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Silver Travis |
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TAKING THE HIGH ROAD
WITH SILVER TRAVIS
An Interview with Joey Parrish
 I am happier than a redneck with two tickets to see Skynyrd and a case of beer. The world's greatest motorcycle magazine, EASYRIDERS, has chosen to cast the spotlight on one of my favorite Southern Rock bands, my long time friends SILVER TRAVIS. Since the interview with bassist Joey Parrish was printed in German, I decided to post the English translation here. So here it is. Spartanburg, South Carolina's SILVER TRAVIS, making waves in Europe! - Buffalo
Interview by Michael Stein
EASYRIDERS: What was the reason for the reunion of Silver Travis in 2005?
JOEY PARRISH: A couple of us were sittting around having lunch one day and we started talking about how much fun we had back in the 1980’s when the band was together. We had all gone on to play in other bands, establish careers and get married. But the idea of a reunion just sounded like real fun, so we got together and did it.
Who was in the lineup for the reunion of Silver Travis? I think not only founding members...
It was almost all original members, including guitarist Randall Calvert, bassist Joey Parrish, drummer Mike Satterfield and singer Rick Cash. To that we added acoustic guitarist John Gillie and keyboard man Terry Collins. A few years ago Terry left and we replaced him with Brad Durden.
What is the meaning behind the name Silver Travis?
Oh there are so many stories. Randall says Silver was for the name of The Lone Ranger’s horse, and Travis was what he thought at the time was the name of Civil War General Lee’s horse, which was actually named Traveler. In fact, I believe someone in the band just made the name up.
Ronnie Van Zant said: "Southern Rock is a dead label, a hype thing for the magazines ... " I think most people would classify Silver Travis as a Southern Rock Band. How would you describe the music of Silver Travis?
We are first an foremost a southern rock band for sure. Our biggest influences are all southern rock bands like Marshall Tucker, Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Allman Brothers and Charlie Daniels. We have a touch of blues and a dab of country, but we are proud to be called southern rock.
Silver Travis had success in the early eighties – shared the stage with 38 Special, jammed with Artimus Pyle and members of the Marshall Tucker Band. Why did the band not record an album at that time?
We were all very young, and very broke. (Laughs) We did record a 45 RPM single called “Baby it’s True,” but it was more of a pop song, even though we recorded it at the studio owned by The Marshall Tucker Band. I guess the time just wasn’t right back then, and now, with the passage of time, we are writing better songs and playing our instruments at a whole new level, so it all worked out well.
 Is the music on "One Monkey Don't Spoil The Show" the same style and sound as Silver Travis had in the 80's when the band was not on an album?
Well, it is similar. We did a lot of cover songs in the ‘80s, everything from ZZ Top to Eric Clapton, but our originals then were pure southern rock. “One Monkey” contains one of our songs we used to perform in the ‘80s, “Everyday Grind,” which was written by Steve Harvey and Michael Buffalo Smith. To me, the key component has always been Randall Calvert’s guitar, which was heavily influenced by Toy Caldwell, Dickey Betts and Billy Gibbons. That and Rick Cash's voice.
"One Monkey Don't Spoil The Show" received international exposure and CD sales. How was it possible to get attention also overseas?
A lot of it has to do with the internet. These days you can market yourself world wide. Also, our friend Michael Buffalo Smith has always used his magazines and writing platform to promote the band. We got into the French magazine Bands of Dixie, and ended up being played on radio in Europe a great deal.
Was it a straight line from "One Monkey Don't Spoil The Show" to the youngest album "Take The High Road"? Or did you tried to realize new ideas on that album?
I feel that with every new album we try to step up our game. The songwriting continues to improve, and the records get better and better.
On "Take The High Road" are some guest musicans. Please tell us a little bit about these guests?
Yeah, it was like old friends day. The album was produced by Tim Lawter and Rusty Milner, long time members of Marshall Tucker, and they both played a little on the album. Our special guests were two of the original members of Marshall Tucker, drummer Paul T. RIddle and horn man Jerry Eubanks. It was an honor to have them on the album.
Was Silver Travis a full time band in the 80's. or had the members other jobs beside the music?
We have always had day jobs. Back then, several of us worked for Community Cash grocery stores. Real blue collar guys.
Silver Travis jammed with Artimus Pyle and members of the Marshall Tucker Band and worked once as backing group for Bonnie Bramlett. How did Silver Travis and these famous musicians come together?
Artimus was from Spartanburg County, South Carolina, where we all lived. He would show up at the local biker bar, Capri Lounge, sometimes he would bring along Skynyrd bassist Leon Wilkeson. Artimus would sit in with us from time to time. We got to know Marshall Tucker the same way. They were always around our home town. As for Bonnie Bramlett, she is one of the artists Michael Buffalo introduced us to at his Gritzfest in 2005. Buffalo set it up for us to back him on his set and then all of us back up Bonnie. It was great fun. We played that night with Dru Lombar (Grinderswitch), Donnie Winters (Winters Bros Band), Tommy Crain (Charlie Daniels Band), Denny Walley (Frank Zappa) and many more top notch musicians.
Why did Silver Travis break up in the mid 80's?
Youth. We went on a trip to Virginia in the snow to play a gig and the bus broke down. It took all of our money to get the bus fixed, and everybody was a little upset. I don’t remember the details, but the band broke up. Although we did reunite a few times after that.
The Marshall Tucker Band was formed in Spartanburg in the early 70's. Was there a Southern Rock Scene in the 70's and early 80's with different bands, clubs and things like that?
During those days southern rock was the coolest thing going. We had Capitol Record artists Garfeel Ruff from our area, lots of southern rock bands like Lightnin’ West, The George Hatcher Band. Around Spartanburg, it was all Marshall Tucker. You’d run into members of the band at Smith Music Store, jamming on guitars, or at the grocery store or the World Famous Beacon Drive In, eating a chili-cheese burger. Some of them would play in side projects and there was always a lot going on in the clubs. When we were playing, Artimus Pyle had formed APB and recorded two albums on MCA Records. The APB played a lot in town. The whole south east was filled with music like Wet Willie, Charlie Daniels, The Allman Brothers, so many more.
The Marshall Tucker Band as one of the most popular Southern Rock Bands comes from Spartanburg and Silver Travis comes also from Spartanburg. Was the Marshall Tucker Band something like a guide for Silver Travis?
They were our major influence. They were home town boys who made it big and we wanted to do the same, you know? We really looked up to Toy and Tommy Caldwell and all of those guys.
Is Spartanburg today still something like a home of Southern Rock, or are there other towns in the USA which have something like a Southern Rock scene?
Spartanburg today still has some southern rock, along with various other styles of bands. But the legacy of Marshall Tucker kind of insures that there will always be southern rock here. The southern rock capitol is probably Jacksonville, Florida, followed by Macon, Georgia. Both of them still have a great southern rock scene.
 Is Silver Travis today working as a full time band or do the members also have other jobs beside the music.
We all have careers. Randall owns a restaurant in Columbus, North Carolina and Mike Satterfield owns a heating and air conditioning business. The rest of us have corporate jobs.
Will there be a chance that Silver Travis will come to Europe for a tour?
We are ready, willing and able. We would love to. We just need a promoter to bring us over. We and Michael Buffalo have been wanting to do that for years. We’d love to fly over and go from town to town on the train and call it “The Southern Rock Express.” That was Buffalo’s idea. We’d also like to play some of those big rock festivals and bike rallies in Europe. We love playing for the bikers. They are our best audiences.
What are your plans for the future? Are there special projects at the moment? Is Silver Travis already working on a third CD?
We have been recording our third album, and I truly feel it is by far better than anything we have ever done. Our keyboard man Brad Durden has contributed some very nice songs, although everybody in the band writes. You will be one of the first to get the CD when it comes out! We have been playing shows all summer, and will open for 38 Special at the South Carolina HOG Rally in Spartanburg the first weekend in October. Last October was their first rally in Spartanburg and we opened then for Marshall Tucker. So we are recording and playing as much as possible, keeping he southern rock alive and kickin.’ •
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