THE TRAVELING WILBURYS F.A.Q. by Simon Scriver (www.wilburys.info) This version: 2.0 Last updated: 5th August 2005 TABLE OF CONTENTS 0.0) INTRODUCTION 0.1) How can I contact the author? 0.2) Where can I find more information and the current version of this F.A.Q.? 0.3) Is there a Traveling Wilburys mailing list? 1.0) MEMBERS 1.1) Who are The Traveling Wilburys? 1.2) Who are the rest of the band (sometimes referred to as 'The Sideburys')? 1.3) Why are there only four Wilburys on Volume 3? 1.4) Why is there no mention on the albums of any of these guys? 1.5) Are The Traveling Wilbury's still together? 2.0) ORIGINS 2.1) Why 'The Traveling Wilburys'? 2.2) How did they get together? 3.0) ALBUMS AND SONGS 3.1) How many albums have they made? 3.2) Why is there no Volume 2? 3.3) What other songs did they record? 3.4) What bootlegs are available? 3.5) Is there going to be another Traveling Wilbury's album? 3.6) What album is 'You Got It' on? 3.7) What album is 'It's Alright' on? 3.8) What Wilbury songs have been performed live by individual members? 4.0 FINDING AND BUYING WILBURY MUSIC 4.1) Why can't I find any of their albums? 4.2) Where can I buy the albums? 4.3) Where can I get mp3s? 5.0) MISC. 5.1) Why is Carrie Fisher thanked for 'You Took My Breath Away' on Volume 3? 5.2) Have the Wilburys ever played live? 0.0) INTRODUCTION 0.1) How can I contact the author? You can e-mail me at siscriATgmailDOTcom. Or visit my Traveling Wilburys site at www.wilburys.info 0.2) Where can I find more information and the current version of this F.A.Q.? www.wilburys.info 0.3) Is there a Traveling Wilburys mailing list? Yes. It's run by Clemma Wilbury and is a reasonably quiet mailing list. You can join at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/twcb/ 1.0) MEMBERS 1.1) Who are The Traveling Wilburys? George Harrison (of The Beatles) Tom Petty (of Tom Petty The Heartbreakers) Roy Orbison Bob Dylan Jeff Lynne (of Electric Light Orchestra (E.L.O.)) 1.2) Who are the rest of the band (sometimes referred to as 'The Sideburys')? Jim Keltner (Drums) Jim Horn (Sax) Ray Cooper (Percussion) Ian Wallace (Tom-toms on Handle With Care) 1.3) Why are there only four Wilburys on Volume 3? Roy Orbison died of a heart attack after Volume 1, in December 1988. Volume 3 is dedicated to him. 1.4) Why is there no mention on the albums of any of these guys? They chose to use fake names as a bit of a joke. Volume 1 Volume 3 Nelson (George Harrison) Spike (George Harrison) Charlie T. Jnr. (Tom Petty) Muddy (Tom Petty) Lucky (Bob Dylan) Boo (Bob Dylan) Otis (Jeff Lynne) Clayton (Jeff Lynne) Lefty (Roy Orbison) 1.5) Are The Traveling Wilbury's still together? Technically, yes. When they got together it was just a part-time thing, working together when they felt like it and had the time, so they can't really break-up. But, now that Roy and George have passed away, it seems doubtful that they'll do anything more. 2.0) ORIGINS 2.1) Why 'The Traveling Wilburys'? It was an in-joke between Jeff Lynne and George Harrison during the making of George's solo album, 'Cloud Nine', to call the gremlins, or errors, in the recording equipment, 'Wilburys'. When the group was formed this name came up again. George's initial suggestion 'The Trembling Wilburys'. In the end they all agreed on 'The Traveling Wilburys'. I assume the American spelling was used by a majority vote. 2.2) How did they get together? George was recording a B-Side for one of his Cloud Nine singles. Jeff was producing it. He was also producing Roy's latest album and while the three of them had lunch, Roy volunteered to sing on George's song. The only available recording studio they could find that was Bob's. George's guitar was round Tom's house. When they went to pick it up, Tom tagged along. George recorded the song 'Handle With Care', asking the others for various contributions. When the record company heard the track they realised that it was too good to be hidden away as a B-Side. Having enjoyed the recording of this track so much, everyone agreed to record a whole album. 3.0) ALBUMS AND SONGS 3.1) How many albums have they made? There are 2 Traveling Wilburys albums: Volume 1 and Volume 3. THERE IS NO OFFICIAL VOLUME 2. They also appeared on The Romanian Angel Appeal performing 'Nobody's Child'. 3.2) Why is there no Volume 2? There is no official word on this but a few suggestions have been made. Some view Tom Petty's 'Full Moon Fever' as Volume 2, due to the time it was recorded and because of the contributions from other Wilbury members. Others think that when Roy died, the others felt that it wouldn't be right to do the album they had been planning to do with him. Most likely it was meant as a joke...making people look for an album that never existed. 3.3) What other songs did they record? A cover of the song 'Runaway' appears as a B-Side. Two songs are known of, and available on bootlegs, which were recorded and never released: 'Maxine' and 'Like A Ship'. 'Maxine' is predominantly George singing and 'Like A Ship' is predominantly Bob singing. 3.4) What bootlegs are available? There are a few bootlegs going around. The main ones are detailed at www.wilburys.info/disc.html These are generally made up of solo songs which one or two of the Wilburys worked on. Some contain demos and outtakes. 3.5) Is there going to be another Traveling Wilbury's album? With the death of Roy and George it is very doubtful, especially considering that George was always the biggest driving force behind the projects. Before George's death, Tom Petty had stated that there would probably be a new album in 2000. Jeff said in the year 2000 that there would be an album that year. 3.6) What album is 'You Got It' on? 'You Got It' is a Roy Orbison song, not a Traveling Wilbury song. Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne co-wrote it with Roy and sang backing vocals, but it's not a Wilbury song. 3.7) What album is 'It's Alright' on? Most likely you're thinking of the song 'End Of The Line' from Volume 1. 3.8) What Wilbury songs have been performed live by individual members? Bob Dylan played 'Congratulations' live a couple of times. At the Concert For George, 'Handle With Care' was performed by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, along with Jeff Lynne. 'Handle With Care' has also been played live a few times by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers. 4.0 FINDING AND BUYING WILBURY MUSIC 4.1) Why can't I find any of their albums? They have been discontinued, including the Romanian Angel Appeal. I heard it was due to some conflict with Warner Records. There are constantly rumours that they will be remastered and rereleased, but nothing defnite yet. 4.2) Where can I buy the albums? Second hand record shops are a possibility, but even then you'd be lucky. Auction sites and on-line traders are generally the best bet. For suggested sites visit www.wilburys.info/buy.html 4.3) Where can I get mp3s? I would never suggest or promote the illegal downloading of music even though it's absolutely brilliant and you can get loads of music which you otherwise couldn't afford. File sharing programs such as kazaa.com always have Wilbury music available to download. 5.0) MISC. 5.1) Why is Carrie Fisher thanked for 'You Took My Breath Away' on Volume 3? I contacted Carrie Fisher's office and asked why Carrie Fisher is thanked on Volume 3 for the song 'You Took My Breath Away'. Her personal response was: "I gave George Harrison that lyric (you took my breath away and now I want it back).....and he used it in that song. It was from a poem I wrote when I was in my late teens. (17?)" 5.2) Have the Wilburys ever played live? As a group they have never played live, although various combinations of the members have played together at times. In the beginning, George said that he would be happy to tour if the others wanted to, but it just never happened.