Singer/songwriter and guitarist Travis Meeks is the only remaining original member of Days of the New, the youthful rock band that debuted on the national scene in 1997.

He was born Travis Shane Meeks on April 27, 1979, in Jeffersonville, Ind. He grew up in Charlestown, Ind., with future Days of the New members bassist Jesse Vest and drummer Matt Taul. The three played together in a metal band called Dead Reckoning.

They added guitarist Todd Whitener and formed Days of the New, a more grunge-influenced rock unit. In 1997 the band issued its eponymous debut, featuring the hit "Touch, Peel and Stand."

When working on the follow-up, Meeks felt the other members weren't interested in the music he was writing. So he dismissed them before writing and recording last year's Days of the New. The LP features more lush, less grunge-influenced music, such as "Enemy" (RealAudio excerpt).

Other birthdays Thursday: Casey Kasem, 68; Jerry Mercer, April Wine, 61; Kate Pierson (B-52's), 52; Ace Frehley (Kiss), 49; Marco Pirroni (Adam and the Ants, 41; Rob Squires (Big Head Todd and the Monsters), 35; and Peter Ham (Badfinger), 1947–1975.