Musicals and Shows

Roy lives

27/02/2018 written by Sidonia Maurer
The American singer Roy Orbison († 52) died 30 years ago. Now, thanks to state-of-the-art technology, the giant is returning to the stage - and making his son Alex cry.

Life: Roy Orbison celebrated worldwide success with hits such as "Oh, Pretty Woman" and "Crying". But his life was plagued by many tragedies. In 1966, his first wife Claudette died in a motorcycle accident. The couple had three sons. In 1968, his house burned down and only his youngest son Wesely and his grandparents survived. Orbison did not process his grief through music: "My heart is broken. I can't write about heartbreak."
"My heart is broken. I can't write about heartbreak."

Death: Roy Orbison did not stay single for long. In 1969, he married his second wife Barbara, with whom he had sons Roy Jr. and Alex. A band project followed: at the beginning of 1988, Orbison founded the band The Traveling Wilburys together with George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty and Bob Dylan. Their album "The Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1" sold millions of copies - something Orbison never lived to see. He died of a heart attack before the album was released on December 6, 1988.

Roy Orbison got his first guitar at the age of six. According to Rolling Stone magazine, he is the 13th greatest singer of all time.
Resurrection: 30 years after his death, Roy Orbison returns to the stage as a hologram. "The show is very surreal," says son Alex Orbison. "During the first few songs, you concentrate like mad until you realize how real it is. Only then can you relax and enjoy it." The drummer has toured with his own bands and now - together with his two brothers - continues the family business. In harmony with a live orchestra and thanks to state-of-the-art technology, you can experience Roy Orbison as if he were standing on stage in the flesh.

Fame: "Sometimes I have to cry, mostly out of pride and not sadness," says son Alex. "It's impressive how real everything seems." For him, the job is a matter of honor; he himself is also a big fan of his father's music: "I know a lot of people who found Roy's music through me." The siblings want to use the hologram to remember their father - and also appeal to younger generations with his music. The fact that some people see a hologram show of a deceased person as absurd or even irreverent doesn't bother him: "Everyone should and is allowed to have their own opinion," he says. "But I know that there are many people who really want to see Roy. And that's exactly what we want to make possible."

ROY ORBISON IN DREAMS
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Translated with DeepL