Chris Traynor

He cut his teeth in the early 1990s post-hardcore scene. As a founding member of the highly influential band Orange 9mm, Traynor developed a unique style of guitar and bass in the studio. Alongside Chaka Malik, Traynor went on to record 3 albums with the band including Orange 9mm, Driver Not Included and Tragic. Before the touring for their third album began, Traynor departed to play with another highly popular band Helmet.[2]

Traynor moved on to become an official member of the seminal rock band Helmet on their fourth studio record, Aftertaste. He was recruited for the supporting tour of Aftertaste which was recorded by their three remaining members prior to Traynor's arrival. He had worked on and off with the band for ten years throughout the band's breakup and reuniting before finally departing himself in 2006.[2]

While on tour with Helmet, Traynor was noticed by producer Dave Sardy, and recommended as a potential new guitarist in 2002 for the multi-platinum selling rock band Bush. Bush's original guitarist, Nigel Pulsford, had recently retired to spend more time with his family. Traynor joined the band and filled in for him on tour. Bush disbanded after the tour ended.

In between Helmet's down time and the fall of Bush, Traynor joined up with Rival Schools. Rival Schools longtime guitarist, Ian Love, had left the band in 2002 making way for Traynor. They recorded a bunch of songs together, but never released an album. By September 2003 the band split and Traynor along with bandmate Cache Tolman headed off to do a new project with a familiar friend, Gavin Rossdale.[2]

After touring as a member of Bush, Traynor and singer Gavin Rossdale began writing songs for a different project, which would later become Institute. Their first and only studio album titled Distort Yourself received only mild success on the airwaves. They toured throughout the United States as well as Europe before finally calling it quits in 2005.[2]

The culmination of the time Traynor spent with Rossdale resulted in the release of Rossdale's solo record WANDERlust, produced by Bob Rock and featuring the hit single "Love Remains The Same" that reached number 2 on the US Adult Pop Songs (Billboard)[3] and remained there for 4 weeks. The song was number 1 on iTunes rock chart and sold nearly 2 million copies worldwide. WANDERlust had nationwide success in the United States. Traynor toured in support of WANDERlust in 2008 and 2009.[2]

In May 2010, it was announced that Bush had reunited, with Traynor rejoining. The Sea of Memories was released in 2011 featuring the single The Sound of Winter. "The Sound of Winter" achieved moderate commercial success on several North America charts. On 18 October 2011 it topped the Alternative Songs chart knocking off "Walk" by the Foo Fighters. Not only was it the band's fifth #1 hit single on the chart (their first in 12 years, since 1999's "The Chemicals Between Us"), but it also became the first self-released single to reach #1 on the Alternative radio chart.[5][6] On 19 November it topped the Rock Songs chart, becoming their first #1 song on the chart.[7] In 2014 the band's 6th studio album, Man on the Run, was released featuring the single "The Only Way Out" which peaked at #11 on the Active Rock Charts.