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Travis Stever

Travis Stever (born November 25, 1978) is an American best known as a founding member and co-lead guitarist of rock band . Who grew up in , and , Stever has contributed to the band's intricate, concept-driven sound across eleven studio albums, including the 2025 release Vaxis – Act III: The Father of Make Believe, the third installment in their ongoing Vaxis saga narrative. Stever joined forces with vocalist and guitarist in 1995 to form (initially called Shabúie), establishing a creative partnership that has defined the band's evolution from emo-prog roots to expansive explorations influenced by acts like Led Zeppelin, , and . His guitar work features dueling leads with Sanchez, experimental textures, and a focus on melody and riff construction, often recorded using Gibson Les Pauls and SGs for their tonal versatility. Beyond Coheed, Stever has pursued side projects, including serving as lead guitarist and vocalist for the 1980s-style metal band Fire Deuce, which released Children of the Deuce in 2005, and contributing to Cabinet's albums such as Nostalgia in Stereo (2008) and Our Machine (2013). In 2022, Stever expanded his collaborative scope as a guitarist in the supergroup , alongside members from , , and , contributing to their debut album and the 2025 sophomore release , which emphasizes raw energy and emotional depth. Throughout his career, Stever has balanced these endeavors with extensive touring, including opening for , while maintaining a hands-on approach to the band's DIY ethos in music, comics, and merchandise.

Early life

Childhood and family background

Travis Stever was born on November 25, 1978, in . Following his early years, Stever grew up splitting time between , and , immersing himself in the suburban environments of these neighboring areas. He ultimately graduated from Park Ridge High School, where the close-knit community and regional influences shaped his formative experiences. Stever's family background provided a foundation steeped in musical appreciation, despite not being professionally oriented in the field. Both of his parents loved music and engaged in creating it themselves, filling his childhood home with sounds of musical expression that exposed him to diverse artistic influences from a young age. This environment in the suburban landscapes of and fostered a broad exposure to creative pursuits, laying the groundwork for his later interests.

Education and musical beginnings

Travis Stever attended Park Ridge High School in , where he graduated in 1997 after splitting his time growing up between there and . During high school, Stever developed his initial interest in music through self-taught guitar playing, learning primarily from songbooks and experimenting with sounds on his own. He became involved in local bands, playing in high school groups that allowed him to explore various styles and build foundational skills in performance and songwriting. These early experiences were shaped by influences from rock and metal genres, including exposure to 1980s hair metal, which contributed to his appreciation for dynamic guitar work and energetic stage presence. After high school, Stever continued his musical pursuits in , forming and joining initial bands in the local scene. He participated in groups such as Soul Canyon, alongside future vocalist , and later joined Dark Ecstasy, another project involving Sanchez, which helped foster connections leading up to his involvement with the progressive rock band. These post-high school endeavors in Nyack's vibrant music community honed his abilities and exposed him to collaborative opportunities in the area.

Musical career

Coheed and Cambria

Travis Stever co-founded in 1995 alongside vocalist and guitarist in , initially under the name Shabúie after their prior band Toxic Parents disbanded. Stever briefly left the group but rejoined in 1999, solidifying his role as a core member. As the band's lead and rhythm guitarist, Stever has been instrumental in shaping its sound, particularly through his harmonized guitar interplay with Sanchez, which creates intricate, dueling lead lines central to the band's dynamic arrangements. Stever's contributions extend beyond performance to songwriting and production, collaborating closely with Sanchez on compositions that blend concept-driven narratives with experimental rock elements. He co-wrote tracks like "Ten Speed (Of God's Blood & Burial)" on the 2005 album Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume One: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness, adding melodic guitar structures and textures to the band's evolving sound. Over time, Stever has taken on greater production roles, co-helming recent albums to refine the group's layered instrumentation and thematic depth. The band's discography, spanning Stever's tenure, reflects a progression from raw indie roots to polished prog epics, with key releases including the debut The Second Stage Turbine Blade in 2002, which established their storyline, followed by In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3 (2003), Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume One: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness (2005), Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume Two: No World for Tomás Wanton (2007), (2010), The Afterman: Ascension (2012), The Afterman: Descension (2013), (2015), Vaxis – Act I: The Unheavenly Creatures (2018), Vaxis – Act II: A Window of the Waking Mind (2022), and Vaxis – Act III: The Father of Make Believe in March 2025. A deluxe edition of the latter, titled New Entities Edition, was released in September 2025, featuring additional tracks and expanded artwork tied to the ongoing narrative. Throughout lineup shifts—including the departures of bassist Michael Todd in 2006 (who rejoined in 2007 and departed again in 2011) and drummer Josh Eppard in 2006, with Eppard returning in 2012, and bassist Zach Cooper joining in 2013—Stever has remained a constant presence alongside Sanchez, providing stability amid personnel changes. The band's milestones in 2025 highlighted Stever's enduring role, including receiving the key to Nyack in April during a hometown acoustic performance at SpringFest, where April 13 was declared "Coheed and Cambria Day." Later that year, they embarked on the Infinite Arc Tour with Mastodon and Periphery, starting in May, and hosted the S.S. Neverender cruise from November 8-13, a five-day fan event sailing from Miami to Cozumel with guest acts like Thursday and L.S. Dunes—Stever's side project that occasionally overlaps with Coheed touring schedules.

Side projects and collaborations

In 2005, Stever formed the side project Fire Deuce, an 1980s-style metal band that drew from and influences like . The group released their debut EP, Children of the Deuce, on May 10, 2005, via CI Records, featuring tracks such as "Children of the Deuce" and "Fast Food and ." Stever contributed guitar to the recording, which was conceived during a 2004 tour with . From 2008 to 2014, Stever led the solo project Davenport Cabinet, where he handled guitar duties and production across three albums. The debut, Nostalgia in Stereo, arrived in October 2008 on , blending folk-rock elements with introspective lyrics. Follow-up Our Machine was released in 2013, showcasing Stever's multi-instrumental approach and production work on tracks exploring personal themes. The project concluded with Damned Renegades in September 2014, again produced by Stever and emphasizing raw guitar-driven energy. In 2021, Stever joined the and metal band Zero Trust on , collaborating with members from Skarhead and Full Scale Riot. The group debuted with a self-titled EP on March 26, 2021, via , including singles "Birch" and "Get It" that highlighted influences. Stever's work contributed to the EP's aggressive sound, and the band remains active as of 2025. Stever co-founded the post-punk supergroup in 2022 alongside of , of , and members of (Tucker Rule on and Tim Payne on bass). The band released their debut album, , on November 11, 2022, via , with Stever providing guitar throughout its 11 tracks of emotive, high-energy rock. Their sophomore album, , followed on January 31, 2025. Leading single "Permanent Rebellion" dropped on August 26, 2022, setting a tone of rebellion and introspection. performed at the 2025 S.S. Neverender cruise, a Coheed and Cambria-hosted event featuring multiple acts. Beyond these projects, Stever has made select guest appearances and shared insights on his influences in interviews, such as his admiration for Van Halen's in a 2022 discussion of formative albums. He has also contributed minor guitar parts to tracks by related artists in the progressive and alternative scenes, though details remain limited to credited sessions.

Playing style and equipment

Instruments and techniques

Travis Stever is primarily known as an , excelling in both lead and rhythm roles, particularly within where his contributions define the band's sound. His playing emphasizes intricate, melodic structures, blending heavy riffing with atmospheric textures to support the band's conceptual narratives. Stever's techniques include complex progressive rock riffing, often featuring genre-blending elements from metal to alternative rock, as seen in tracks like "Welcome Home" where he engages in structured guitar duels with vocalist-guitarist Claudio Sanchez. These duels draw from melodic influences such as Thin Lizzy and Iron Maiden, prioritizing singable leads over shredding for emotional impact. He also employs dueling guitar harmonies, exemplified in the three-part harmony solo on "The Suffering," reminiscent of Brian May's layered approach, which adds depth to Coheed's arrangements. For effects, Stever incorporates a talk box, notably on the improvised opening of "The Willing Well IV: The Final Cut" from Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV: Volume One: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness (2005), creating vocalized guitar tones that enhance the song's dramatic tension. His style has evolved from early metal influences—including Tony Iommi's riffing, Jimmy Page's dynamics, and Ritchie Blackmore's precision—to more elaborate progressive elements inspired by King Crimson's , resulting in the intricate, narrative-driven arrangements central to . This progression is evident in his use of alternate tunings, such as dropped-D, to facilitate heavier, riff-based sections, and slide techniques on , as heard on "Once Upon Your Dead Body" from Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV: Volume One: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness (2005). Beyond , Stever plays , including on Coheed and Cambria's debut album (2002) and in his side project Zero Trust, where he handles bass and backing vocals on their 2021 self-titled EP. He also performs on other stringed instruments, such as , , and lap steel on various Coheed tracks, with additional experimentation on in side projects like Cabinet. These multi-instrumental contributions allow Stever to expand Coheed's sonic palette, incorporating and country elements into their prog-metal framework, as continued in the band's 2025 album Vaxis – Act III: The Father of Make Believe.

Amplifiers, effects, and rigs

Travis Stever's guitar rigs have evolved significantly throughout his career with , transitioning from traditional tube amplifiers to digital modeling units for greater reliability on extensive tours. In live settings, he primarily relies on the Fractal Audio Axe-Fx II and later Axe-Fx III processors to emulate a variety of classic amp tones, allowing him to replicate sounds from multiple heads without the logistical challenges of transporting heavy gear. His amplifier choices, when using analog setups, center around high-gain heads suited to the band's sound. Key examples include the Bogner Uberschall for its aggressive distortion and tight low-end response, the Dual Rectifier for versatile metal-inspired tones, and occasional use of a Marshall Plexi for vintage crunch. These are often paired with 4x12 Rectifier cabinets, which provide the robust projection needed for arena performances, loaded with V30 speakers for clarity and punch. Effects in Stever's rig emphasize modulation, delay, and talk box elements to achieve the atmospheric and experimental textures in Coheed and Cambria's music. The Fractal Audio Axe-Fx II serves as the core processor, handling digital emulations of delays, overdrives, and reverbs, while analog pedals like the Boss DD-3 Digital Delay add subtle echoes and the provides smooth overdrive for lead tones. A Heil is a staple for signature vocal-guitar effects, integrated via the Axe-Fx for precise control during live shows. This shift to digital modeling became prominent in the post-2010s era, as Stever noted in a 2012 interview, citing the need for consistent tones across global tours without amp failures or setup variations; previously, he favored the Mark V for its channel-switching capabilities in studio and live contexts. Stever's rigs are complemented by his choice of guitars, with Standards—particularly 1959 reissue models in goldtop and finishes—serving as his primary electrics for their sustain and warmth when plugged into high-gain setups. For acoustic elements in recordings and occasional live segments, he employs the 814-CE, valued for its balanced grand auditorium tone and onboard electronics that integrate seamlessly with his effects chain.

Personal life

Teaching and community involvement

In recent years, Travis Stever has contributed to music education by mentoring young musicians through programs like in the area. In March 2025, he joined bandmate for a surprise visit to the Beacon's Winter Music Festival in the , where over 120 students performed, including a cover of Coheed and Cambria's "." During the event, Stever met with the performers, shook hands, took photos, and offered encouragement, praising the program's impact on developing young talent. Stever's community involvement was prominently recognized in April 2025, when received the key to the village of —Stever's hometown—during the SpringFest Street Fair. Village Mayor Joe Rand presented the honor and declared "Coheed and Cambria Day," acknowledging the band's longstanding contributions to local culture, including early performances and filming locations for their music videos in Nyack landmarks like Olives restaurant and Nyack High School. Stever maintains strong ties to the New York and New Jersey music scenes, rooted in his upbringing across Park Ridge, New Jersey, and Nyack, New York, where he began forming bands as a teenager. In the mid-1990s, he co-founded Coheed and Cambria at Nyack's Backdoor Café, a community hub that supported emerging grunge, rock, and punk acts by providing performance opportunities for local teenagers from the tri-state area. He continues to bolster the regional scene through participation in hometown events like SpringFest and by inspiring emerging artists, as evidenced by his interactions with youth at local music festivals and programs.

Influences and recent activities

Travis Stever has cited as a major influence on his guitar playing, particularly admiring Eddie Van Halen's innovative techniques and the band's overall energy. In a 2022 interview, Stever described Eddie's playing as a huge inspiration, noting that while he does not claim to match 's skill, the guitarist's style profoundly shaped his own approach, including efforts to emulate David Lee Roth's vocal screech. He specifically highlighted 's 1980 album as a life-changing record for its raw, organic momentum and less-produced sound, ranking it among the top albums that transformed his musical perspective. Stever's influences also extend to broader 1980s metal and elements. He has expressed appreciation for the era's hair metal alongside , , thrash, grunge, and pop, reflecting a diverse palette that informs his eclectic style. Progressive tendencies appear in his admiration for Iron Maiden's 1988 album Seventh Son of a Seventh Son, which he praised for its experimental shift toward proggier structures and sonic exploration. In recent years, Stever has remained deeply involved with Coheed and Cambria, contributing to the band's 2025 album Vaxis – Act III: The Father of Make Believe, the third installment in their Vaxis saga and the group's 11th studio release. Recorded primarily by Stever and frontman Claudio Sanchez in Brooklyn, the album features Stever's guitar work on tracks like "Searching for Tomorrow" and the suite-ending "The Continuum IV: So It Goes," blending prog-punk with experimental elements inspired by Queen, The Police, and The Beatles. Promotion included music videos and visualizers for singles such as "Blind Side Sonny," co-produced with Zakk Cervini. Stever participated in the band's co-headlining Infinite Arc Tour with Mastodon and special guest Periphery, announced in late 2024 and running through June 2025, as well as a subsequent co-headlining tour with Taking Back Sunday in August–September 2025. A 2024 profile emphasized Stever's New Jersey roots, portraying him as embodying a "born to rock" ethos from his Park Ridge upbringing, where he first picked up the guitar at age 10 and performed with Coheed as recently as August 2024. Beyond music, Stever balances his career with non-musical interests rooted in his youth, including sports; he played on the football team at Park Ridge High School, where he graduated after splitting time between and , following his parents' divorce. Public details on his family life remain limited, with no major updates on health issues or as of 2025, allowing him to maintain a focus on creative output and personal stability.

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