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Traveling Wilburys

They were the first of the 'Super' groups combining stars of the musical world, and genuine friends, who had each achieved fame with their own musical talents. The Traveling Wilburys were formed in 1988 and consisted of 5 members:

Bob Dylan -Lucky Wilbury (Boo Wilbury)
Jeff Lynne - Otis Wilbury (Clayton Wilbury)
Tom Petty - Charlie T. Jr.(Muddy Wilbury)
Roy Orbison- Lefty Wilbury
And
George Harrison - Nelson Wilbury (Spike Wilbury)

The Traveling Wilburys began after George's comeback album; "Cloud Nine" was completed, George had to create a bonus track for the European twelve inch version of 'When We Was Fab'. Since Jeff Lynne helped in the creation of George's album, he postponed his other projects: work on Roy Orbison's album "Mystery Girl", and work on tracks for Tom Petty. The two Englishmen discussed this over lunch in L.A. That Roy was so well versed in the Monty Python genre of British comedy. George was delighted when Roy volunteered to sing with him on the extra track.

"And so I just thought I'll just go into the studio tomorrow and do one, and it happened that Jeff was working with Roy and Roy wanted to come. My guitar was at Tom's house for some reason and I had to go round and get it. And the only studio that we could find available was Bob's. So we thought, Bobs got one, we'll just call him up."
George Harrison

It wasn't worth booking anywhere expensive so George telephoned Bob Dylan in Santa Monica whose garage was available for recording in the next day. Rolling up late the following morning, Roy shook hands with guitarist Tom Petty, whose group had backed Dylan on the tour that had terminated at Wembley. Petty had nothing better to do, so he tagged along. "Then George showed up again and George had a single coming out and he needed a new B-Side."
Tom Petty

Dylan lent a hand when Harrison - with his B-Side only half-finished.

"Give us some lyrics, you famous lyricist!
I looked behind the garage door and there was a cardboard box with 'Handle with Care' on it."
George Harrison

"So we went out there to Bob Dylan's house, sat on the grass and from the germ of an idea that George had on the guitar we wound up writing this song called 'Handle With Care'."
Tom Petty

George added what he called 'a lonely bit' for Orbison, while Dylan wheezed the trademark harmonica on the fade.

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Extended Analysis

The Traveling Wilburys Collection

Read "The Traveling Wilburys Collection" reviewed by Doug Collette


It's very safe to say there's never been a band like the Traveling Wilburys and equally fair to state no such band has been regarded as they have, either at the time of their inception or with the benefit of hindsight as afforded by the comprehensive package that is The Traveling Wilburys Collection. Yet even this composite of audio and video can't fully detail the nuances of the Wilburys' interpersonal dynamics or the perception of them by the ...

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Performance / Tour

Tom Petty Opens up About George Harrison

Tom Petty Opens up About George Harrison

Source: All About Jazz

Tom Petty Opens Up About George Harrison, Mudcrutch and Keeping Out of Politics

In an exclusive interview posted on his Website (conducted by fellow rocker Warren Zanes), Tom Petty talks about his Super Bowl performance, Mudcrutch and Barack Obama. On The Traveling Wilburys, Petty says I think George [Harrison]s move Im sure of it, really had to do with the fact that he just didnt want to be the guy up front, no matter that he had a Number One ...

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