Features
ELO Rolls Over North America
The tour, aptly dubbed Zoom after their latest CD, marks the first set of concerts for the group since 1986. Zoom takes off September 7 in Albany, N.Y., and lands in Las Vegas on October 20.
ELO got started in 1970 in Birmingham, England. They were and continue to be an unusual concoction of Beatlesque pop and classical arrangements. Their 1973 hit “Roll Over Beethoven,” a Chuck Berry cover, helped make the album ELO II a Top 10 hit in the U.K. A year later, they achieved U.S. stardom with Eldorado.
They went on to have 17 Top 40 hits, among them “Evil Woman,” “Strange Magic,” “Can’t Get it Out of My Head,” and “Shine a Little Love.”
Of the original members, only Lynne remains active in the band, who’s membership has changed almost as many times as the group has released albums.
Lynne has spent recent years producing records for artists Joe Cocker, Tom Jones, and Paul McCartney, as well as working on the Beatles’ Anthology project.
In 1996, he was honored with the Outstanding Services to British Music award at the Ivor Novello Awards ceremony.
In addition to the release of Zoom, Electric Light Orchestra has also re-released several of their older album, now digitally remastered.