Pat Travers

Pat Travers

Pat Travers is a Canadian rock guitarist, keyboardist and singer from Toronto, whose work spans blues, blues rock and rock. Born Patrick Henry Travers in 1954, he begins playing guitar in his early teens after seeing Jimi Hendrix perform in his local area. He studies major rock guitarists including Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page, and starts out playing in bar bands in Quebec.

Early career

Travers first touring experience comes with Ronnie Hawkins, the 1950s rock and roll veteran best known for fronting a backing group that later becomes The Band. After about a year, he moves to London and records a demo that leads to a deal with Polydor Records. His debut album, Pat Travers, appears in 1976. That same year he performs at the Reading Festival in England, which helps build interest in his work.

1970s and commercial peak

In 1977 he releases Makin' Magic and Putting It Straight, both featuring drummer Nicko McBrain before his time with Iron Maiden. Travers then returns to North America and turns toward the U.S. rock market. A new Pat Travers Band lineup featuring Tommy Aldridge on drums, Pat Thrall on guitar and Mars Cowling on bass appears on 1979’s Heat in the Street. This period brings his most commercially successful releases, including Live! Go For What You Know and Crash and Burn, both released in 1979 and 1980 respectively and both reaching the Top 30.

Later career

As bluesy hard rock loses ground in the U.S. market, Travers’ later albums sell less well. His last records to appear on the U.S. album charts include Radio Active in 1981, Black Pearl in 1982 and Hot Shot in 1984. He then takes a break from studio releases for the rest of the decade, while continuing to tour. He returns in 1990 with School of Hard Knocks, and continues to release studio albums and archival live recordings through the 1990s, including Blues Tracks, Just a Touch, Blues Magnet, King Biscuit Flower Hour and BBC Radio One Live in Concert.

Ongoing activity

Travers continues to tour and record regularly. He performs with musicians including Jeff Watson of Night Ranger, Tom Keifer of Cinderella and Rick Derringer. In 2001 he appears on the Voices of Classic Rock tour. In 2003 he releases P.T. Power Trio, which includes covers of Cream’s “White Room,” Robin Trower’s “Day of the Eagle” and ZZ Top’s “Nasty Dogs and Funky Kings.”

Pat Travers Band

The Pat Travers Band is associated with a changing line-up over the years, with many noted musicians taking part in the group.