Texas are a pop music band from Glasgow. They were founded by Johnny McElhone in 1986 and had their performing debut in March 1988 at Scotland's University of Dundee. They took their name from the 1984 movie Paris, Texas. Their musical sound went from blues rock on their debut album Southside via the blue-eyed soul of White on Blonde to the disco pop of Red Book.

The current line up is Sharleen Spiteri, Tony McGovern, Ally McErlaine, Johnny McElhone, Eddie Campbell, Michael Bannister and Neil Payne.


History

Texas scored a UK hit in 1989 with their debut single I Don't Want a Lover. This was taken from their debut album Southside. The follow-up albums Mothers Heaven and Ricks Road were less successful and failed to provide the band with any further big hit singles in the UK. Although these albums sold well in France and Spain, this was not sufficient for the record company, meaning the band faced a lot of pressure with their fourth release.

In 1997 Texas came back with Say What You Want this became their biggest hit single yet. The album White on Blonde followed. Other hit singles from the album were Halo, Black Eyed Boy, and Put Your Arms Around Me.

The band's fifth album, The Hush, released in 1999 with the lead-off single In Our Lifetime which was a huge hit in the UK. This album went straight into the UK album charts at Number 1 like its predecessor. The second single, Summer Son, became a massive hit across Europe reaching the Top 5 in the UK, leading the album to become their best selling so far.

In 2000, they released a greatest-hits album was released that included the new songs In Demand, and Inner Smile.

In 2005 the album Red Book was released. On Red Book the band collaborated with The Blue Nile singer Paul Buchanan on a track called Sleep, which entered the UK charts at Number 6 in January 2006 .


Trivia

Sharleen Spiteri was featured in the song "Stirb nicht vor mir // Don't die before I do", by the German band Rammstein's Rosenrot album.