Electric Light Orchestra
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Electric Light Orchestra

NameElectric Light Orchestra
Img captELO in 1979, from left to right: Hugh McDowell, Melvyn Gale, Kelly Groucutt, Jeff Lynne, Bev Bevan, Richard Tandy & Mik Kaminski.
Landscapeyes
Backgroundgroup_or_band
OriginBirmingham, England, United Kingdom
GenreRock, progressive rock, pop rock, symphonic rock, cello rock
Years active1970-1983&
1985-1986&
2000-2001
LabelHarvest, Warner Bros., United Artists, Jet, Columbia, Epic, Legacy, Sony BMG
Associated actsThe Move, The Idle Race, Wizzard, Violinski, Black Sabbath, ELO Part II, The Orchestra, Traveling Wilburys
Past membersSee Personnel section

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Electric Light Orchestra, commonly abbreviated ELO, were a symphonic rock group from Birmingham, United Kingdom, who released eleven studio albums between 1971 and 1986 and another album in 2001. ELO were formed to accommodate Roy Wood and Jeff Lynne's desire to create modern rock and pop songs with classical overtones. After Wood's departure following the band's debut record, Lynne wrote and arranged all of the group's original compositions and produced every album.
Despite early singles success in the UK the band were initially more successful in the United States, billed as 'The English guys with the big fiddles'. They soon gained a cult following despite lukewarm reviews back in their native United Kingdom. They were managed by agent Don Arden, father of Sharon Osbourne.
By the mid-1970s, they had become one of the biggest selling bands in music. From 1972 to 1986, ELO accumulated 27 Top 40 hit singles in both the UK and the US. The group also scored 20 Top 20 U.K. hit singles, as well as 19 Top 20 hit singles in the U.S. Billboard charts. The band also holds the record for having the most Billboard Hot 100 Top 40 hits of any band in US chart history without ever having a #1 single.
ELO collected 21 RIAA awards, 38 BPI awards, and sold well over 50 million records worldwide, not including singles.

Latest News : Electric Light Orchestra : Tweet this RSS

Boise has big sweaters to fill - Las Vegas Review-Journal Tweet this news
Las Vegas Review-Journal--And also because the silver dome from which the scoreboard hangs reminds me of an -Electric Light Orchestra- album cover. Do I miss those pup tents that Rick ... - Date : Sun, 20 Jun 2010 09:10:24 GMT+00:00
Quick spins - Post-Bulletin Tweet this news
Post-Bulletin--The first four songs are what the -Electric Light Orchestra- meant to achieve but never quite did. Pretty good considering it is next to impossible to figure ... - Date : Thu, 27 May 2010 15:23:58 GMT+00:00
The Popkin Report: The Bonnaroo Experience - American Songwriter Tweet this news
American Songwriter--His backing band, The County, dove into a cover of “Mr. Blue Sky” by -Electric Light Orchestra- and The Dream's hook from “Gangsta Love,” as well as a ... - Date : Tue, 15 Jun 2010 01:55:00 GMT+00:00
Album of the week - Out of the Blue (reissue) *** Electric Light Orchestra - Times LIVE Tweet this news
Times LIVE--It's strange how this album became a classic. Any music nazi with tell you with fervence that Out of The Blue, which dropped out of the sky around October ... - Date : Sat, 24 Apr 2010 22:02:56 GMT+00:00
Unwarranted 'Congratulations' - Mesa Press Tweet this news
Mesa Press---...- Andrew VanWyngarden have abandoned the catchy electro-pop of their first album and traded it for a somewhat indie version of -Electric Light Orchestra-. ... - Date : Mon, 26 Apr 2010 19:14:06 GMT+00:00

1972 Debut TourRoy Wood's only live ELO tour.
After the tour, Wood, Hunt and
McDowell leave ELO and form Wizzard.
1972-1973 ELO 2 TourBassist Mike de Albuquerque and cellist Colin Walker join ELO after the departure of Wood, Hunt, McDowell, Craig and Smith. Lynne, Bevan, Tandy, Edwards, Gibsonplus* Mike de Albuquerque - bass guitar, backing vocals* Colin Walker - cello
1973-1974 Do It With The Light On TourMik Kaminski replaces Gibson on violin,
and McDowell returns from Wizzard to replace Walker.		 Lynne, Bevan, Tandy, Edwards, de Albuquerqueplus* Mik Kaminski - violin* Hugh McDowell - cello
1974-1975 Eldorado TourKelly Groucutt replaces de Albuquerque. Lynne, Bevan, Tandy, Kaminski, Edwards, Hugh McDowellplus* Kelly Groucutt - bass guitar, backing vocals
1975-1978 Classic Lineup, touring in support of the albums
Face The Music, A New World Record and Out Of The BlueEdwards is replaced by cellist Melvyn Gale.
The band's most successful period.		 Lynne, Bevan, Tandy, Groucutt, Kaminski, McDowellplus* Melvyn Gale - cello* Jake Commander - additional backing vocals (offstage) on Out Of The Blue Tour
1981-1982 Time TourCellists McDowell and Gale are replaced with "Technology",
Dave Morgan, longtime orchestral arranger Louis Clark
and "Fred"		 Lynne, Bevan, Tandy, Groucutt, Kaminskiplus* Louis Clark - synthesiser* Dave Morgan - guitar, vocoder* Fred the Robot - Spoken Prologue and Epilogue
1986 Balance Of Power TourMartin Smith replaces Groucutt, and no "Fred" Lynne, Bevan, Tandy, Kaminski, Clark, Morganplus* Martin Smith - bass guitar
2001 Zoom TourFeaturing a whole new band save for Lynne and Tandy. The only time the band has not featured a violinist although the cellos return. Lynne, Tandyplus* Marc Mann - lead guitar, rhythm guitar, keyboards* Matt Bissonette - bass guitar, backing vocals* Gregg Bissonette - drums, backing vocals* Peggy Baldwin - electric cello* Sarah O'Brien - electric cello* Rosie Vela - backing vocals



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