And an ill-defined one at that. One of the hardest bands to categorize in terms of sound is ELO; are they progressive, rock, disco, or orchestral pop?
It’s reasonable to say that no band, past or present, sounds quite like the Electric Light Orchestra.
Regardless of how you want to view them, the band and their leader Jeff Lynne had a significant influence on popular music in the 1970s and 1980s.
During that time, ELO consistently appeared in charts worldwide, particularly in the UK, where they obtained 27 top 40 hits, and in the US, 15 top 20 songs.
Due to Lynne’s singular vision, the group achieved both critical and financial success, selling 50 million records globally and subsequently earning an induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
But Lynne’s career didn’t end with ELO; following their 1986 breakup due to “boredom,” he established the supergroup the Traveling Wilburys with contemporaries and inspirations including George Harrison, Roy Orbison, Bob Dylan, and Tom Petty. Later, he was part in The Beatles’ brief reunion.
What are his best-known tunes, though? What was his musical career beginning? Why does he wear shades every day? A look back at the life of Jeff Lynne.