The Wild One, Forever- A brief biography on The Last DJ
** This is just a brief cover of Tom's life, in the future I hope to share with you all the extent of my knowledge of all of The Heartbreaker and Tom Petty history. *I did try to cite the pictures but every link kept leading my to Pintrest boards and I'm not comfortable just citing Pintrest, so if anyone has information on picture information, please let me know via email. Peace, Chaos, Good Vibes. **
"Even the Loser's get lucky sometimes"... I was positive for all of these years that "The Loser" were characters in a song, but it was even then that "anything seemed real". Maybe we are the losers. We got lucky that one wonderful time- for Tom Petty was a force of nature that can and never will be repeated.
For some of us we were fortunate enough to be here for the full spanned of his life. For others, like myself, it was learning and obsessing over the blonde haired beam of light through vinyl records passed down from our relatives childhood.
I've written many articles about or featuring Tom Petty on this website as well as my (pre-mature) Beatles site.
He was a rebel, a bad-ass, he was Rock and Roll. When they told him to sit down, he stood up.
What were the odds of a little southern boy from Gainesville Florida to becoming a worldwide treasure in of all categories, Rock and Roll? Almost as slim as the man who did it. But if any was going to do it, Tom was the man to do so.
He had the power, the charisma, the charm. Tom Petty changed the game of record companies, he toured around the world, worked with other favorable musicians, and always, and I mean always had that little side grin on his face.
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| Baby Petty |
Hometown Blues
Tom Petty was born and raised in a town in northern Florida called Gainesville. Growing up Tom Petty had highly praised his mother, Katherine, as well as had a sense of safety with his older brother, Bruce. Petty however struggled to form a relationship with his,often, abusive, alcoholic father.
"When my father got home…he came in, took a belt and beat the living s— out of me. He beat me so bad that I was covered in raised welts, from my head to my toes. I mean, you can’t imagine someone hitting a child like that. My mother and grandmother laid me in my bed, stripped me and they took cotton and alcohol, cleaning these big welts all over my body.” - Tom Petty Petty; The Biography by Warren ZanesLike most, Tom had found safety and comfort in the form on vinyl records. At the age of eleven Tom had the opportunity to meet the King of Rock and Roll himself, Elvis Presley, as Tom's uncle was working on location of Elvis' movie "Follow That Dream". By 1964 Tom was like most living beings, who's eyes were glued to the television screen watching these long haired Brits, in their suits croon through a set on The Ed Sullivan Show - at only thirteen years old he never would of thought that he would later form a close relationship with members of The Beatles.
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| The Epics |
It wasn't until he was in his mid-teens when Tom Petty joined a band called The Epics where he picked up the bass. The little teenage band played at gigs such as High School dances, where they perform a set of the only three songs they knew - and if the audience asked for more, they'd play the same three songs again!
Soon the Epics came and went and Mudcrutch was born. Featuring other Gainesville musicians and friends like Randall Marsh on drums, Tom Leadon, who was also a member of The Epics, on guitar and vocals. Jim Lenehan joined on lead vocals, and Mike Campbell on lead guitar. Two years after the band was formed Leadon and Lenehand had left which brought Danny Roberts and Benmont Tench on board.
Mudcrutch became the start of Tom Petty's success, it showed him as a songwriter and a band leader.
In 1974 the band decided to pick up what they had and drive out to Los Angeles in hopes to reach a wider audience. There they were looking for any record company they could get hold of to just listen to a demo.
Tom recalls a bittersweet moment about this time in the 2007 documentary Runnin' Down A Dream, where he was in a phone booth and found a piece of paper with handwritten record companies and their phone numbers - it was great because they had the numbers but then again, how many other people were doing this?
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| Mudcrutch |
Benmont spoke about his plans after Mudcrutch in an interview with The Boston Globe;
"After Mudcrutch, a friend of mine, a recording engineer, said, 'Hey, do you want to make demos? I can give you free studio time.' So I called [drummer] Stan Lynch, and Stan called [bassist] Ron [Blair], and I called [guitarist] Mike Campbell to record. I called Tom and asked him just to sit and coach me on how to record on a real mike. A few days after that, I got a call: 'Tom wants a band, and he wants that band you put together.'”This group later, after many name suggestions, including Tom Petty and The King Bees, became The Heartbreakers.
Shelter Records had signed a contract with Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers in 1976 leading to their debut album, Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers. An album filled with songs about Rock and Roll, a sixties vibe, with the raw and refreshing unique shrills of the voice that defined decades of music. The album however didn't get much recognition until their tour all across Europe which was filled with high rewards, high recognition, and a very high Ron Blair. The album went on to become a success in the US after re-releasing the single "Breakdown" which on it's second release made it to No. 40 in the US charts.
However, Back to recording and on the release of their 1978 album, You're Gonna Get It!, Shelter Records was bought out by MCA which lead to a heavy lawsuit battle between Petty and the recording business.
Why MCA?
23 May, 1979 Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers claim bankruptcy upon their contract with Shelter Records and MCA.
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| (R-L); Mike, Stan, Tom, Ron, Benmont |
Petty needless to say wouldn't back down and MCA finally broke-down releasing Petty from his previous contract and allowing him to sign to a $3 million contract with a brand new subsidiary label, Backstreet Records.
The Heartbreakers, back in business and showing that they meant it too, released the album they held back on, Damn The Torpedoes, which went double platinum with hits like "Refugee" "Don't Do Me Like That", and "Even The Losers".
Fooled Again (I Don't Like It)
1981, The Heartbreakers found themselves back in an argument with MCA, once again withholding the release of their new album, Hard Promises.
With Heartbreaker success the company took the liberty of taking this opportunity to make more money and sell the record a dollar above retail price, at $9.98.
"If we don't take a stand, one of these days records are going to be $20." -Tom Petty (hello 21st century, we want $9 records again!)MCA once again bowed down to Petty, whom was always assumed fierce at these meetings, one time even cleaning his nails with a knife making him look like a true rocker with an attitude. The company agreed to settle and sell the album at retail price of $8.98. Thus, Hard Promises was released.
It's Good To Be King
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| Blonde Babes. Stevie Nicks and Tom Petty |
Hard Promises formed a new friendship with Fleetwood Mac's Stevie Nicks, as she lent her voice on the albums "Insider". Petty went on to write and sing the duet "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around" with Nicks, whom once said she wanted to be part of The Heartbreakers and if they asked her while she was with Fleetwood Mac she would have probably left her band to join Tom and the boys.
Not only was Tom starting to form a relationship with Nicks but also with Del Shannon, who had Tom produce his new album Drop Down and Get Me.
After Hard Promises came the next rock defying album, Long After Dark, which featured classics like "You Got Lucky", "We Stand A Chance", "Change Of Heart" and "Straight Into Darkness". After coming off of a previous album and year where he collaborated with other musicians, there was one he couldn't hold onto, which was Ron Blair. Long After Dark became the first album to feature new bassist, actually the bassist for Del Shannon, Howie Epstein.
"You gotta love him, I don't know if I ever tell him how good he is. Tonight, there was a line early in the show I could just barely sing. I was having to work harder than I normally do to make it, I was getting really close on the mic. I was thinking, 'Oh boy, I hope I can do this...' I got to it and I heard Howie singing it with me over his mic. It sounded great, it sounded like a double track. I just looked at him, he caught my eye like 'Yeah!' It made me feel great, 'cause I know he was thinking the same thing, 'I know he's tired, I'll cover him. Wham! Got it!' That's what a great band's all about. That's what it's all about." - Tom Petty on performing with Howie Epstein, 1982.
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| (R-L) Howie, Stan, Mike, Tom, Benmont |
Despite the differences the album made it to No. 7 in the charts and with it the psychedelic, out of nowhere, Nicks inspired "Don't Come Around Here No More", with it's Alice and Wonderland themed music video that populated MTV in the ripe age of music videos.
"I'm glad people understand that we are Southern. I spent more than 20 years there. The music was formed there. I like it mainly 'cause there is so much music down there." - Tom Petty, 19851986 The Heartbreakers got the gig of standing Bob Dylan up on his feet as a backing band performing both Dylan and their own songs on tour - The bond between Bob Dylan and Tom Petty would later fuel into a historic two year music project in 1988, The Traveling Wilbury's .
Let Me Up (I've Had Enough), followed the Dylan Tour, being released in 1987.
I'm Just Glad To Be Here, Happy To Be A Live
The year was 1988. The original foundation of Rock and Roll wasn't fading but revolutionizing. Friendships were growing and generations were bonding. One day there was a knock on the door, when Tom opened it there stood the humbled, beautiful George Harrison who was fetching his guitar he had left at Tom's. George left with his guitar as well as a new writing partner and band-mate.
While recording his newest solo album, Cloud Nine, George Harrison was writing a B-Side for "This Is Love". The album was already being produced by Electric Light Orchestra's Jeff Lynne, whom at the time was also working on Roy Orbison's album, who was willing to help with writing a B-side for the ex-Beatles member. The group, looking for a place to record found refuge in long time friend and one of the most influential musicians of all time, Bob Dylan, who opened his home studio to them.
While all sitting down Harrison had noticed a box that read the familiar "Handle With Care", together a song was born.
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| (R-L) Nelson, Otis, Charlie T. Jr, Lefty, and Lucky Wilbury |
"George came by my office to play the new “B-side.” We went next door to A&R head Lenny Waronker’s office so he could hear it too. George played us “Handle With Care.” Our reaction was immediate. This was a song we knew could not be wasted on some B-side." -The History of The Traveling Wilbury'sIt was suggested that they turn this sad excuse for a B-side and turn it into an album, and the super-group The Traveling Wilbury's was born.
Deciding not to use their own name the group took on pseudonym, brothers; George Harrison becoming Nelson Wilbury, Jeff Lynne becoming Otis Wilbury, Roy Orbison being named Lefty Wilbury, Bob Dylan being named "Lucky", Tom Petty being the baby became Charlie T. Wilbury Jr, and drummer Jim Keltner became Buster Sidebury.
As a band they released a well received album of The Traveling Wilbury's Volume I in 1988. With the brothely bond grown between these grown men they had decided to go on to record another album, Volume III, however things had changed between producing and recording the two albums. The beloved Roy Orbison had passed away.
"All I can really say about him is, you know, we loved him. We told him, fortunately, at any given opportunity, you know any time we had we always told him we loved him. We always hugged him. And said, 'Roy, you're so great.' I once said to him, 'Roy, you're probably the greatest singer in the world.' and he said '...probably.'"-Tom PettyIt was two years after the passing of Roy Orbison and two years after The Traveling Wilburys had released their first album. In April of 1990, after a series of events in the groups lives. Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne were working on Roy's last album, Mystery Girl, which was released in 1989. Jeff had produced Tom Petty's solo album, Full Moon Fever, also in 1989. Bob was working on his new album in 1990, Under the Red Sky, which George Harrison played on. Also, Jeff Lynne was working on his album, Armchair Theatre, which Tom and George worked on in 1990. It was time for the four to get back together to record a second album; Traveling Wilburys Volume III, was the result.
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| Volume III |
After Volume III the group never recorded another Wilbury album. But it started with one musician looking to record a B-Side but turned into a long lasting brotherhood.
Makin' Some Noise
Back with The Heartbreakers, the group released the favorable Into The Great Wide Open, featuring the well-accepted title track including a video staring Johnny Depp as well as the track "Learning To Fly".
With the release of the album came the Touring The Great Wide Open tour, which introduced the multi-instrumentalist Scott Thurston as part of The Heartbreakers.
In 1996 after Petty had gone off and recorded his own solo work, he reunited with The Heartbreakers for the movie soundtrack She's The One, which provided "Walls".
Three years later The Heartbreakers hit No. 10 with their album Echo, featuring tracks like "Swingin'" and "Room At The Top". In the same year the Heartbreakers were honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame located at 7018 Hollywood Boulevard.
A Mind With A Heart Of It's Own
Throughout Tom Petty's career he had released three solo albums. Starting with the 1989 Full Moon Fever featuring fellow Heartbreakers, Mike Campbell, Benmont Tench, and Howie Epstiein. Also including Wilbury's Jeff Lynne, George Harrison and Roy Orbison, and tracks inspired by Del Shannon and vibes of The Byrds.The album released one, if not the, most recognized Tom Petty song through his entire music career, "Free Fallin'" as well as "I Won't Back Down", who's music video featured Mike Campbell, George Harrison, Ringo Starr and Jeff Lynne.
"There may have been some concern... that I was drifting away (by making solo albums), but I wasn't, really. I've always felt like a member of the band and I think they treated me like a member of the band." -Tom Petty, 1991
Tom Petty's second solo album was released in 1994, probably his more popular solo work, Wildflowers. Featuring tracks like "You Wreck Me", "You Don't Know How It Feels" and the title track "Wildflowers". The album once again featured Heartbreakers Mike Campbell, Benmont Tench, Howie Epstein, and new guy, the powerful, Steve Ferrone-who replaced Stan Lynch after a dispute in 1994. Steve Ferrone would become The Heartbreakers permanent drummer from then on.
The third and final solo album Tom released was Highway Companion in 2006. The album was produced once again by Petty's friend, Jeff Lynne and featured Mike Campbell.
Love Is A Long Long Road
In 1974, prior to pursuing his music career with Mudcrutch traveling to Los Angeles, Tom Petty had married Gainesville girlfriend, Jane Benyo. The two were married from 1974 to 1996 after struggling to stay together and an even bigger struggle to cope with their relationship.
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| Tom Petty with his second wife, Dana |
The two officially divorced in 1996, the same year he reconnected with Ms. Dana York.
Dana York and Tom had met after a concert in 1991 but were not romantically involved, as Dana was with her first husband. Five years later the two had met again and were able to start a relationship, as Dana herself had just divorced her first husband.
With help from his new girlfriend, and then wife as of 2001, Tom Petty had managed to quit hard drugs and rekindle his relationship with his daughters, Adria and AnnaKim. He has numerously expressed his gratitude towards his second wife, saying that she had saved his life. Through Dana, Tom had a step-son, Dylan.
Full Grown Boy
In 2002 The group took the stand once again back lashing the music industry with their album full of zingers and punches toured record companies, in The Last DJ. The album reached No. 9 in US charts and featured Ron Blair once again on a few tracks. In a sad turn of events, Ron had regain his position back with the band after Howie Epstein passed away at the age of 47.
Fourtunetly before Howie's passing, he was able to witness and accept The Heartbreakers being accepted into the Rock Hall of Fame in 2002. The band was introduced by Bob Dylan's son, and a musician in his own rights, Jakob Dylan. At his acceptance speech Tom had said;
"The music overcame me at a very early age and has consumed my life...I love everything about it."
The Heartbreakers had taken a break from recording and spent their time touring as well as playing events such as Bonnaroo throughout the early 2000s to 2010s. The band having the privileged to play in the Super Bowl XLII halftime show, and be featured on a tribute album to one of musics greats, Fats Domino."I'm enjoying performing because the band gets just better and better. I really think instead of going the other direction we're actually getting better at what we're doing. That obviously makes it a little easier to do. I can just kind of sit back and enjoy it really. There's not a lot of extreme effort in performing anymore." (2005)
In 2007 Benmont, Mike and Tom joined forces with fellow, Mudcrutch, band-mates Randall Marsh and Tom Leadon and put out Mudcrutch's rightfully, first album, Mudcrutch released in 2008.
In 2014 Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers recorded a real rocker with Hypnotic Eye, embarking on a breathtaking tour upon its release!
Following this in 2016 Benmont, Mike, and Tom revisited Randall and Tom again, writing Mudcrutch 2, as well as going on tour (*author's personal note, this tour honestly saved my life).
This past summer The Heartbreakers embarked on a widespread 40th Anniversary Tour which was said "may be the last big one" as he wanted to take time to spend with his granddaughter and family.
The rock God has won a total of three Grammy's, three MTV Video Music Awards, one Radio Music Award, being nominated a total of thirty times, as well as becoming the MusiCare's Person of The Year early this year.
I'm Having Trouble Letting You Go
At the moment it is numbing to hear his voice and music. There's an empty feeling where your heart use to be. Tom Petty was a gentle soul, a father, a husband, a friend. He was more than just a music figure but a beam of light on the darkest and brightest days. Tom Petty's death came as a shock throughout the world as we all wept for the Last DJ.
But here we are, still moving forward without him and it's because of him that we have the courage to do so. Tom's music brought us great messages of strength and love that anyone who personally knew him, worked with him, listened to him, or even just passed by a strip mall and caught a riff from one of his songs, we all clearly felt and connected with those messages. They are messages that will live on in our mind, heart and soul forever.
He's got a room at the top of the world tonight. With that said honor him by playing his music just a little bit louder, listen a little bit harder, and sing a little bit sweeter.
To The Wild One, Forever.
Mr. Tom Petty
We Thank You.
Boston 30 August, 2014 Hypnotic Eye Tour
Goodnight baby, sleep tight my love
May God watch over you from above
Tomorrow I'm workin' what would I do
I'd be lost and lonely if not for you
So close your eyes
We're alright for now
I've spent my life travelin
'Spent my life free
I could not repay all you've done for me
So sleep tight baby
Unfurrow your brow
And know I love you
We're alright for now
We're alright for now
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| Boston 30 August, 2014 Hypnotic Eye Tour |
Update;
Released 19 January, 2018
OUR FAMILY SAT TOGETHER THIS MORNING WITH THE MEDICAL EXAMINER – CORONER’S OFFICE AND WE WERE INFORMED OF THEIR FINAL ANALYSIS THAT TOM PETTY PASSED AWAY DUE TO AN ACCIDENTAL DRUG OVERDOSE AS A RESULT OF TAKING A VARIETY OF MEDICATIONS.
UNFORTUNATELY TOM’S BODY SUFFERED FROM MANY SERIOUS AILMENTS INCLUDING EMPHYSEMA, KNEE PROBLEMS AND MOST SIGNIFICANTLY A FRACTURED HIP.
DESPITE THIS PAINFUL INJURY HE INSISTED ON KEEPING HIS COMMITMENT TO HIS FANS AND HE TOURED FOR 53 DATES WITH A FRACTURED HIP AND, AS HE DID, IT WORSENED TO A MORE SERIOUS INJURY.
ON THE DAY HE DIED HE WAS INFORMED HIS HIP HAD GRADUATED TO A FULL ON BREAK AND IT IS OUR FEELING THAT THE PAIN WAS SIMPLY UNBEARABLE AND WAS THE CAUSE FOR HIS OVER USE OF MEDICATION.
WE KNEW BEFORE THE REPORT WAS SHARED WITH US THAT HE WAS PRESCRIBED VARIOUS PAIN MEDICATIONS FOR A MULTITUDE OF ISSUES INCLUDING FENTANYL PATCHES AND WE FEEL CONFIDENT THAT THIS WAS, AS THE CORONER FOUND, AN UNFORTUNATE ACCIDENT.
AS A FAMILY WE RECOGNIZE THIS REPORT MAY SPARK A FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE OPIOID CRISIS AND WE FEEL THAT IT IS A HEALTHY AND NECESSARY DISCUSSION AND WE HOPE IN SOME WAY THIS REPORT CAN SAVE LIVES. MANY PEOPLE WHO OVERDOSE BEGIN WITH A LEGITIMATE INJURY OR SIMPLY DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE POTENCY AND DEADLY NATURE OF THESE MEDICATIONS.
ON A POSITIVE NOTE WE NOW KNOW FOR CERTAIN HE WENT PAINLESSLY AND BEAUTIFULLY EXHAUSTED AFTER DOING WHAT HE LOVED THE MOST, FOR ONE LAST TIME, PERFORMING LIVE WITH HIS UNMATCHABLE ROCK BAND FOR HIS LOYAL FANS ON THE BIGGEST TOUR OF HIS 40 PLUS YEAR CAREER. HE WAS EXTREMELY PROUD OF THAT ACHIEVEMENT IN THE DAYS BEFORE HE PASSED.
WE CONTINUE TO MOURN WITH YOU AND MARVEL AT TOM PETTY AND THE HEARTBREAKERS INCREDIBLE POSITIVE IMPACT ON MUSIC AND THE WORLD. AND WE THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR LOVE AND SUPPORT OVER THE LAST MONTHS.
THANK YOU ALSO FOR RESPECTING THE MEMORY OF A MAN WHO WAS TRULY GREAT DURING HIS TIME ON THIS PLANET BOTH PUBLICLY AND PRIVATELY.
WE WOULD BE GRATEFUL IF YOU COULD RESPECT THE PRIVACY OF THE ENTIRE HEARTBREAKER FAMILY DURING THIS DIFFICULT TIME.
DANA PETTY AND ADRIA PETTY
Sources (links will lead you to the exact link I used);
Biography.com
Traveling Wilbury's Volume I
Traveling Wilbury's Volume II
Billboard Tom Petty quotes
Tom Petty Cause Of Death
