Three 1980s supergroups that were fantastic (and one that should have been)

Traveling Wilburys

Potentially the best-ever supergroup of all time and certainly one of the biggest. With just one flaw to undermine that position. The Traveling Wilburys had a stellar lineup of George Harrison, Roy Orbison, Bob Dylan, Jeff Lynne, and Tom Petty and very nearly also included Dave Stewart of Eurythmics fame.

It was George Harrison and a bunch of his mates, jamming, together in twos or threes and then getting it on as a group. The recording of the first album took place in Stewart's house in Los Angeles. Were it not for commitments to a new Eurythmics album and tour he’d have been another Wilbury.

There are so many fun elements to the band. Their name comes from a joke about occasional recording glitches “We’ll bury them in the mix”. They all had a Wilbury persona for the albums. The debut album Traveling Wilburys Vol.1 from 1988 has this lineup:

• Nelson Wilbury – George Harrison
• Otis Wilbury – Jeff Lynne
• Lefty Wilbury – Roy Orbison
• Charlie T. Wilbury, Jr. – Tom Petty
• Lucky Wilbury – Bob Dylan

The music was brilliant, the songs had great style and simplicity to them. The album was rated multiple platinum around the world. Sales were just over four million and it was a top-three chart success in many countries with, perhaps surprisingly, the UK lagging at number 16. It even picked up a Grammy for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group.

Of course, the death of Orbison in December 1988 hit hard, it was only a few weeks after the album came out. But the rest of the band recorded their follow-up, Traveling Wilburys Vol.3 - the odd number being another joke. It was dedicated to Lefty Wilbury (Orbison) while the others took on a new persona. 

• Spike Wilbury – George Harrison
• Clayton Wilbury – Jeff Lynne
• Muddy Wilbury – Tom Petty
• Boo Wilbury – Bob Dylan

The follow-up wasn't as commercially successful as their first. Though hey, a bunch of platinum discs and top 20 album charts around the world isn’t a failure by any means. More singles were released from the album including “She’s My Baby” in 1990 which went to number two in the US.

So what's the flaw with this excellent supergroup? The Traveling Wilburys just didn't do much traveling. They didn't tour at all, the thought was on their minds at times but just didn't happen. The criteria of a tour were intended to differentiate from a bunch of musicians knocking up an album and being labeled as a supergroup. To some extent that does describe the band, but they were such stars, with great music together that if there is an almost a best supergroup award, it’s theirs, no doubt. 

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