Jeff Lynne played with Bob Dylan and George Harrison. But one Traveling Wilbury was his favourite performer
Jeff Lynne named Tom Petty his favourite Traveling Wilbury to watch perform live, praising the ease and confidence he brought to the stage. His admiration reflects the mutual respect among the group’s five members, whose appreciation for one another helped the supergroup work together.
In a 2019 interview, Lynne recalled seeing Petty shortly before his death in 2017 and described the show as deeply inspiring. He particularly enjoyed hearing Petty perform songs they had written together, saying it was rewarding to see them connect with a huge audience.
In short
- Jeff Lynne singled out Tom Petty as his favourite live performer among the Wilburys.
- He saw Petty perform shortly before his death in 2017.
- Lynne valued hearing their co-written songs reach a large audience.
Explained simply
The Traveling Wilburys were a rock supergroup formed in the late 1980s, bringing together Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, George Harrison and Roy Orbison. The musicians had established careers of their own, and several also worked together on songs and recordings.
Lynne was a singer, songwriter and producer, while Petty was best known as the frontman of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Their shared work as Wilburys sat alongside their separate careers, so watching one another perform could offer a different view of familiar songs.