10 Music Side Projects Better Than The Main Band
2. Traveling Wilburys
Towards the end of the '80s, the rock world didn't really know what to do with their elder-statesmen anymore.
Even though acts like David Bowie were keeping up with the times in places, no one's necessarily looking to the '80s version of the Rolling Stones for the classic stuff. At a time when most of the children of the '60s were starting to be forgotten, the Traveling Wilburys gave us one of the smoothest transitions into middle age.
For as much chemistry as these rock dinosaurs have though, they came together purely by accident. Looking to cut a track on a B-side, George Harrison collaborated with Jeff Lynne before eventually bringing in Roy Orbison and Bob Dylan into the fold. By the time Tom Petty eventually entered the equation, the label felt that the song was too good to be a B-side.
Opting to make a handful of other tunes, the Traveling Wilburys' album is just the right kind of blast from the past, with each member playing to one anothers' strengths while never stepping on any toes. They're not looking to go Platinum or anything...this is just some random dads showing that they can still throw down with the best of them.
For as much as bands like the Stones had a few rough spots during this time, it's every band's dream to still sound this good into their 50s.