The 1970s marked the heyday of rock music. It was an era defined by dance movements, vibrant discos, and a spirit of fun. Music became a powerful form of self-expression, with rock symbolising freedom and rebellion. New artists and bands emerged on the global stage, championing various styles and subgenres of rock. One band that reached the height of its popularity during this decade was the Electric Light Orchestra, founded in Birmingham. Read more at birmingham-trend.
How It All Began
The Electric Light Orchestra is a popular British symphonic rock band founded in 1970. However, the idea for the group was conceived much earlier. The driving force behind its formation was Roy Wood, a British singer and musician who had been creative from a young age and began his music career as a teenager. Wood first joined the band Mike Sheridan And The Nightriders before becoming part of another British rock group, The Move, in 1966.
These bands were at the peak of their popularity, and Roy Wood’s name was known far beyond the UK. While he was a member of The Move, he met Jeff Lynne, a Birmingham native who was a successful singer, composer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist. The two musicians formed a creative partnership and spent several years working on their own band. In 1970, they introduced it to the public as the Electric Light Orchestra.
The musicians who formed the band shared a vision of merging a rock group with a classical orchestra. The new collective’s first compositions quickly gained popularity, and their debut album was released in 1971, less than a year after their formation.
The Peak of Popularity
The Electric Light Orchestra’s popularity peaked during the 1970s and 1980s. However, the public was often surprised by the frequent changes to the band’s line-up. After recording the first album, disagreements arose between Wood and Lynne. Due to their challenging personalities, these conflicts could not be resolved. Roy Wood left to form another band, taking several other members with him. But in 1972, Jeff Lynne introduced a new line-up to the public, consisting of seven musicians who immediately began working on subsequent albums.
By the time their fourth album was released, the Electric Light Orchestra was known worldwide. The band sold out huge venues and entire stadiums across the USA and Europe, with tens of thousands of rock fans flocking to their concerts. In the late 1970s, the Electric Light Orchestra embarked on an American tour that was later recognised as one of the highest-grossing live concert tours in the world at the time.
The Band’s Break-Up
The Electric Light Orchestra’s line-up changed many times; founder Jeff Lynne was the only constant member. This was due to several factors, including communication problems among the rock musicians, as each member sought recognition and independence. The band also faced reputational issues, drawing criticism for a lack of restraint and accusations of on-stage vandalism. To their fans, however, the musicians were creative, free-spirited individuals, and despite the criticism, their fan base never dwindled.
In 1986, after releasing another album, Jeff Lynne announced that the band was disbanding. However, former drummer Bev Bevan decided to start his own group, recruiting three other ex-colleagues. This new band was named ELO Part II. Jeff Lynne immediately filed a lawsuit to force Bevan’s group to change its name. The court sided with Lynne, and the collective was subsequently renamed The Orchestra.
Interesting Facts
Here are a few interesting facts about the Electric Light Orchestra:
- The band’s success was largely due to the spectacular shows they put on. They were pioneers in using wireless microphone systems and other new technology that emerged in the 1970s, which allowed them to move freely around the stage and interact with the audience.
- The Electric Light Orchestra introduced a complex, studio-produced version of rock to the mainstream. They were among the first to blend the sounds of string ensembles and vocoders into their rock compositions, giving their songs a distinctive and recognisable sound.
- From 1972 to 1986, the band was equally popular in both Britain and the United States. In fact, they arguably had an even larger fan base in the US than in their home country.
- Although the band officially disbanded in 1986, Jeff Lynne initiated the re-recording of some of their greatest hits during the 2010s.
- In 2014, Lynne announced a one-off reunion concert in London. Tickets for the event sold out in less than half an hour. Following this success, the band, now often billed as Jeff Lynne’s ELO, began touring major cities several times a year.
