ELO success, Jeff Lynne superstar - in the words of Bev Bevan!

ELO became one of the most successful bands on the planet! Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Bev Bevan talks to me about his time with the group, the transition from The Move, the 10 million selling album Out Of The Blue and the pressure Jeff Lynne felt.

[@PatRyan-my8ep]

Greatest respect to bev Bevan brilliant drummer and member of one of the greatest bands of all time thanks for the memories ❤

[@scograham]

It’s nice to see Bev isn’t bitter. Class act.

[@mrsbluesky9750]

I’d love to see Bev, Jeff, Richard, Melvyn and Mik all get together again. Life’s too short......

[@Drchainsaw77]

It's remarkable that Jeff and Bev haven't spoken in 30 years, yet remain professional and diplomatic in interviews.

[@porterwake3898]

Bev sued Jeff. It's over. It will never happen. Bev didn't go to the RRHoF because of Jeff.

[@funftyfunf]

Jeff Lynne doesn't share. He's the most selfish bloke.

[@joannaarendarczyk1245]

Dlaczego zespół się rozpadł? Razem to byli geniusze wszechczasow!

[@markbowman7240]

​@@porterwake3898bev didnt go as he was on tour couldnt make it sent a thank you video and jeff ended elo which led to the legal stuff

[@donstewart6000]

Bev One of the best drummers ever!

[@joan-annebross9217]

"In the Hall of the Mountain King." He was awesome on that!

[@baronvonlichtenstein]

The problem is, it doesn't get much better than "Cant get it out of my head." It's a gorgeous song.

[@neonfroot]

yea that was the peak of ELO. Like Pet Sounds was for the Beach Boys.

[@budthechud9795]

Scott Weiland did a great cover of that song too.

[@Tyler-wl8kq]

Bev Bevan is as humble as you get for a power house Rock star, his playing was soooo musical for drums , I know where every drum roll is in every ELO hit, I can’t say that for other bands, I’m a guitarist that if I was a drummer I’d wannabe Bev

[@xsamitt]

i AGREE.......HIS DRUMMING ISN'T ABOUT BEING BETTER THAN OTHER DRUMMERS....IT'S ABOUT BEST SERVING THE SONG! When I hear other drummers for jeff it just isn't the same! Bev's sense of time is beautiful in it's way it makes me feel!

[@MusicLover10538]

Awesome! Bev is a class act! He seems happy and aged well.

[@KickAssets]

Bev still looks amazing. I know Jeff's on his final tour...wouldn't it be nice if the remaining original members could get back together and just do one super amazing 3 hour or so concert! I'm praying. Life is shot! Eldorado was my favorite album. Can't get it out of my head and Boy Blue are amazing songs!

[@ghidrah76]

If only.. too bad it never happened.. I was happy to see the tour here in LA. It would have been nice but the tour band was phenomenal as always

[@Roggiedodgie]

Bev Bevan talking. Almost as good as his drumming. Stellar!

[@tsitracommunications2884]

Bev deserves to be respected

[@Cooldudewhotellsamazingjokes]

Bev Beven is an amazing musician. When I hear him play the drums for the song Twilight on the Time album, it just is amazing. The playing is that good.

[@thediehardarkansasrazorbak7288]

AGREED!!!

[@jeffin8127]

The stuff with ELO was good (From the Sun to the World being probably my favorite), but I think what he did for all iterations of the Move was even better. Walk Upon the Water and Useless Information are fantastic.

[@rickwidlund3512]

Never get tired of listening to this album set.

[@karenbougher1219]

i love you bev

[@martinweber1648]

Bev Bevan my all time Elo Hero

[@LoyalOpposition]

Thank you for the upload! Bev had a cool pre-historic drum sound in the 70s

[@JeffLynnesELO2025Tour]

From 1972 to 1986, ELO accumulated more combined UK and US Top 40 hits than any other band in the world, and also generated the third most UK and US separate Top 40 hits.

[@rebeccamcdaniel1033]

The problem, in my own opinion, was the ELO, as big as they were, were never a bunch of bad boys. They didn't go from place to place, creating havoc. They weren't big druggies. Plus, Jeff was too much of a good songwriter to throw any old half length piece of junk onto vinyl just so it would fit a top 40 format. He didn't want his name on junk. So ELO didn't get nearly the amount of press that they should have gotten. I remember I had my subscription to Circus magazine and a few others. Unless the boys created mischief, they weren't seen in print. Considering the songs that were making the charts, they should have been on the covers of every magazine regularly.

[@JeffLynnesELO2025Tour]

@@rebeccamcdaniel1033 Very well said 👍

[@simoesc]

The Soundtrack of my youth. Electric Light Orquestra!!!!! 1977/78/79/80/81 and further till the album Time.

[@alanburge2725]

I also enjoyed ELO part 2 then The Orchestra afterwards. I love ELO. All the family. Related bands. Jeff Lynne ELO. I saw ELO part 2 twice in the nighties on tour in Australia. They were bloody awesome.

[@Tigerwoods663]

Eldorado great album, face the music awesome, new world record brilliant, out of the blue, well, and discovery unbelievable!!!

[@jonathanbean7097]

I share your assessment 100%!

[@neonfroot]

Eldorado was Jeff Lynne's Pet Sounds.

[@leonboden7974]

The move and elo . Two of my favorite bands of all time . Jeff and bev my all time hero's elo stuff was and still is fantastic up to balance of power . Then jeff went off to do his producing and wilburys stuff and bev carried on with elo 2 . Elo are my favorite band and thankyou for your fantastic input

[@l3loodyfingers]

Whats the best song by the move

[@peggyconley5225]

Bevan kicks butt,just love him❤

[@Cosmo-Kramer]

My third favorite drummer, behind 1) Bonzo 2) Peart. ELO rocks!

[@eightiesmusic1984]

Kevin Wilkinson China Crisis was one of the best- Neil Peart praised him in an interview at some point a number of years ago.

[@672macknasby7]

My 3 favorite drummers, (and there all in 1st place for different reasons) are Bev Bevan, Phil Collins, and Jeff Porcaro.

[@DropAnchor1978]

Bev has aged incredibly well.

[@snsnshhhs663]

I’d say Melvyn Gale has aged the best. Jeff, Bev, Mik, and Richard all look like old ass men. Mel looks like he’s in his early-to-mid 50s.

[@BRI535D]

Not smoking has probably helped.I think all the other ELO members did.

[@neonfroot]

@@BRI535D ELO is one of the few rock bands to never have a problem with relationships or drugs.

[@karenbougher1219]

and karma for you

[@sarahloughlin3724]

Bev looks great for any age and his voice sounds very youthful as well!

[@tims5481]

He sounds like he's fond of Jeff now. I hope they've reconciled. I wish they'd reunite. I'm seeing Jeff Lynne in September.

[@leonboden7974]

Tonight ......a song the move did when Jeff joined is one of my favorite move tracks ... dont forget the awesome force of Roy Wood who too is an absolute genius

[@raymondbonington9355]

Yes good song ,bit george Harrison .

[@danwilson9530]

I just attended the final ever Jeff Lynne’s ELO concert in the USA and could not help but think of how great it would have been, from a fan’s perspective, to have seen Bev on the drums, but unfortunately that was not the case. Bev and Jeff had their differences and so we have no choice but to accept they are no longer friends. Not taking sides. Nonetheless the concert was still amazing. I wish both Bev and Jeff well.

[@tennislover5763]

It would be lovely for the remaining members to come together and play. Richard Tandy passed away recently, and Kelly Groucutt passed away. Cellist Hugh McDowell passed away in 2018. violinist Mik Kaminski and cellist Colin Walker are still with us. The original members are heavily responsible for the sound that the band is known for.

[@timwingham8952]

Cellist Melvyn Gale is still alive -an over looked but very talented member. Little known fact; much of the piano work on Wild West Hero is him.

[@joan-annebross9217]

Bev was one of THE best-looking men around!

[@micknordstrom2591]

Bev is such a huge part of the ELO sound and I think he never got the credit for that! It is all about Jeff! Remember that Louis Clark was also a big part of the sound as well as Kelly and Richard!

[@munsterbraum2792]

Well Jeff did write and produce everything and dont forget it was all on Jeff. If the album bombs its Jeff who takes the blame. Jeff never made ELO about him.

[@micknordstrom2591]

So what was he without them? @@munsterbraum2792

[@markbowman7240]

you had louis clarke and then mac the world famous enginer producer who worked with bowie and queen .once they were let go the sound after time the last great elo album , was never the same

[@karenbougher1219]

bev is the greatest who the hell cares what he looks like .

[@michaelkoszowski3716]

Spot on ! ..

[@shaundavenport621]

I try and explain to the younguns today just how big ELO really were!The greatest band of all time and yes i am including the Beatles!ELOS music was far more technical.

[@neonfroot]

Most of the rock and rolls contribution are overcredited to hard rock bands like Fleetwood Mac or Eagles or Rolling Stones. ELO was and is still is seen as a quaint novelty.

[@neonfroot]

ELO was big but theyre not immortalised like Led Zeppelin, Yes, Genesis, Rolling Stones, etc.

[@michaeldavis6607]

Jeff hated playing live and loved producing so he quit touring. He didn’t need the money cause he wrote the songs. However the 0:02 band wanted to tour and make money

[@peggyconley5225]

❤

[@stevecullum2792]

Eldorado, best ELO album in my opinion.

[@fabfour7397]

Jeff Lynne is the best musician and producer ever "Musically".

[@ChilliCheezdog]

Hey, I know you. Weren't you the drummer with 'Troy Satan and the Hellcats?'

[@batphink2655]

Great interview and Bev seems very humble. Is that lovely woman on the left his wife?

[@VRPRocks]

It is, indeed.

[@Mmebsuta]

I thought he had a similar accent to Tony Iommi, and I suppose that is because they are from Birmingham.

[@VRPRocks]

Indeed they are! Lots of great rock stars from there, I've interviewed a few and I'm trying to put a little video together with them all talking about the Birmingham music scene in the 60s, 70s and 80s 👍

[@markbowman7240]

best mates too

[@TheLemonShines]

mr lynne genius but the whole band mr clark mr tandy mr bevan etc were such a talented bunch created some majestic tunes never been bettered and makes todays music look naff

[@recratdemopublican2024]

Bev Bevan's ELO 🥁

[@Choober65]

Typical Brummie, down to earth, and rock solid guy. Pretty decent drummer too.

[@howardprincz9372]

Why don't Jeff and Bev get along?

[@tims5481]

It stemmed from a lawsuit I believe. Jeff got bored and disbanded ELO. Beven went on to play ELO II. It didn't go over well...

[@neonfroot]

​@@tims5481 Why is Jeff such a dick? I get that it was hard earned to get ELO up and running but he didnt do it alone. He had Louis Clark, Bev Bevan, Richard Tandy, and Mack helping.

[@danwilson9530]

There was a lawsuit over ELO Part 2, and a settlement, and Bev selling Jeff his half of the rights to ELO, and as far as I know they have not spoken to one another in over 30 years… that’s all I know from what little I could find recently as Wikipedia seems to omit this part of their history from their pages. It’s my impression Jeff wrote off most if not all former members/contributors who participated in Part 2. I don’t believe Richard Tandy would have anything to do with Part 2, therefore he and Jeff remained good friends and musical collaborators until Richard passed. I don’t know the details of the drama between Bev and Jeff and I’ve never been in their shoes, so I won’t take sides as they both otherwise seem like really good guys as well as being monster talents.

[@karenbougher1219]

Jeff isn't a superstar without bev

[@betttina33333]

nice interview