Fran Healy (musician)

Fran Healy
Healy in concert with Travis, 2014
Background information
Birth name	Francis Healy
Born	(1973-07-23) 23 July 1973 (age 43) Stafford, England, United Kingdom
Origin	Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
Genres	Rock
Instruments	Vocals, guitar, piano, harmonica, banjo, drums, sitar
Years active	1990–present
Associated acts	Travis
Website	franhealy.com
Notable instruments
Fender Telecaster Fender Mustang Fender Thinline Telecaster

Francis "Fran" Healy (born 23 July 1973) is a Scottish musician. He is the lead singer and main songwriter of the band Travis, having written nearly all of the songs on their first six studio albums, with the 8th being more of a co-written work. He is based in Berlin. Healy released his debut solo album titled Wreckorder in October 2010, which featured Paul McCartney on bass.

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. 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. An avid supporter of Glasgow Celtic.

Although 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, Healy 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 Jonathan Ross. First songs played on the guitar were old rock'n'roll numbers like Johnny B. Goode and 3 Steps To Heaven by Eddie Cochran. His first complete song was written about the Headmaster of his school, Peter Mullen entitled "Mr. Mullen Blues" Sample lyric: "...and there was Pete Mullen, 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 Mullen...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 Neil Primrose asked if he would like to audition. This band would become Travis, named after the main character in Wim Wenders movie Paris, Texas.