Why the World’s Coolest Rock Stars Acted Shy Around Roy Orbison

It is hard to imagine a guy like Bob Dylan or Tom Petty being nervous, but that is exactly what happened in Bob’s backyard. When George Harrison brought Roy Orbison over to record a song, the energy in the room shifted instantly. 

These were men who had seen it all, yet they would stop talking the second Roy took a breath to sing. They were five legends who decided to forget they were famous for a few days. It is a rare look at what happens when the “bosses” of rock and roll finally meet their own hero.

In 1988, George Harrison just needed one extra song for a record in Europe and asked his buddies to help out. He even thought it might be a little bit cheeky to ask such famous people to sing backup. 

But when they gathered at Bob Dylan’s house, something magical started to happen. They found a box in the garage that said “Handle With Care” and used those simple words to write a masterpiece together.

Roy Orbison and Bob Dylan Meet George Harrison

The people watching this story today can feel the deep love these men had for one another. One fan said that listening to these songs feels just like high school and makes them feel alive in every cell of their body. Another viewer pointed out that Roy singing his part is pure perfection because his voice was a gift from above. 

The group started with just one song, but they soon realized they could not just stop there. They decided that if they could write one hit in a day. They could surely make a whole album in just over a week. 

This shift turned a small favor for George into a real brotherhood that the world now knows as the Wilburys.

Traveling Wilburys – The True History Of The Traveling Wilburys Documentary

In the documentary, you can see them sitting in a circle with their acoustic guitars and laughing. They all took on funny fake names so that nobody would worry about who was the biggest star. Tom Petty once said that everyone would just stop and stare in total silence whenever Roy began to sing. 

These artists showed us that you are never too big or too famous to be a fan of someone else. Roy’s style was pure, and he never let his ego get in the way of a good tune. Follow Roy Orbison on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube to see more of this incredible journey.

Roy Orbison Hit Songs