Here’s a deeper look at them:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1o4s1KVJaVA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iksG3xzOPt0

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Handle_with_Care_(song)

Who Were They?

The band consisted of five legendary musicians:

• George Harrison (The Beatles)
• Bob Dylan (folk-rock icon)
• Tom Petty (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers)
• Jeff Lynne (Electric Light Orchestra)
• Roy Orbison (rockabilly pioneer)

The band came together unexpectedly in 1988 when Harrison needed a B-side for a single.  Their enjoyable collaboration sparked a legendary supergroup, inspiring admiration for their spontaneous origin.

Why the Name “Wilburys”?

The name came from a joke during recording sessions.  When they encountered technical glitches, someone would say, “We’ll bury it in the mix.” Harrison turned that into “Wilburys.” Each Member adopted a playful pseudonym:

• Nelson Wilbury (George Harrison)
• Otis Wilbury (Jeff Lynne)
• Lucky Wilbury (Bob Dylan)
• Charlie T. Wilbury Jr. (Tom Petty)
• Lefty Wilbury (Roy Orbison)

Albums & Legacy

• Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1 (1988): Featured hits like Handle With Care and End of the Line.  It was critically acclaimed and commercially successful.
• Traveling Wilburys Vol. 3 (1990): Yes, they skipped “Vol. 2” as an inside joke.  This album came after Orbison’s passing and had a slightly different tone.

Why They Were Special

• Pure fun: They weren’t trying to be a big commercial act; it was about enjoying music together.
• Cross-generational appeal: Their sound blended rock, folk, and pop influences.
• Rare chemistry: Despite their fame, they worked as equals, sharing vocals and songwriting duties.

The Traveling Wilburys are renowned for their music—yet they never performed live, which adds an exclusive, almost mythic quality to their legacy that fans cherish.

Did They Ever Tour?

No, the original Traveling Wilburys never went on a full tour.  In fact, they never played a proper live concert together during their active years (1988–1991).  Tom Petty later said they often talked about touring “over beers,” but it never happened because:

• Each Member had significant solo commitments.
• Roy Orbison’s death in late 1988 made it emotionally difficult.
• They preferred the relaxed, creative vibe of the studio over the logistics of touring.

Any Live Appearances?

• There are no verified full-band live performances from their original era.
• They did appear together in music videos (like End of the Line and Handle With Care), which gave fans the illusion of a “performance.”
• A one-off reunion took place at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony in 2004, but it was not a full concert.

Tribute Acts Today

Since the Wilburys never toured, tribute bands like The Traveling Wilburys Revue now perform their songs live, often mixing in hits from each Member’s solo career.  These shows keep the spirit of the supergroup alive for fans.

Great question!  Since the Traveling Wilburys never toured or played full concerts, they didn’t have an official set list.  Their music was studio-only, so any “setlist” would be the tracks from their albums:

Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1 (1988)

• Handle With Care
• Dirty World
• Rattled
• Last Night
• Not Alone Any More
• Congratulations
• Heading for the Light
• Margarita
• Tweeter and the Monkey Man
• End of the Line

Traveling Wilburys Vol. 3 (1990)

• She’s My Baby
• Inside Out
• If You Belonged to Me
• The Devil’s Been Busy
• 7 Deadly Sins
• Poor House
• Where Were You Last Night?
• Cool Dry Place
• New Blue Moon
• You Took My Breath Away
• Wilbury Twist

If they had toured, fans speculate the setlist would have included these songs plus solo hits like “Free Fallin’” (Tom Petty), “Here Comes the Sun” (George Harrison), “Like a Rolling Stone” (Bob Dylan), and “Oh, Pretty Woman” (Roy Orbison).