Days Of The New Re-Emerges With New Album, Lineup; Old Members Regroup

Travis Meeks of Days Of The New

Days of the New frontman Travis Meeks is returning in August with a new lineup of his band and a new album.

According to manager Rick Smith, the group's second self-titled LP will be hitting the streets August 31. The first single, "Enemy," is scheduled for release on July 22.

The group will also have a song called "Rough Day" on the pending soundtrack to the animated feature "Heavy Metal F.A.K.K. 2" (see "'Heavy Metal' Sequel Soundtrack Nabs Monster Magnet, Zombie, And Axl?").

As previously reported by MTV News, the young Meeks dropped his previous bandmates and began working on the group's follow-up solo (see "Days Of The New's Travis Meeks Tells Fans He's Dropping Bandmates").

Smith told MTV News that the core members of the new Days Of The New are backup singer-percussionist Nicole Scherzinger, lead guitarist Craig Wagner, and drummer Ray Rizzo. Wagner and Rizzo were previously with a Louisville-based modern rock group called the Java Men, and Scherzinger is best known for her local theater work. A bassist and a second guitarist will be added before the band tours.

The group is expected to head to Europe in September before embarking on an extensive tour of the States until the summer of 2000, although a spokesperson for the band's label says those plans are still tentative.

Sources who have heard the group's new tracks remark that they have more of a pop feel, marking a change from the hard rock found on the band's 1997 debut (which, oddly enough, was also self-titled).

Meanwhile, Meeks' former bandmates have remained together and formed C14, a group which, according to its manager, is keeping Days of the New's original hard-rock sound alive. Guitarist-vocalist Todd Whitener, drummer Matt Taul, and bassist Jesse Vest have teamed up with the Detroit singer Hugo Ferreira (formerly with the band Merge) to form the new group, whose name is the scientific abbreviation for radioactive Carbon-14. The group has already recorded 14 songs together and is scheduled to cut another five in the near future. A label deal is pending.

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