The Traveler

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Lore & Background

The Traveler is a digital entity or simulation within the universe of No Man's Sky, often referred to as an 'Anomaly' by other in-game characters. Unlike the native species of the galaxy—the Gek, Korvax, and Vy'keen—Travelers are rare, immortal beings who can respawn after death and are driven by various quests, including the Atlas Path, the Artemis story, and exploration of the cosmos. The Traveler's journey is guided by the Atlas, a mysterious artificial intelligence, and involves exploring countless star systems, trading, fighting, and building. The character's backstory is deliberately vague, allowing players to project their own narrative onto the exploration, but lore suggests Travelers are echoes of a lost civilization or fragments of a simulated reality.

In Their Own Story

Blues Traveler released their self-titled debut album in 1990, with the song "But Anyway" getting airplay on college radio stations. A second album, Travelers and Thieves, followed in 1991. Upon Bill Graham's death that year, they released a live EP, On Tour Forever, as a tribute to Graham, which featured guitarist Carlos Santana. Around this time, the mainstream national audience was exposed to Blues Traveler by television host David Letterman, who has introduced them as "[his] favorite band." The band has since made more appearances on The Late Show than any musical artist. In 1992, the group founded the H.O.R.D.E. festival as an alternative to others such as Lollapalooza, along with other bands such as Phish and Spin Doctors. The band's fourth album, titled Four, was produced by the team of Michael Barbiero and Steve Thompson and released in late 1994. The upbeat pop single "Run-Around" became the group's first chart hit followed by "Hook." "Run-Around" won a Grammy Award and broke a record for most weeks on the chart. Blues Traveler appeared at Woodstock '94 and later became an opening act for The Rolling Stones. The band played on the 1995 season premiere of Saturday Night Live as a last-minute replacement for Prince. On August 20, 1999, Bobby Sheehan was found dead in his New Orleans, Louisiana, home. Sheehan's death was ruled an accidental drug overdose, with cocaine, valium, and heroin found in his system. The remaining members of Blues Traveler convened and agreed that Sheehan would have wanted them to continue as a band. Auditions for a new bassist were held in concert, and included Chan Kinchla's younger brother Tad, who was unanimously determined to be the best choice for the role. Additionally, the band also auditioned for a permanent keyboardist—an action Sheehan had often urged. In January 2000, Ben Wilson of the jump blues band Big Dave & the Ultrasonics was chosen. Sheehan's death and Popper's struggle with obesity put a damper on the group's mainstream success, and A&M dropped the band in 2002. Blues Traveler has remained active with a number of independent labels and record producers. Traveler's Blues, an album of blues covers, was released in July 2021, and was nominated by The Recording Academy for Best Traditional Blues album at the 2022 Grammy Awards. Their follow-up album, Traveler’s Soul, a collection of R'n'B and Soul covers, was released in October of 2023.

Reader's Guide

Blues Traveler's journey from a high school garage band to Grammy winners is marked by key turning points. Their early years were defined by relentless touring, expanding their reach up and down the east coast after signing with A&M Records. The band's fourth album, Four, released in late 1994, was their mainstream breakthrough, producing the hit singles "Run-Around" and "Hook." "Run-Around" won a Grammy Award and broke a record for most weeks on the chart. The band appeared at Woodstock '94, opened for The Rolling Stones, and played on the 1995 season premiere of Saturday Night Live. Following bassist Bobby Sheehan's death in 1999 from an accidental drug overdose, the band auditioned for a new bassist in concert, choosing Chan Kinchla's younger brother Tad, and added keyboardist Ben Wilson. Despite being dropped by A&M in 2002, the band has remained active on independent labels. Their 2021 album Traveler's Blues was nominated for a Grammy for Best Traditional Blues album, and their 2023 album Traveler’s Soul is a collection of R'n'B and Soul covers.

Did You Know?

• The Traveler is one of many customizable elements in No Man's Sky; players can also customize their starship, freighter, and exocraft, and appearance modifiers allow customization of other characters.
• The name 'Traveler' is a direct reference to the player's role as a wanderer across the procedurally generated galaxy.
• In the game's lore, Travelers are distinct from the three dominant alien races and are often treated with curiosity or suspicion.
• The Traveler's goals have evolved with updates; while reaching the center of the universe was once a primary objective, current canon includes the Atlas Path, Artemis story, and other narratives as equally important.
• The character's silent nature is intentional, allowing players to immerse themselves fully in the experience of discovery.