30 Years After His Death, Roy Orbison Goes on Tour

Roy Orbison died on December 6, 1988, but 30 years later, his hologram is on tour with orchestral accompaniment. Fans can see 16 songs in a one hour-long show.

The show began in Europe, where 38,000 tickets were sold for 15 shows. The hologram’s North American tour began in Los Angeles.

Technically, the show was put together with a model hired to mimic Orbison’s actions. Then, according to the Los Angeles Times, "computer animation work was done to create a digital representation of Orbison that is beamed onto the stage." The singer’s "voice was taken from previous recordings and later paired with a live orchestra and synced to the hologram’s movements."

Such concerts and other holographic performances are raising ethical and legal challenges. Additionally, if not handled well, the way a celebrity is presented can generate significant pushback from the fan base.

Each weekday, Scott Rasmussen’s Number of the Day explores interesting and newsworthy topics at the intersection of culture, politics, and technology. Columns published on Ballotpedia reflect the views of the author.

Scott Rasmussen is founder and president of the Rasmussen Media Group. He is the author of "Mad as Hell: How the Tea Party Movement Is Fundamentally Remaking Our Two-Party System," "In Search of Self-Governance," and "The People’s Money: How Voters Will Balance the Budget and Eliminate the Federal Debt." Read more reports from Scott Rasmussen — Click Here Now.