ELO (Electric Light Orchestra) in concert at Wembley Stadium from June 2, 1978.
Lunch with ELO today, a band many would admit pretty much defined the 70s. Although there are no doubt an equal number who would say ELO represented a certain musical overkill which made Punk possible. By the time of this concert, ELO song arrangements had gone over the top, but also by this time they had become a household name especially in America where they perfected the art of almost constant criss-cross touring.
Coupled with a set design that could rival Close Encounters and a musical direction that leaned heavily on Science Fiction-based themes, adding to a very slickly produced live show that justified sales figures in the millions.
It was a long road, from humble beginnings as a newly resuscitated Move who had languished as one of the great overlooked bands of the 60’s to where it wound up a few years later. You could say ELO was something of a revenge for the snub – one of rock’s “I’ll get even, you sonofabitch” moments. Even though ELO started off on the same page as The Move, taking the direction of adding strings and following a more sophisticated direction left diehard fans of The Move perplexed as comparing The Move’s Do Ya to ELO’s 10538 Overture had many shaking their heads, wondering if this was the same band – fact of the matter, it was.
But things moved quickly and founding member Roy Wood left to pursue an even more different direction, leaving founders Jeff Lynne and Bev Bevan to dive into the world of Sophisti-Pop, and do it in a big way.
To get an idea of where they were in 1978, smack in the middle of an almost decade-long roll, here they are at a Charity event with a packed Wembley Stadium and an audience besides themselves.
Enjoy.