It began with a missing guitar. In April 1988, George Harrison needed to record a B-side for a European single release. He needed a studio, and he needed it quickly. Jeff Lynne — who had been working with Harrison on his Cloud Nine album — suggested they use Bob Dylan's home studio in Malibu. Dylan was available. Tom Petty, who happened to have Harrison's guitar at his house, came along to return it. Roy Orbison, who had been having dinner with Harrison and Lynne, was invited too.
Five musicians walked into Bob Dylan's garage. What came out was "Handle With Care" — a song so good that Harrison's record label refused to release it as a B-side. It was too good to waste. The five of them should make an album instead.
The Traveling Wilburys were born.
The Members
The five Wilburys adopted pseudonyms — half-brothers from a fictional family — for the project:
- George Harrison — Nelson Wilbury (later Spike Wilbury)
- Bob Dylan — Lucky Wilbury (later Boo Wilbury)
- Tom Petty — Charlie T. Wilbury Jr.
- Roy Orbison — Lefty Wilbury
- Jeff Lynne — Otis Wilbury (later Clayton Wilbury)
Between them they represented five decades of rock and roll history: Orbison had been a contemporary of Elvis and Buddy Holly; Dylan had defined the 1960s folk revival; Harrison had been a Beatle; Petty had led one of America's greatest rock bands; Lynne had built ELO into an arena-filling phenomenon. The combined weight of their careers was almost absurd.
Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1
Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1 was recorded in ten days in May 1988 at Dave Stewart's home studio in Los Angeles. The sessions were, by all accounts, joyful — five friends making music with no pressure, no label interference, and no expectation of commercial success. Harrison later described it as the most fun he had ever had making a record.
Released in October 1988, the album was an immediate hit. It reached number three in the UK and number one in Australia, and was certified triple platinum in the US. "Handle With Care", "End of the Line", and "She's My Baby" became radio staples. The album won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group.
Tragically, Roy Orbison died of a heart attack on 6th December 1988 — just two months after the album's release. He never knew how beloved it would become.
Traveling Wilburys Vol. 3
The remaining four Wilburys reconvened in 1990 to record a second album — cheekily titled Traveling Wilburys Vol. 3, skipping Vol. 2 entirely in the spirit of the band's playful absurdism. It was a worthy successor, reaching number fourteen in the UK and producing the single "She's My Baby". But without Orbison's extraordinary voice, something irreplaceable was missing.
The Wilburys never recorded again. Tom Petty died in 2017. George Harrison had died in 2001. Of the original five, only Dylan and Lynne survive.
The Legacy
The Traveling Wilburys occupy a unique place in rock history — a supergroup that actually worked, that produced music greater than the sum of its already extraordinary parts, and that came together entirely by accident. They were five musicians at different stages of their careers who simply enjoyed each other's company and made something joyful together.
In an era of manufactured supergroups and calculated collaborations, the Wilburys remain a reminder of what happens when great musicians make music for the love of it.
Traveling Wilburys Merchandise
Band Photo T-Shirt (White)
All five Wilburys together in a classic band photo on white — Dylan, Petty, Orbison, Lynne, and Harrison. Five legends, one photograph, one of rock's greatest stories. Shop now →
Performing T-Shirt (Black)
The Wilburys in performance on a classic black tee — capturing the easy, joyful energy that made the band so beloved. Shop now →
Read More: Life After The Beatles
- John Lennon: From Beatle to New Yorker →
- Paul McCartney & Wings: The Comeback That Conquered the World →
- George Harrison: The Quiet Beatle's Solo Legacy →
- Ringo Starr: The Drummer, the Actor, the Peace & Love Ambassador →
Shop all officially licensed Beatles and solo merchandise at Beatles Fabdom.
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