Throwback Thursdays – MUSIC TIME! – The Travelling Wilburys

I began playing the guitar at a really young age. By the time I got halfway decent on the strings, I wanted to focus on technique. I got into Steve Vai, Satch, and John Petrucci as I went through my progressive rock phase, but after about a year and half of playing with a band, I realized that it was just not that fun. Aggressive lead solos sound great, but I was so stressed out playing them. I realized that I had more fun playing on a Telecaster rather than an Ibanez. Overdrive effects with Wah-Wahs didn’t interest me anymore. I liked cranking up a little distortion and reverb much more.

So I went from Dream Theatre to Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, from Portnoy to Ringo, from Petrucci to Harrison. After I dropped out from the band, I had a chance to talk to some of the people at a local guitar shop. As we sat around and talked, I heard a Tom Petty song that I didn’t recognize playing in the back and asked them what the song was. They told me that it’s not really a Tom Petty song but a song by a band called the Travelling Wilburys, which had Tom Petty as a member.

Tom Petty as a member of a different group than his own namesake band? I had to find out what they were all about, and I was pleasantly surprised. Ever since then, I have developed an appreciation for this band, I want to share the band with Steem!

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Superteam Lineup

We often use the term “superteam” when we describe NBA teams that are stacked with all-star caliber players. Well, this band was perhaps one of the greatest super teams ever assembled, musically. Joining George Harrison, formerly the lead guitar player of the Beatles, was Bob Dylan, Jeff Lynne, Roy Orbison, and Tom Petty. And they played soft-rock country music. What an amazing ensemble!

For those of you that may not know just how popular these musicians were, let me explain. Bob Dylan is a cultural icon from the 70’s who was known for his rambling style of singing and thought-provoking lyrics. Jeff Lynne is the lead singer and primary member of Electric Light Orchestra – ELO –and is known as a fantastic musician with a wide musical range. Roy Orbison is the singer of one of the most popular songs ever – Pretty Woman – and had such a distinguished voice that people called him the “Caruso of Rock”. Tom Petty was the front man for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, with hits like Free Fallin’, Won’t Back Down, American Girl, and Mary Jane’s Last Dance. George Harrison was the lead guitarist of the Beatles.

The story of their band is a fun one. George Harrison was discussing an upcoming recording at a diner with Jeff Lynne, and was overheard by Roy Orbison, who offered to help. An excited Harrison accepted, and revealed that they were to record at Bob Dylan’s house which had an in-home studio. They then drove together to Tom Petty’s house to pick up George Harrison’s guitar, and seeing Lynne, Orbison, and Harrison together, Petty also joined the group. By the time they reached Bob Dylan’s house, there was already four world-caliber rock talents gathered. Dylan then offered to join, and the Travelling Wilburys were born.

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I’d like to leave two of their most popular songs with you. The first one is called “Handle With Care”, and it prominently features all five members. The second song, called “The End of the Line”, is missing Roy Orbison, who passed away shortly after the first Wilburys album. There’s an empty chair in the music video in place of Orbison. Enjoy, and please upvote/resteem if you want more of this kind of content.

HANDLE WITH CARE

END OF THE LINE