Had the Travelling Wilburys replaced Roy Orbison, who should they have put in his place?

Someone else with a strong connection to pre-Beatles pop/rock 'n' roll like the aforementioned Del Shannon, Gene Pitney, or even Bobby Vee.

 

John Prine.

 

Minnie Ripperton

 

Dolly Parton

 

Johnny Cash

Who Could Have Been A Travelling Wilbury After Orbison's Death?

 

Chris Isaak, of course!

 

The Big 'O' is irreplaceable.

 

Gene Clark. It’d’ve been great, but it might also have given him the impetus to address some of his ultimately fatal lifestyle choices.

 

Beach Boy Carl Wilson

 

It's gotta be Elvis Costello

 

Paul McCartney.

 

Del Shannon was rumored to have been asked, but passed away before it could happen. The Wilburys had already covered "Runaway"

I agree Johnny Cash makes some sense, but that may be one too many gravelly-voiced singers.

Carl Perkins would have been another interesting choice

And of course McGuinn already had worked with Tom Petty and Dylan

 

Would not have happened in a million years.

Now... Ringo Wilbury may have been an idea, but I think they were all happy with Keltner's role

Interestingly, if Paul formed a "Wilbury" type band, he kind of had a club of musicians he hung with -

Pete Townsend
David Gilmore
Elvis Costello
Phil Collins

That wouldn't be a bad band

 

Roy Wood

 

I'm surprised no one has suggested:

CHUCK BERRY!

Now that would have been an interesting choice! He was still quite active in the early 90s and would have definitely given them a new layer of sound!

 

In 85-ish, Paul, Pete Towshend, Phil Collins, Steve Winwood and David Gilmour all played on eachother's records, now imagine THAT band

 

Ishkabibble

 

Donovan

 

You know, that is a brilliant idea - gives them a "voice" like Roy's for harmonies and a couple big numbers...

This woulda been a great Wilbury #:

 

Traveling Wilburys coming out on CD

Q: Did you ever give serious thought to replacing Roy after he passed away?

Petty: No.

Lynne: No, we didn't, because we were a tightknit unit by then. Even though it was rumored by then that lots of people, including Del Shannon whom Tom and myself were great pals with as well, could eventually have been in, it was never thought of. Because when Roy was gone, it just left us as more of a unit, the four of us. We never felt like we needed anybody else.​

 

By the way, the people making nonsense suggestions and making fun - why do you click on a thread if you don't really care for the artist involved?

 

He didn't live long enough, did he?

 

The Carpenters.

 

Wanda Jackson, as Betty-Lou Wilbury.

 

Because humor is always a good thing.