The Traveling Wilburys
Reversing the usual process by which groups break up and give way
to solo careers, The Traveling Wilburys were a group made up of
solo stars.
The group was organised by former Beatle George Harrison,
former Electric Light Orchestra leader Jeff Lynne, Bob Dylan, Tom
Petty and Roy Orbison - thus representing three
generations of rock stars.
In 1988, the five (who had known each other for years) came
together to record a Harrison B-side single and ended up writing
and recording an album on which they shared lead vocals. The five
famous band members adopted Wilbury family names and
were joined by session drummer Jim Keltner.
It turned out to be a way to transcend the high expectations
made of any of them as individuals, and a delighted public sent
the album to number three, with two singles, Handle with Care
and End of the Line, hitting the charts.
Orbison died of a heart attack only a few weeks after the
album's release.
Two years later, the remaining quartet released a second album,
inexplicably titled Vol. 3. It was another
million-selling hit. This time around their nom de Wilbury's
changed to Spike Wilbury (Harrison), Clayton Wilbury
(Lynne), Muddy Wilbury (Petty) and Boo Wilbury (Dylan).
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