morrison (born December 16, 1972) is an American musician and web developer from the Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C., United States. He is best known as leader of indie-rock band The Dismemberment Plan and as a solo artist.
Travis Morrison
December 16, 1972
- Musician
- computer programmer
- Vocals
- guitar
- keyboards
1993–2009, 2011–present
Early life[edit]
After picking up various instruments around age 12, Morrison stuck with guitar and began forming bands throughout his high school days at Lake Braddock Secondary School in Fairfax County, Virginia. He was on Lake Braddock's English Team and claimed to be "pathetically happy" upon defeating the english team of Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology one year.[1]
After "getting out of Fairfax" he attended The College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia for three years before dropping out to pursue a band. He worked at the campus radio station WCWM, which he claimed was "worth tuition right there." At WCWM he became well versed in many types of music, "from John Coltrane to German art rock." He continues to have wide-ranging musical taste to this very day, having claimed to enjoy everything from Britney Spears, Gladys Knight, XTC, Fugazi, Ludacris and Go-go. He finds additional inspiration in the music of Harry Nilsson, which he often listens to before a concert.[2]
The Dismemberment Plan[edit]
In 1993, Morrison formed The Dismemberment Plan with old Lake Braddock friends. Despite his mother's initial reluctance, the band practiced in bassist Eric Axelson's basement frequently and began playing shows. By 1995 they released their debut album ! on D.C. based DeSoto Records. After original drummer Steve Cummings left the band, he was replaced by Joe Easley and the band's lineup would remain that way throughout their existence. Morrison was the guitarist and vocalist for The Plan from their formation in 1993 to their final show at the 9:30 Club in D.C in 2003. The band released four LPs and two EPs and gained a large following for their energetic live show, mostly due to Morrison's "booty-shaking" moves onstage. Their final two studio albums Emergency & I and Change were some of the most revered rock albums in the late-90s and early-2000s. Despite this, the band continued to work freelance jobs on the side to support themselves, Morrison taking up various computer and graphic design jobs.
"Retirement" and current activities[edit]
In the summer of 2009, Morrison's official website was updated to state that he has retired from making music, and that there will be no more shows, records or bands. When The Dismemberment Plan reunited for shows in early 2011, Morrison said of the 'retirement', "I think I just didn’t have any plans for any solo music, and I just think I thought it sounded funny to say I was retiring ... I mean, it seems more fun than to say, 'I have no plans.'" Morrison currently works as the director of commercial development for The Huffington Post, and currently plays in a band called Time Travel with Matt Walsh of The Forms.[5] In March 2011, he told Glide Magazine that Time Travel plans on making an album.[6] In May 2012, D.C. label Bad Friend Records released a 7" of previously unheard material[7] the Travis Morrison Hellfighters recorded before breaking up.
Personal life[edit]
As of mid-2012, Morrison lives in the New York City area, works as a computer programmer (formerly at The Washington Post and then Huffington Post), and is married to journalist and podcaster Katherine Goldstein.[2]
Morrison's other singing outlet has been regular participation in an Episcopal Church choir.[2]