On This Day in 1988, a Rock and Roll Legend Played His Final Concert—Two Days Before His Death

On this day (December 4) in 1988, rock and roll legend Roy Orbison unexpectedly played his final concert. No one expected the show at the Front Row Theater in Highland Heights, Ohio, to be his last. However, just two days later, he died from a heart attack. Fortunately, the concert was recorded and has been released in multiple formats.

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Orbison found the peak of his success in the late 1950s and early ’60s. During that period, he released timeless songs like “Running Scared,” “Crying,” “Dream Baby,” and his most enduring hit, “Oh, Pretty Woman.” His chart success began to dwindle by the end of the 1960s, but his popularity with fans didn’t.

[RELATED: On This Day in 1960, Roy Orbison Scored a Career-First With a Song That Was Turned Down by Both Elvis and the Everly Brothers]

By the late 1980s, Orbison hadn’t had a solo hit in decades. However, he still had enough fans to stay busy. Before the fateful Ohio show, he had traveled around Europe and performed on a major awards show. Additionally, he was a member of the rock supergroup The Traveling Wilburys. He had also just finished recording his album Mystery Girl. It would come out the next year and peak at No. 5 on the Billboard 200, making it the highest-charting album of his career.

Roy Orbison Had Big Plans

Roy Orbison knew Mystery Girl would be a comeback for him. As a result, he was already making plans for the coming year. According to Ultimate Classic Rock, he had plans for a European tour in the spring of 1989, followed by a tour of the United States in the summer. At the same time, he was preparing to work on videos for Traveling Wilburys songs. Orbison was also hoping to start work on a biopic. “It’s all go, go, go,” he said in an interview after the concert.

The 52-year-old rock legend’s busy schedule was taking its toll on him. Orbison reportedly told Johnny Cash that he had been having chest pains. However, he was too busy to see a doctor.

The last few days of Roy Orbison’s life attest to the pace at which he was living. He had a two-night stand in Boston, Massachusetts, on December 2 and 3. Then, he traveled to Ohio for another show. After finishing his gig at the Front Row Theater, he sat down with a local TV station and gave his final interview.

He flew back to his home in Hendersonville, Tennessee, to take a much-needed break before returning to the United Kingdom. Then, on December 6, he died of a heart attack after spending the day with friends and family.

Featured Image by David Redfern/Redferns