Texas

Texas was formed in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1986 by Johnny McElhone, a veteran of the Scottish rock circuit who had been a part of two groups, Hipsway and Altered Images. Altered Images had considerable chart success in the U.S. and the U.K. in the mid-'80s, while Hipsway didn't become nearly so well known. At the time Texas was comprised of McElhone (bass), Eddie Campbell (keyboards), Ally McErlaine (guitar), Richard Hynd (drums), and Sharleen Spiteri (vocals and guitar). The group, which took its name from the 1985 Wim Wenders film Paris, Texas, made is performing debut in March 1988 at a local college in Glasgow. Southside appeared in 1989, and Everday Now in 1991. By 1993 the group's mixture of blues, soul, R&B, and country influences was getting more notice. Ricks Road was released that year, followed by a live album, and with 1997's White on Blonde Texas became a UK sensation. 1999's Hush made the band true superstars at home; American success, however, remained elusive. The early 2000s brought some lineup shuffling, as well as a greatest hits set. Texas returned in 2003 with the safe pop of Careful What You Wish For, still lauded at home but nowhere closer to breaking in domestically. By 2005 the band included Spiteri, McElhone, McErlaine, and newcomer Michael Bannister, a keybaordist and electronic programming specialist, and with the release of Red Book that year Texas unveiled a slightly retooled sound that nevertheless harked back to the White on Blonde salad days.