Paris Texas

[Fran]

This film changed my life. My friend Jude showed me it when I was 18. I was immediately drawn to it’s main Character Travis Henderson. When it came to re-naming our band after deciding to drop “Glass Onion”, as it was called when I auditioned around the same time as I saw PT, I wrote Travis in my journal and looked at it. It was not a neutral name. There was a UK DJ called Dave Lee Travis who had had a slight meltdown on live radio announcing his resignation around this time which people thought had something to do with the name. There was another Travis from a movie, a more famous Travis, the one played by De Nero in Taxi driver. The two characters couldn’t be more different. When I met Wim Wenders at a friend’s birthday in Berlin 20 years later, he knew all about my band. “And what a wonderful character to name your group after” he said over the table. When I got home that night, I was looking up Paris Texas on wikipedia and noticed Travis had a middle name. His full name is Travis Clay Henderson. I never knew until that night I had accidentally also named my son after the same character. I’m sure Wim thought I was a scary superfan… I kind of am but the “Clay” part was never intended and quite a pleasant surprise to me. I did suggest “Hunter” which is the name of Travis’s son in PT but that didn’t go down well. Anyway. Paris Texas and Harry Dean Stanton’s beautifully played fragile sweet yet decisive character is sewn deeply into us as a band. Go watch it.

[Lucy_Lu]

I once read that the band’s name came from here,I thought about watching it and then forgot. Thanks Fran for the recommendation. It’ll be my TV date this weekend. Hugs from Santiago, Chile. Lucy.
PS: By the way, Fragile, sweet but determined—I couldn’t agree more with those adjectives and what Travis is all about.

[Fran]

It’s a beautiful movie. The cinematography is gorgeous. Hope you enjoy it.

[almond]

Thanks for sharing the story, Fran! I am a big fan of París Texas as I am of Travis —the band and the character. Many years ago, as soon as a found out that the name was based on that character I went and watched the film. It actually was something new to me, a very different type of cinema from what I was used to. I’m so glad I got to see it very young because it allowed me to know and appreciate all kind of movies that I probably would not have known otherwise. I love Harry Dean Stanton’s acting, in París Texas, and in general, is so natural, so subtle. His last perfomance in the film Lucky is so perfect, if you haven’t seen that one, please do, highly recommended.

And what a happy coincidence about Clay’s name, you are truly connected to the film.

• This reply was modified 21 hours, 26 minutes ago by almond.
• This reply was modified 21 hours, 25 minutes ago by almond.

[Fran]

I haven’t seen “Lucky” but I will search it out. Thanks for the recommendation.

[almond]

Hope you get to watch it, would be great if you share your thoughts about it afterwards 🙂

[Typing to Reach You]

I can’t imagine the band being called anything else other than Travis now! But I did always love Glass Onion as a band name, too. Was there a reason why you guys decided to ditch it?

Anyway, time to look up where I can watch Paris, Texas! It feels criminal that I haven’t seen it, being a fan of the band for so long.

[Fran]

It was a mix of being known as Glass Onion for so long and also that the band had changed quite a bit after I joined and the words “glass” and “onion” not feeling right together, despite the Beatles connection. It was a blend of all those things.

[BabyGrace]

Thanks for the story Fran! I’ve always known about the character name as the ispiration for the band’s name but I’ve never watched the film so now it feels like it’s time to! I’ve seen other movies featuring Stanton—”Alien” and “The Last Temptation of Christ” —and his face always struck me, it radiated a kind of fierce tenderness a bit like like the essence of the band.
I don’t believe in fate or anything like that but the fact about “Clay” is certainly a curious coincidence.
Taxi Driver is a fantastic film, though.
Sara xx

[Fran]

Taxi Driver is up there. I had Travis Bickle on my wall for a couple of years around the same time. Have you seen “Italian American” the short documentary Scorsese made about his parents around the time he was making Mean Streets? Hunt t down if you haven’t and when you do, his mum’s “gravy” recipe is in the credits.

[BabyGrace]

Yes I watched the documentary a couple of years ago. As an Italian I feel a deep empathy for all italian immigrants (and others alike of course) who were forced to leave their homelands. They faced any sort of racism not only because of the mafia, which was a huge problem oc, but also because they were poor, didn’t speak english and were not even considered “white”.

The gravy mentioned in the documentary is called “ragù” and its recipe varies by region. In southern Italy people tend to use a mix of different meats whereas in central/northern Italy is generally made using only beef, along with garlic, tomato, basil, onion and carrots. If you ever come to Tuscany (which is where I live)I highly recommend trying it along with visiting our beautiful cities and countryside. I’d really enjoy to show you what a real italian meal is like 😊😂
Sara xx 🇮🇹

[almond]

Even in the American 80’s classic “Pretty in Pink” Stanton’s face is how you describe it. I love that movie, big fan of romantic teen 80’s films, haha.

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