The Miami Movie

She was the rock that kept him rolling…

When a chart-topping secular Irish band was targeted by terrorists in 1975, three band-members were murdered, and bass guitarist Stephen Travers left for dead, critically wounded. As British and Irish governments historically united to condemn the massacre of The Miami Showband, Stephen was fighting for survival. His young bride Anne, the love of his life, was his greatest strength then – and still is to this day, as he now fights for reconciliation and peace. Their powerful love story is set against a tragic backdrop, the culmination of a political plot. Yet it is also a shining example of how Love Is… all you need.

The film will recreate the joy of the music scene of the showband era of the mid 1970s; when screaming fans danced on the stage because there was no room on the dance-floor; when massive ballrooms the length and breadth of Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales were packed to the rafters – standing room only! Even the mighty USA fell under the spell of The Miami Showband. A true love story set against a tragic backdrop as emotionally powerful as any that have gone before like Casablanca, Titanic and Ghost. Based on the award-winning book by Stephen Travers and Neil Fetherstonhaugh that took 30 years to write.

Movie Soundtrack

The soundtrack album will contain greatest hits from the era plus original songs including the Miami’s No 1 hit penned by the band, Love Is.

TV Documentaries

NEWS: The Miami Showband documentary was shown on RTE recently. It is compelling. The Irish Times review called it riveting. It was reported that The Miami documentary achieved an almost unheard of feat; it got one third of the entire country’s viewers on the night. View the Miami Showband BBC and RTE documentaries.

The Omagh Speech

Stephen’s philosophy on peace and reconciliation has been well received everywhere. His work towards that goal for his country, indeed universally, is best summed up in his speech to the Omagh Support and Self Help Group in 2009. Click to view the text of that speech and more on Miami Today.

Miami in the media

Mssages of support have been received from Hilary Clinton’s office, from the Taoiseach (Prime Minister) and several from members of the Irish government. Click to play Stephen Travers’ interview for CBC Radio Canada that was also transmitted in the USA. Press Releases regarding plans for the forthcoming movie: BBC Northern Ireland The Irish Times

Children In Crossfire

2008 – Stephen often quotes the line, “There are many celebrities, but very few heroes”. Here we see him paying a visit to a long admired hero, Richard Moore, at his Children In Crossfire Charity in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, Africa. View the Children In Crossfire page

Quotes that Stephen admires

There can be no future without forgiveness – Desmond Tutu. Am I not destroying my enemies when I make friends of them? – Abraham Lincoln We’re talking peace, not politics – Albert Reynolds

If a book or a film can convince some young lad to say, “I’d rather pick up a bass guitar than a bomb, or I’d look better in a band suit than a balaclava” we’ll have achieved something.

Quotes from Stephen Travers

Quotes from Stephen Travers: If this movie can turn one young lad away from a life of violence it will have done its job. This movie has to be the antidote to the terrorist recruiting sergeants. This movie has to make peace look cool. Musicians were the most visible stimuli for reconciliation….we brought people together during those troubled times! An army for peace….our weapons were Fender and Gibson guitars and Ludwig drums and we never lost a battle. We were the single, most effective catalyst for social stability and cohesion….unfortunately my friends gave their lives to this most noble of causes and I almost lost mine! The only army for reconciliation and our weapons were Fender and Gibson guitars and Ludwig drums and we never lost a battle. Musicians are and always have been the greatest catalyst for social stability and cohesion. Musicians preserved the hope of peace and continue to do that throughout the world today.