ELO Beatles Beyond

Paul McCartney and Jeff Lynne, both still performing at the top of their game in their seventies, could actually be standing at the top of rock and pop’s greatest family tree.

The Beatles are, without question, the most popular band to have ever existed and the most influential too.

Jeff Lynne was a little younger than the Beatles and in awe of them. He was also a big fan of Roy Orbison. Roy was a little older than The Beatles and influenced them including the second single “Please Please Me”, which started as a slower Roy Orbison type ballad, until John’s Aunt Mimi suggested they speed it up.

The Beatles toured supporting Roy Orbison in the UK. They were so popular, that the bill was flipped to have The Beatles on last to appease the attendant audiences.

When The Beatles entered the second half of their career, their use of George Martin orchestrations was a key feature. Jeff Lynne joined The Move towards the end of their career following big hit singles such as “Fire Brigade” and “Blackberry Way” in the late 1960’s. As the seventies started, The Beatles went their separate ways and Jeff Lynne and Roy Wood from The Move formed Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) with the intention of continuing The Beatles’ symphonic pop vision perhaps best exemplified by their song “I Am The Walrus”.

John Lennon fondly called ELO “Sons Of Beatles” in 1974 and loved the song “Showdown”.

He appreciated the nod to The Beatles and appreciated bands who wore their influences on their sleeves.