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The guitarist who turned down The Traveling Wilburys: “I felt really bad”
Tom Petty’s guitarist Mike Campbell was invited to contribute to the Traveling Wilburys’ recording of “Handle With Care”, but felt his attempted solo did not suit the song. He handed his guitar to George Harrison, whose slide part became the finished solo, illustrating how the group’s collaborative approach depended on finding what best served the music.
Campbell recalled that Jeff Lynne had asked him to play something in the style of Eric Clapton, but he was unhappy with his effort and felt bad because Petty was trying to include him. Harrison’s slide playing rose above the song’s busy acoustic arrangement while fitting its vocal harmonies. Campbell later praised Harrison’s part as “a hundred times better” than his own.
In short
- Mike Campbell handed his guitar to George Harrison during “Handle With Care”.
- Harrison played the slide solo that made the final recording.
- Campbell said Harrison’s part was far better than his attempt.
Explained simply
The Traveling Wilburys were a group formed in the late 1980s by George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison and Tom Petty. Their shared songs brought together musicians with different backgrounds, and recording sessions often involved people around the group contributing ideas and performances.
Mike Campbell was Petty’s longtime guitarist. On “Handle With Care”, Lynne invited him to add a guitar solo, but Campbell felt his attempt did not fit the song and gave the guitar to Harrison, who played the part heard on the recording. The episode offers a glimpse of how the musicians shaped the track together, choosing parts that worked with its arrangement and harmonies.
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