Wilbury Wednesdays is a new limited series for paid subscribers where we explore the wild and wonderful world of the late-80s supergroup Traveling Wilburys. New episodes every Wednesday.
Wilbury Wednesdays: Episode 1
In our first episode, we set the stage for the Wilburys world: Electric Light Orchestra, Jeff Lynne, George Harrison, gated snare drums, Randy Newman making fun of ELO, Porky’s Revenge, and the challenge facing the first generation of aging rock stars as they entered their 40s and tried to figure out how to make grown-up rock and roll.
We trace George’s Cloud Nine from Friar Park to the charts and see how George and Jeff accidentally stumbled onto a new template for aging rock stars: collaborative, funny, warm, modest and… cool.
The episode ends in Los Angeles, where Roy Orbison is suddenly hip again after an iconic scene in David Lynch’s Blue Velvet, and Jeff Lynne has started working on Roy’s comeback record. The stars are aligning. The characters are gathering. The stage is being set.
Welcome to Wilbury Wednesdays.
