The late Roy Orbison’s family were "shocked" when they heard Tom Petty had died.
The ‘Free Fallin’ musician tragically passed away October 2 this year, and the sad news came as a huge blow to the late ‘Oh Pretty Woman’ hitmaker’s brood because they had recently seen him in concert and thought he looked "fantastic" on stage and the "best" they had ever seen.
Speaking exclusively to BANG Showbiz about Tom, Orbison’s 42-year-old son Alexander – who lost his father in 1988 – said: "Of course losing Tom Petty was very very sad, and it was also shocking because we had just saw the 40th anniversary tour, and we had seen him in a matter of weeks before he passed away. And he not only looked fantastic but it was the best show perhaps that we had ever been to. It was really really just a celebration of Tom and if Tom stopped to talk a little bit to one of the band mates, the crowd was just erupting in applause in appreciation for Tom Petty."
Although Alex felt the music legend died "too soon", he is warmed by the fact he felt Tom knew he was "loved" by his supporters prior to his death.
He continued: "While its very tragic that we lost him, and lost him too soon, personally being able to see him and getting that adoration and applause and appreciation made me feel that he knew he was loved by many and all."
Alex, Roy Junior, Anthony, Wesley, and Roy Dewayne, sparked up a close affiliation with the late Tom during his time in the supergroup Traveling Wilburys – with fellow band members including Orbison, George Harrison, Bob Dylan and Jeff Lynne – and the family considered him to be more of a relative than a colleague of their father’s because the Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers band member showered the family with gifts, and would "always" be there to help them.
Alex continued: "We knew him through the Wilburys and after and living in Malibu and seeing him around, and he gave Roy Junior a guitar for Roy’s 19th birthday, and for our father he has always been there when we needed an interview or to do something for a documentary or to talk for our father. So we very much love Tom Petty."
Roy Junior added: "Tom Petty’s name in the Traveling Wilburys was Charlie P Wilbury Junior, and so he is Uncle Charlie Wilbury to us. We love the man."
Meanwhile, a new album titled ‘A Love So Beautiful: Roy Orbison with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra’, which includes Orbison’s hit tracks including ‘Dream Baby’, ‘It’s Over’, ‘Crying’, and ‘I Drove All Night’, as well as songs recorded by Orbison’s sons, has been released by Sony Music in partnership with Roy’s Boys LLC, and is available to pre-order on CD, vinyl, and digitally: https://orbison.lnk.to/ALSB.
‘A Love So Beautiful: Roy Orbison with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra’ track list is as follows;
1 – In Dreams
2 – Crying
3 – I’m Hurtin’
4 – Oh Pretty Woman
5- It’s Over
6- Dream Baby
7 – Blue Angel
8 – Love Hurts
9 – Uptown
10 – Mean Woman Blues
11 – Only the Lonely
12 – Running Scared
13 – I Drove All Night
14 – You Got It
15 – A Love So Beautiful
16 – Pretty Paper
17 – I Drove All Night duet featuring Ward Thomas
The late Roy Orbison’s family were ‘shocked’ by Tom Petty’s death
