Traveling Wilburys
The Traveling Wilburys were a British-American supergroup formed in 1988 in Los Angeles.
The Traveling Wilburys were a British-American supergroup formed in 1988 in Los Angeles, bringing together Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, Roy Orbison, and Tom Petty.
What it is
The Traveling Wilburys were a supergroup composed of five already established musicians: Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, Roy Orbison, and Tom Petty. They formed in 1988 in Los Angeles after a recording session intended for a B-side grew into a full album project. The group released two studio albums before ending activity in 1991.
Key details
The group's first album, Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1, was released in 1988. A second album, Traveling Wilburys Vol. 3, followed in 1990. Roy Orbison died in December 1988, before the second album was completed. The band used fictional surnames and presented itself as a playful collective rather than a conventional touring group.
Why it matters
The Traveling Wilburys are widely remembered as one of the best-known supergroups in popular music. Their debut album received strong critical attention, and the project remains notable for bringing together major solo artists in a single collaborative band. The group had broad international popularity, including in Canada, through the individual fame of their members and the success of their albums.
In short
- Supergroup formed in 1988 by Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, Roy Orbison, and Tom Petty.
- Released two studio albums: Vol. 1 (1988) and Vol. 3 (1990).
- Roy Orbison died before the second album was completed.
- Known for a playful collective identity and no touring.
The Traveling Wilburys had broad international popularity, including in Canada, through the individual fame of their members and the success of their albums on major North American labels and markets.
Quick questions
Who were the Traveling Wilburys?
How many albums did they release?
Why was there no Vol. 2 album?
Sources
- Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traveling_WilburysSupports: Formation year, origin, membership, genres, years active, album history.
- Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/topic/Traveling-WilburysSupports: Identification as a British-American rock group.
- Concord — https://concord.com/artist/the-traveling-wilburys/Supports: Membership and general description of the group.
- Traveling Wilburys Official History — https://www.travelingwilburys.com/historySupports: Origin in a request for a B-side and early development of the project.