Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers

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Biography

Thomas Earl "Tom" Petty (born October 20, 1950) is an United States|America n singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist . He is the frontman of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and was a founding member of the late 1980s in music|1980s supergroup (music)|supergroup Traveling Wilburys and Mudcrutch . He has also performed under the pseudonyms of Charlie T. Wilbury, Jr. and Muddy Wilbury .

He has recorded a number of hit singles with the Heartbreakers and as a solo artist, many of which remain heavily played on adult contemporary and classic rock radio.
His music, and notably his hits, have become popular among younger generations as he continues to host sold-out shows. Throughout his career, Petty and his collaborators have sold 60 million albums.

Childhood and early life

Tom Petty was born and raised in Gainesville, Florida , and attended Gainesville High School (Florida)|Gainesville High School . His interest in rock and roll music began at age 10 when he met Elvis Presley . In the summer of 1961, his uncle was working on the set of Presley's film Follow That Dream in nearby Ocala, Florida and invited Petty to come down and watch the shoot. He instantly became an Elvis Presley fan and soon traded his Wham-O slingshot for a box of Elvis gramophone records|45s . In a 2006 interview on the National Public Radio program Fresh Air , Petty said that he knew he wanted to be in a band the moment he saw The Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show . One of his first guitar teachers was Don Felder , a fellow Gainesville, Florida|Gainesville resident, who would later join the Eagles (band)|Eagles .Felder, Don (2008). Heaven and Hell: My Life in the Eagles. Wiley. ISBN 978-0-470-28906-8. p. 28 As a young man, Petty worked briefly on the grounds crew for the University of Florida , but never attended as a student. An Tupelo|Ogeechee lime tree that he planted while employed at the University is now called the Tom Petty tree.

Petty also overcame a difficult relationship with his father, who found it hard to accept that his son was "a mild-mannered kid who was interested in the arts" and subjected him to verbal and physical abuse on a regular basis. Petty was extremely close to his mother, and remains close to his brother Bruce.DeYoung, Bill. "Full Steam Ahead" Goldmine July 13, 1990Zollo, Paul. Conversations With Tom Petty (2005): 8-15''Runnin' Down a Dream (2007), documentary by Peter Bogdanovich.

Recording career

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (1976�1987)

Shortly after forming his musical aspirations, Petty started a band known as the Epics, later to evolve into Mudcrutch . Although the band, which featured future Heartbreakers Mike Campbell (musician)|Mike Campbell and Benmont Tench , were popular in Gainesville, their recordings went unnoticed by a mainstream audience. However, their only single, "Depot Street", remains popular amongst fans. The original Mudcrutch included guitarist Danny Roberts who was later replaced by bass guitarist Charlie Souza .

After Mudcrutch split up, Petty reluctantly agreed to pursue a solo career. Tench decided to form his own group, whose sound Petty appreciated. Eventually, Petty and Campbell collaborated with Tench and fellow members Ron Blair and Stan Lynch , resulting in the first line-up of the Heartbreakers. Their Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers (album)|eponymous debut album gained minute popularity amongst American audiences, achieving greater success in Britain. The single " Breakdown (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers song)|Breakdown " was re-released in 1977 and peaked at #40 in early 1978 after the band toured in the United Kingdom in support of Nils Lofgren . The debut album was released by Shelter Records , which at that time was distributed by ABC Records .

Their second album, '' You're Gonna Get It! '', marked the band's first Top 40 album and featured the singles " I Need to Know (Tom Petty song)|I Need to Know " and " Listen To Her Heart ". Their third album, Damn the Torpedoes (album)|Damn the Torpedoes , quickly went RIAA certification|platinum , selling nearly two million copies; it includes their breakthrough singles " Don't Do Me Like That ", " Here Comes My Girl " and " Refugee (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers song)|Refugee ".

In September 1979, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers performed at a Musicians United for Safe Energy concert at Madison Square Garden in New York. Their rendition of " Cry To Me " was featured on the resulting No Nukes album.

1981's Hard Promises became a top-ten hit, going platinum and spawning the hit single " The Waiting (song)|The Waiting ". The album also featured Petty's first duet, "Insider" with Stevie Nicks .

Bass player Ron Blair quit the group, and was replaced on the fifth album (1982's Long After Dark ) by Howie Epstein ; the resulting line-up would last until 1994. In 1985, the band participated in Live Aid , playing four songs at Philadelphia 's John F. Kennedy Stadium . Southern Accents was also released in 1985. This album included the hit single " Don't Come Around Here No More ", which was produced by David A. Stewart|Dave Stewart . The song's video featured Petty dressed as Hatter (Alice's Adventures in Wonderland)|the Mad Hatter , mocking and chasing Alice from the book '' Alice's Adventures in Wonderland , then cutting and eating her as if she were a cake. The ensuing tour led to the live album Pack Up the Plantation: Live! and to an invitation from Bob Dylan ; Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers joined him on his True Confessions Tour and also played some dates with the Grateful Dead in 1986 and 1987. Also in 1987, the group released Let Me Up (I've Had Enough) '' which includes " Jammin' Me " which Petty wrote with Dylan.

Traveling Wilburys, solo career, and "return" to the Heartbreakers (1988�1991)

In 1988, Petty became a founding member of the Traveling Wilburys , along with Bob Dylan , George Harrison , Roy Orbison , and Jeff Lynne . The band's first song, " Handle With Care (song)|Handle With Care ", was intended as a B-side of one of Harrison's singles, but was judged too good for that purpose and the group decided to record a full album, Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1 . A second Wilburys album, mischievously titled Traveling Wilburys Vol. 3 and recorded without the recently deceased Orbison, followed in 1990. The album was named Vol. 3 as a response to a series of bootlegged studio sessions being sold as Travelling Wilburys Vol. 2. In recent years, Petty has begun to incorporate Travelling Wilburys songs into his live shows, consistently playing "Handle With Care" in shows from 2003�2006, and for his 2008 tour making " End of the Line (Traveling Wilburys song)|End of the Line " a staple of his setlist.

In 1989, Petty released Full Moon Fever , which featured hits " I Won't Back Down ", " Free Fallin' " and " Runnin' Down a Dream ". It was nominally his first solo album, although several Heartbreakers and other well-known musicians participated: Mike Campbell (musician)|Mike Campbell co-produced the album with Petty and Jeff Lynne of Electric Light Orchestra , and backing musicians included Campbell, Lynne, and fellow Wilburys Roy Orbison and George Harrison ( Ringo Starr appears on drums in the video for " I Won't Back Down ", but they were actually performed by Phil Jones). Since all the original Traveling Wilburys except Bob Dylan participated on the album, it is sometimes considered the unofficial Traveling Wilbury's "Volume Two".
Petty & the Heartbreakers reformed in 1991 and released Into the Great Wide Open , which was co-produced by Lynne and included the hit singles " Learning to Fly (Tom Petty song)|Learning To Fly " and " Into the Great Wide Open (song)|Into The Great Wide Open ", the latter featuring Johnny Depp , Gabrielle Anwar , Faye Dunaway , and Matt LeBlanc in the video.

Before leaving MCA Records, Tom and the Heartbreakers got together to record, live in the studio, two new songs for a Greatest Hits (Tom Petty album)|Greatest Hits package. " Mary Jane's Last Dance " and Thunderclap Newman 's " Something in the Air (song)|Something in the Air ". This was Stan Lynch's last recorded performance with The Heartbreakers. Tom commented "He left right after the session without really saying goodbye." The package went on to sell over ten million copies, therefore receiving RIAA certification|diamond certification by the RIAA .

Move to Warner Bros. Records (1991�present)

In 1989, while still under contract to MCA, Petty secretly signed a lucrative deal with Warner Bros. Records , to which the Traveling Wilburys had been signed.Philips, Chuck. "Petty's Secret Deal Isn't for Petty Cash" Los Angeles Times April 5, 1992: 58. His first album on his new label, 1994's Wildflowers (Tom Petty album)|Wildflowers (Petty's 2nd of 3 solo albums), included the singles " You Don't Know How It Feels ", "You Wreck Me," "It's Good to Be King" and "A Higher Place". The album, produced by Rick Rubin , sold over three million copies in the U.S.

In 1996, Petty, with the Heartbreakers, released a soundtrack to the movie '' She's the One , starring Cameron Diaz and Jennifer Aniston (see Songs and Music from "She's the One" ''). The album's singles were "Walls (Circus)" (featuring Lindsey Buckingham ), "Climb that Hill" and a song written by Lucinda Williams , "Change the Locks." The album also included a cover of "Asshole," a song by Beck . The same year, the band accompanied Johnny Cash on Unchained (Johnny Cash album)|Unchained , for which Cash would win a Grammy for Best Country Album (Cash would later cover Petty's " I Won't Back Down " on American III: Solitary Man ).

Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers played " I Won't Back Down " at the America: A Tribute to Heroes benefit concert for victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks . The following year, they played " Taxman ", " I Need You (The Beatles song)|I Need You ", and " Handle With Care (song)|Handle With Care " (joined for the last by Jeff Lynne , Dhani Harrison , and Jim Keltner ) at the Concert for George in honor of Petty's friend and former bandmate George Harrison .

2002's The Last DJ included several attacks on the music industry, criticizing it for greed, watering down music, and releasing pop music made by scantily-clad young women and reached number 9 on the U.S. charts. Tom has commented though that he didn't like being called "bitter" by the media and that The Last DJ is full of hope, if you look for it.

In 2005, Petty began hosting his own show "Buried Treasure" on XM Radio , on which he shares selections from his personal record collection.

In February 2006, Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers agreed to be the headline act at the fifth annual Bonnaroo Music Festival|Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival. Following that announcement came the itinerary for Tom & the Heartbreakers' "30th Anniversary Tour". Special guests included Stevie Nicks , Pearl Jam , The Allman Brothers , Trey Anastasio , The Derek Trucks Band , and The Black Crowes (who also opened for Petty on their 2005 Summer Tour). Stevie Nicks would join Tom and the Heartbreakers on stage for renditions of " Stop Draggin' My Heart Around " and "Insider," and " I Need to Know (Tom Petty song)|I Need to Know " where Nicks took the lead vocal spot. Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam also joined Tom and the Heartbreakers on stage at some shows where Vedder sang the lead on " The Waiting (song)|The Waiting " (which is available on the '' Runnin' Down a Dream (film)|Runnin' Down a Dream package: bonus features) and a verse in the concert-closer " American Girl (song)|American Girl ".

In July 2006, Petty released a new solo album titled Highway Companion , which included the hit " Saving Grace (song)|Saving Grace ". It debuted at number 4 on the Billboard 200 , becoming Petty's highest chart position since the introduction of the Nielsen SoundScan system for tracking album sales in 1991. Highway Companion was briefly promoted on the "30th Anniversary Tour" with the Heartbreakers in 2006 with performances of " Saving Grace (song)|Saving Grace ", " Square One (Tom Petty song)|Square One ", "Down South," and "Flirting with Time".

In 2006, the American Broadcasting Company hired Petty to do the music for its NBA playoffs|National Basketball Association playoffs coverage.

During the summer of 2007, Petty reunited with his old bandmates Tom Leadon and Randall Marsh along with Heartbreakers Benmont Tench & Mike Campbell (musician)|Mike Campbell to reform his pre-Heartbreakers band Mudcrutch . The band originally formed in 1967 in Gainesville, Florida before relocating to California where they released one single in 1974 before breaking up. The quintet recorded this self titled new album of fourteen songs that was released on April 29, 2008 (on iTunes Store|iTunes , an additional song "Special Place" was available if the album was pre-ordered). The band supported the album with a brief tour of California in the spring of 2008.

In 2007, artists as diverse as Willie Nelson , Lucinda Williams , Norah Jones , Lenny Kravitz and Paul McCartney paid tribute to Fats Domino on the double-CD covers set Goin' Home: A Tribute to Fats Domino . The album's sales helped buy instruments for students in New Orleans public schools and they contributed to the building of a community center in the city�s Hurricane Katrina -damaged Ninth Ward . Tom and the Heartbreakers� contributed a critically acclaimed cover of � I'm Walkin' " to the package.

In January 2008, it was announced that the band would be embarking on a North American Tour which was set to start on May 30 following the appearance at Super Bowl XLII . Steve Winwood served as the opening act, who joined Petty and the Heartbreakers on stage at select shows, starting on June 6, 2008 in Philadelphia, PA. Winwood's Spencer Davis Group hit " Gimme Some Loving " was performed and occasionally his Blind Faith hit " Can't Find My Way Home " was performed before it.

On February 3, 2008, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers performed during the halftime-show of Super Bowl XLII at the University of Phoenix Stadium . They played " American Girl (song)|American Girl ", " I Won't Back Down ", " Free Fallin' ", and " Runnin' Down a Dream ", in that order. 'I Won't Back Down' was used in the closing credits of the coverage on BBC Two .

The Live Anthology is the most-recently announced project of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Its announcement comes nearly a year after Petty's last record, Extended Play Live , by Mudcrutch .

In November 2009, Petty told Rolling Stone (magazine)|Rolling Stone that he is working on a new album with the Heartbreakers, saying "It's blues-based. Some of the tunes are longer, more jam-y kind of music. A couple of tracks really sound like the Allman Brothers � not the songs but the atmosphere of the band." In February 2010, Petty announced a new Heartbreakers Album, Mojo (album)|Mojo to be released on June 15, 2010. This was followed by a North American Summer Tour beginning on June 1, 2010. The band also appeared as musical guests on the season finale of Saturday Night Live on May 15, 2010.

Petty has been managed by Tony Dimitriades since 1976 in music|1976 .

Acting

Petty's first appearance in film took place in 1978, when he had a cameo in FM (film)|FM . He later had a small part in 1987's Made in Heaven (1987 film)|Made in Heaven , and appeared in several episodes of '' It's Garry Shandling's Show '' between 1987 and 1990, playing himself as one of Garry Shandling 's neighbors. Petty was also featured in Shandling's other show, The Larry Sanders Show , as one of the Story within a story final guests. In the episode, Petty gets bumped from the show and nearly comes to blows with Greg Kinnear .

Petty appeared in the 1997 movie The Postman (film)|The Postman , directed by and starring Kevin Costner , as The Bridge City Mayor (from the dialogue it is implied that he is playing a future version of himself).

In 2002, he appeared on The Simpsons in the episode " How I Spent My Strummer Vacation ", along with Mick Jagger , Keith Richards , Lenny Kravitz , Elvis Costello , and Brian Setzer . In it, Petty spoofed himself as a " tutor " to Homer Simpson on the art of lyric writing, composing a brief song about a drunk girl driving down the road while concerned with the state of public schools. Later in the episode, he loses a toe during a riot.

Petty had a recurring role as the voice of List of characters in King of the Hill#Other Hill and Platter relatives|Elroy "Lucky" Kleinschmidt in the animated comedy series King of the Hill .

In 2008, Petty made a guest appearance as himself in the Comedy Central show Lil Bush 's season 2 finale. He is asked to write a song for Bush and his cronies. At the end, he is shown riding off into the sunset in a flying car alongside Iggy Pop , who is a regular voice actor on the people.

In 2010, Petty made a 5-second cameo appearance|cameo appearance with comedian Andy Samberg in a musical video titled "Great Day" featured on the bonus DVD as part of Lonely Island 's new album " Turtleneck & Chain ". In this video, Samberg plays an enthusiastic, upbeat cocaine addict who believes that Alec Baldwin (who also co-stars) and Tom Petty are his very best friends--only to be quickly rejected by both. After finding out the hard way they are quite the opposite and feeling heartbroken, the addict then briefly sings about losing them.

Awards and accolades

In 1994, You Got Lucky , a Tom Petty tribute album featuring such bands as Everclear (band)|Everclear and Silkworm (band)|Silkworm was released.

In April 1996, Petty received the UCLA 's George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin Award for Lifetime Musical Achievement. The next month, Petty won the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers ' Golden Note Award.

In 1999 Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for their contribution to the recording industry.

In 2002, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame . On December 6, 2005, Petty received the Billboard Century Award for his lifetime achievements. The same year, Conversations with Tom Petty , an oral history/biography composed of interviews conducted in 2004 and 2005 with Petty by music journalist Paul Zollo was published (ISBN 1-84449-815-8).

On September 21, 2006, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers received the keys to the city of Gainesville, Florida , where he and his bandmates either lived or grew up. From July 2006 until 2007 the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio featured an exhibit of Tom Petty items. Much of the content was donated by Petty himself during a visit to his home by some of the Hall's curatorial staff.

Peter Bogdanovich 's documentary film on Petty's career entitled '' Runnin' Down A Dream (film) premiered at the New York Film Festival on October 14, 2007.

Views on artistic control

Petty is known as a staunch guardian of his artistic control and artistic freedom . In 1979, he was dragged into a legal dispute when ABC Records was sold to MCA Records . He refused to be transferred to another record label without his consent. In May 1979, he filed for bankruptcy and was signed to the new MCA subsidiary Backstreet Records .

In early 1981, the upcoming Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers album, which would become Hard Promises , was slated to be the next MCA release with the new list price of $9.98, following Steely Dan 's Gaucho (album) and the Olivia Newton-John / Electric Light Orchestra Xanadu (soundtrack)|Xanadu soundtrack. This so-called "superstar pricing" was $1.00 more than the usual list price of $8.98.Goldstein, Patrick. "Petty Battling MCA Over Record Price Hike" Los Angeles Times February 1, 1981: N72. Petty voiced his objections to the price hike in the press and the issue became a popular cause among music fans. Non-delivery of the album and naming it Eight Ninety-Eight were considered, but eventually MCA decided against the price increase.Marsh, Dave. "Tom Petty" Musician July 1981: 43.
In 1987, Petty sued tire company Goodrich Corporation|B.F. Goodrich for $1 million for using a song very similar to his song "Mary's New Car" in a TV commercial. The ad agency that produced the commercial had previously sought permission to use Petty's song but was refused. A judge issued a temporary restraining order prohibiting further use of the ad and the suit was later settled out of court."BFG Ad Not Petty To Petty" Akron Beacon Journal March 6, 1987: D8.

Some have claimed that the Red Hot Chili Peppers single " Dani California ", released in May 2006, is very similar to Petty's " Mary Jane's Last Dance ". Petty told Rolling Stone , "I seriously doubt that there is any negative intent there. And a lot of rock 'n' roll songs sound alike. Ask Chuck Berry . The Strokes took ' American Girl ' for their song ' Last Nite ', and I saw an interview with them where they actually admitted it. That made me laugh out loud. I was like, 'OK, good for you' ... If someone took my song note for note and stole it maliciously, then maybe . But I don't believe in lawsuits much. I think there are enough frivolous lawsuits in this country without people fighting over pop songs."

Personal life

His first marriage , to Jane Benyo, lasted 22 years from March 31, 1974 to September 9, 1996. He spent most of those years working, on the road or in the studio. Petty and Benyo have two daughters ; Adria is a film director and Kimberly Violette is an artist. Since June 3, 2001 he has been married to Dana York, whom he first met in 1993 when she visited one of his concerts . Petty has a stepson from York's first marriage named Dylan.Zollo, Paul. Conversations With Tom Petty (2005): 155-157.

On May 17, 1987, an arson ist set fire to Petty's house in Encino, California . Firefighters were able to salvage the basement recording studio and the original tapes stored there, as well as his Gibson Dove acoustic guitar. His signature gray top hat, however, was destroyed. Petty later rebuilt the house with fireproof materials."Rock Star Tom Petty's Home Damaged in Fire", Los Angeles Times, May 18, 1987, Metro

Musical equipment

Petty owns and has used a number of guitars over the years. From 1976-1982, his main instrument was a sunburst 1964 Fender Stratocaster . He has also used a number of Rickenbacker guitars from 1979 onward, notably a 1965 Rose Morris 1993 and 1987 reissue of the Rose Morris 1997, a 1967 Rickenbacker 360/12|360/12 and 1989 660/12TP. The Rickenbacker 660/12TP was designed by Petty (specifically the neck) and featured his signature from 1991 to 1997. Other electrics currently used on tour include a Gretsch Tennessean, two 1960s Fender Telecaster s and a Gibson Firebird .

For acoustic guitars, Petty has had a signature C.F. Martin HD-40, and has written virtually all of his songs on a Gibson Dove acoustic saved from his 1987 house fire. He currently uses a Gibson J-200 in a natural finish and a late '70s Guild Guitar Company|Guild D25 12-string acoustic.

Petty's current amplifer setup features 2 Fender Musical Instruments Corporation|Fender Vibro-King 60 watt combos.

Heartbreakers lineup

1976�1982 Tom Petty - singing\|lead vocals , rhythm guitar , keyboard instrument\|keyboards Mike Campbell (musician)\|Mike Campbell - lead guitar Ron Blair - bass guitar , backing vocalist\|backing vocals Benmont Tench - piano , keyboards, backing vocals Stan Lynch - drum kit\|drums , backing vocals
1982�1991 Tom Petty - lead vocals, rhythm guitar, bass guitar, backing vocals Mike Campbell - lead guitar, lap steel guitar\|lap steel , mandolin Howie Epstein - bass guitar, backing vocals, lap steel, rhythm guitar, mandolin Benmont Tench - piano, keyboards, backing vocals Stan Lynch - drums, percussion, backing vocals
1991�1994 Tom Petty - lead vocals, rhythm guitar, lead guitar, harmonica , backing vocals Mike Campbell - lead guitar, mandolin Scott Thurston - rhythm guitar, harmonica, keyboards, bass guitar, backing vocals Howie Epstein - bass guitar, backing vocals, lap steel, rhythm guitar, mandolin Benmont Tench - piano, keyboards, backing vocals Stan Lynch - drums, backing vocals, lead vocals
1994�2002 Tom Petty - lead vocals, rhythm guitar, lead guitar, backing vocals Mike Campbell - lead guitar, mandolin, Marxophone , lead vocals Scott Thurston - rhythm guitar, harmonica, bass guitar, backing vocals, lead vocals Howie Epstein - bass guitar, backing vocals, lap steel Benmont Tench - piano, keyboards, backing vocals Steve Ferrone - drums, percussion
2002�present Tom Petty - lead vocals, rhythm guitar, lead guitar, percussion, backing vocals Mike Campbell - lead guitar, mandolin, Marxophone Scott Thurston - rhythm guitar, harmonica, keyboards, lap steel, ukelele , backing vocals, lead vocals Ron Blair - bass guitar, backing vocals Benmont Tench - piano, keyboards, backing vocals Steve Ferrone - drums, percussion

Discography

Copyright Citations

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