For decades, fans of deceased rockers have had to rest knowing they will never see their idols perform in person. However, several advances in technology have allowed fans to attend concerts of late music artists.
Old-school rock n’ roll fans will have the opportunity to see the likeness of Roy Orbison and Buddy Holly perform at Honeywell Center on Friday, Feb. 25, at 7:30 p.m.
The magic rests with the event’s production company, BASE Hologram. The organization produces shows that “utilize breath-taking state-of-the-art holographic digital and laser technology and expert theatrical stagecraft to showcase artists, icons, and celebrities as well as historical figures and fictional and animated characters in photorealistic, 3-D productions, performing on stage with live musicians, singers, and performers, enabling audiences to connect dynamically with the content in live settings.”
Statements provided by BASE Hologram expressed enthusiasm toward the technological feat coming to northeast Indiana.
“When you look at the architects of the Rock and Roll era, the names that come to mind are Roy Orbison and Buddy Holly,” chairman and CEO Brian Becker said. “Both of these men weren’t just gifted musicians but skillful innovators who helped influence others in game-changing ways.”
Bringing Holly on Tour
While originally only the holographic likeness of Orbison was on tour, director Eric Schaeffer expressed delight at the addition of Holly.
“Working on the original Roy Orbison hologram tour was something special, and to be able to do it again and add someone like Buddy Holly into the mix is very exciting,” Schaeffer said. “This show will be a celebration that blends these men’s similar styles into one unforgettable evening that audiences will remember for a long time to come.”
The production company also provided a statement from Holly’s late wife, Maria Elena Holly, who died in 2020.
“Buddy and Roy were Texans who shared mutual respect and admiration for each other’s creative musical genius and brilliant songwriting abilities,” she said. “I am proud to work with a company like BASE Hologram. Their longtime fans and a new generation of fans will now have the opportunity to see these great legends perform together in a unique setting, showcasing two of the finest, most influential, and beloved artists in music history.”
Fan Base Persists
The holographic artists will be accompanied by a live band and backup singers, and, BASE Hologram says, “this cutting-edge, multimedia holographic performance and remastered audio will transport audiences back in time for an evening of Roy Orbison and Buddy Holly’s greatest hits onstage.”
The production company also says Holly and Orbison have nearly 3 million followers on Facebook and almost 5 million monthly listeners on Spotify between them, and that “audiences are still enamored with the men who brought ‘geek chic’ and horn-rimmed glasses into the mainstream.”
Fans can expect tracks from the duo’s 16 platinum records, 19 gold records, and nearly two dozen Top 40 hits.
Leaving a Lasting Legacy
Holly made his mark on music in the 1950s when rock n’ roll hit the mainstream. He is known for timeless hits like “Peggy Sue,” “That’ll Be the Day,” and “I’m Gonna Love You Too.” The latter song was covered by Blondie two decades later. Holly died at 22 years old in a 1959 plane crash that also killed Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper.
If those songs don’t jog your memory, music fans may more readily recognize the iconic tribute to the men in Don McLean’s “American Pie,” which borrows lyrics from “That’ll Be the Day.”
Orbison hit the scene in the early 1960s with hits like “Running Scared,” “Crying,” and “Oh, Pretty Woman.”
Decades later in 1989, his song, “You Got It,” brought the singer back into the U.S. and UK top 10 for the first time in 25 years. Orbison, however, died one month before its release.
