Hello and welcome to my website. First, let me introduce myself. My name is Jim Hoban, I am 45 years old and I live in a city called Carlisle which is in Cumbria, England. Carlisle is in the far north of England on the border with Scotland, very close to the Solway Firth to the west, and the beautiful Lake District just 10 miles from here to the south. I am married to Susan and we have two children - Emma and Ben.

Me & Kelly Groucutt in Manchester 2006

My interest in the Electric Light Orchestra began in about 1976 when I first heard the superb Rockaria! being played on the radio. I immediately went out and bought this record along with the lp it was from, A New World Record.

This also marked the point where I began buying records regularly - I am still buying all sorts of music to this day. My record collection including such a wide selection of different musical tastes, that most people who see my record collection cannot understand how I can possibly like so many different styles. For example my favourite artists (with the exception of ELO and related groups) include Killing Joke, Oasis, Sex Pistols, The Grid, Jean-Michel Jarre, Rah Band and too many others to mention.

Since I first bought A New World Record back in 1976, I have steadily built up my collection , buying all of the singles and albums released here in the UK. Unfortunately, I never got to see the original ELO perform live (only on video!!). So, when they split up in 1986 I thought that was it - until a miracle happened in 1990 and Bev, Mik, Kelly and the boys regrouped as ELO Part 2 (without Jeff Lynne of course).

I was not too sure what the 'new' band were going to be like but I bought their new album and single Honest Men, both of which I personally thought were excellent and with a bit of trepidation set out to see the band perform live at the Newcastle City Hall in late 1992. I need not have worried - considering this was the first time that I had heard any ELO material played live, the performance was superb, the band playing classic ELO tracks along with the new lp tracks.

Since 1992, I have seen the group 10 times now, including twice here in Carlisle. My favourite concert prior to the 1999 tour was at the Blackpool Pleasure Beach Arena in October 1997 - the perfect performance and excellent crowd participation. But even this could not be compared to the stunning performance with the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra at The Royal Albert Hall in May 1999 - an absolutely unforgettable performance which I and 8,000 others will long remember.

BLACKPOOL TOWER & LIGHTS

Since 1999, after Bev Bevan 'disbanded' ELO Part II, I have followed with great interest the rest of the band who continue to perform as The Orchestra (featuring former members of E.L.O. & Electric Light Orchestra Part II). They have continued to perform worldwide and after a short U.K. tour in 2001, returning in 2006 for a highly successful sell-out U.K. tour, and now Spring and Autumn 2008 U.K. shows featuring Phil Bates returning to the band after the departure of Parthenon Huxley in late 2007.

My ELO collection has also built up over the past few years including many items I would never have found without the Internet. This has enabled me to make contact with many fellow ELO fans throughout the world and through them have obtained many rare live performances on cd and video. It has also opened my eyes to all of the members and ex-members of ELO and their related groups - including Orkestra, The Move, Idle Race, Roy Wood etc.

I hope you enjoy having a look around my pages and please e-mail me with any comments - good or bad, or any requests or questions you may have regarding E.L.O.