Jeff Lynne’s ELO Says Goodbye with a Hit-Filled Farewell Show at Kia Forum

In 2015, Jeff Lynne revived his iconic band, the Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), starting with a show at the Fonda Theatre in Hollywood. This marked the band's first live performance since 1981, and the response was overwhelming. Nearly 1,200 fans filled the venue, including famous friends like Ringo Starr, Joe Walsh, and Eric Idle. Lynne appeared as though he had merely taken a short break, captivating the audience with his timeless sound.

In 2016, ELO performed for three nights at the Hollywood Bowl with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra. Following this, Lynne continued to record and tour with the band he co-founded in the early 1970s, finding great success throughout the 1970s and into the 1980s.

Now, at the age of 76, Lynne is bidding farewell to his musical journey.

• Jeff Lynne of Electric Light Orchestra performs at the Kia Forum in Inglewood on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)

The Over and Out Tour, which began in August at the Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert, reached its final California stop at the Kia Forum on October 25-26. After a rescheduled concert in Phoenix, this would conclude Lynne's performances with ELO.

Saturday's event at the Forum was far from a somber farewell. With so many hit songs—15 of which reached the Top 20—the atmosphere was filled with joy and nostalgia.

The stage itself was a highlight, featuring a massive spaceship prop reminiscent of ELO's 1970s album art, dazzling the audience with lights and lasers throughout the night.

The show opened with "One More Time," a song from Lynne's 2019 ELO album. The spaceship was an impressive sight, continuing to capture the magic of their music. This was one of the less familiar tracks among the 20 songs Lynne would perform over the next 90 minutes.

Following this, the recognizable piano riff from "Evil Woman" got the crowd excited, leading into the well-known power chords of "Do Ya," a cover originally by the Move, the 1960s band Lynne and ELO co-founders Roy Wood and Bev Bevan were a part of.

Sadly, none of the original members of ELO remain. Keyboardist Richard Tandy, who joined in 1971, passed away in May. However, the current lineup of 12 musicians, including a string section of two cellos and one violin, showcased strong musical talent.

Other highlights early in the concert included the slower, atmospheric "Showdown" and the upbeat "Last Train to London," a dance-pop favorite from the late 1970s.

Throughout the performance, Lynne maintained a shy presence. Dressed in black, he stood mostly at the side of the stage, singing and playing guitar, offering brief expressions of gratitude to the audience.

Other band members brought energy to the stage, like backing vocalist Melanie Lewis-McDonald, whose operatic voice shone on the ballad "Stepping Out," while she and backing vocalist Iain Hornel harmonized beautifully on "Strange Magic." Violinist Jess Cox also joined Lynne for several songs, including an instrumental portion of "Fire On High" and the beloved "Livin’ Thing."

As the concert continued, songs like "Telephone Line" featured the iconic ringing phone effect. "Turn To Stone" drove the crowd wild with its rhythmic energy. The main set closed with the invigorating "Don’t Bring Me Down," its crunchy guitar riffs and energetic drum beats fueling the performance.

Throughout their career, Lynne and ELO have drawn influence from the Beatles, both musically and in their innovative recording techniques. This influence reached a peak with the encore performance of "Mr. Blue Sky." Despite only reaching No. 36 on the charts upon its original release in 1978, the song has since become a fan favorite, boasting over 1 billion streams on Spotify.

Saturday's farewell was truly memorable. The audience stood, sang, and danced, celebrating Lynne and the musical legacy he created, bringing a touch of sunshine into their lives one last time.

music, concert, farewell, ELO