Tom Petty

Who Was Tom Petty?

Rock musician Tom Petty began his career in earnest with a group called Mudcrutch. After Petty and several members reformed as Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, the release of their self-titled debut album in 1976 initiated a decades-long, highly successful journey in the music industry. This period was characterized by multi-platinum albums that included classic singles such as “American Girl,” “Refugee,” “Don’t Come Around Here No More,” and “Learning to Fly.” In 1989, Petty embarked on an equally successful solo career, delivering memorable music videos for hits like “Free Fallin’” and “Runnin’ Down a Dream.” Throughout his career, Petty collaborated with several legendary musicians, including Stevie Nicks, Bob Dylan, George Harrison, and Johnny Cash, earning three Grammy Awards for his contributions to music.

Early Life

Tom Petty was born on October 20, 1950, in Gainesville, Florida, as the first son of Earl and Kitty Petty. While he shared a close bond with his mother and younger brother, his relationship with his father was troubled, marked by physical and verbal abuse. Despite these challenges, Petty found solace in music, idolizing artists such as Elvis Presley and The Beatles while teaching himself to play guitar. By high school, his passion for music had become all-consuming. He began playing bass for a local band called the Epics, and at the age of 17, he left school to join a new group that would eventually be known as Mudcrutch, named after the farm where two of its members resided. Petty quickly rose to prominence as the frontman and primary songwriter, gaining a devoted local following.

In 1974, Petty experienced a pivotal year, marrying his girlfriend Jane Benyo, with whom he already had a daughter, Adria. The couple subsequently relocated to Los Angeles with Mudcrutch, aiming to reach a broader audience. During this time, Petty and Benyo welcomed their second daughter, AnnaKim. Although Mudcrutch signed with Shelter Records, their lone single failed to gain traction, leading to the band’s disbandment. Recognizing Petty’s potential, the label offered him a solo contract, a decision that would prove rewarding in the years to come.

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Following Mudcrutch’s dissolution, Petty sought to assemble a new backing band. He eventually reconnected with former bandmates Mike Campbell (guitar) and Benmont Tench (keyboards), who were playing alongside bassist Ron Blair and drummer Stan Lynch. With this new lineup, they restructured Petty’s contract with Shelter Records and signed as Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, promptly setting to work on a new album. Released in November 1976, their self-titled debut established a blueprint for the success that would follow, combining a hard-edged rock-and-roll foundation with the pop sensibilities of 1960s groups such as The Beatles and The Byrds, all while showcasing Petty’s distinctive voice and storytelling prowess.

Initially, the album struggled commercially until a subsequent tour in England with Nils Lofgren helped it gain traction on British charts. In an effort to capitalize on their newfound popularity, Shelter re-released the single “Breakdown” in the United States, which climbed to No. 40 on the charts, marking the group’s first taste of success. Remarkably, the iconic single “American Girl,” one of their most beloved songs, did not achieve chart success in the U.S. until it was re-released nearly two decades later.

Undeterred by initial setbacks, the band returned to the studio to record their second album, You’re Gonna Get It!, which was released in 1978. This album fared significantly better than its predecessor, reaching No. 23 on the charts and producing popular singles like “Listen to Her Heart” and “I Need to Know.” However, the band’s momentum was briefly halted when Shelter was acquired by MCA Records, leading Petty to attempt to renegotiate their contract. This resulted in protracted legal disputes that left him financially strained and embittered.

More Hits: “Refugee” and “The Waiting”

Despite a tumultuous beginning with MCA, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers signed with the label’s subsidiary, Backstreet Records, and set to work on their next album, Damn the Torpedoes. Released in 1979, the album soared to No. 2 on the charts, eventually selling over 3 million copies. Featuring high-quality tracks throughout, it included notable singles such as “Don’t Do Me Like That” (No. 10) and “Refugee” (No. 15), which firmly established Petty and the band as rock superstars.

Empowered by their newfound success, Petty stood firm when MCA proposed to raise the price of their follow-up album from the standard $8.98 to $9.98. In a bold move, he threatened to either withhold the recordings or title the album Eight Ninety-Eight in protest. Ultimately, the label acquiesced, and Hard Promises was released in 1981, reaching No. 5 on the charts and achieving platinum status. The lead single, “The Waiting,” marked the group’s first No. 1 hit.

In the same year, Petty collaborated with Stevie Nicks on her album Bella Donna, recording the hit duet “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around.” He also produced Del Shannon’s Drop Down and Get Me. Returning to the studio with the Heartbreakers, Petty continued his successful streak with the 1982 album Long After Dark, which peaked at No. 9 and featured singles “You Got Lucky” and “Deliver Me,” reaching No. 20 and No. 21, respectively. However, the pressures of fame began to affect both Petty’s personal life and his relationships with bandmates. Shortly after Long After Dark was released, bassist Ron Blair departed the group, and Howie Epstein was brought on board. Although some of Petty’s greatest moments lay ahead, the journey would not always be straightforward.

New Work and Collaborations

Seeking to explore new musical directions, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers began working on their next album with a lineup of producers, including Dave Stewart of Eurythmics, Robbie Robertson of The Band, and Jimmy Iovine, who had previously co-produced Damn the Torpedoes. The sessions incorporated a diverse array of musicians and backup singers, allowing the band to experiment with different sounds. However, managing such a large collective proved challenging, leading to tension in the studio. At one point, the stress culminated in Petty breaking his left hand by punching a wall.

The culmination of these sessions resulted in the fifth album, Southern Accents, which reached No. 7 on the charts. The album featured the singles “Rebels,” “Make It Better (Forget About Me),” and “Don’t Come Around Here No More,” the latter being a neo-psychedelic track co-written by Stewart and inspired by Nicks. Accompanied by a popular Alice in Wonderland-themed music video, the single reached No. 13, further enhancing the band’s success during MTV’s peak era.

In 1986, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers embarked on a tour with Bob Dylan, performing both their own hits and serving as Dylan’s backup band. Following this tour, they returned to the studio to record Let Me Up (I’ve Had Enough). Although the album reached No. 20 and produced the single “Jammin’ Me,” which topped the charts in the United Kingdom, it was viewed as only moderately successful compared to their earlier achievements. Nevertheless, Petty’s friendship with Dylan led to another fruitful collaboration: along with George Harrison, Roy Orbison, and Jeff Lynne, they formed the Traveling Wilburys. Their self-titled album, released in 1988, reached No. 3 on the charts, achieved triple-platinum status, and won the Grammy for Best Rock Performance.

“Free Fallin'” and Solo Stardom

Riding the wave of his success with the Traveling Wilburys, Petty commenced work on his first solo album, Full Moon Fever, produced by Jeff Lynne and featuring several Heartbreakers. Released in 1989, the album was a tremendous success, reaching No. 3 on the charts and attaining multi-platinum status. Its standout single, “Free Fallin’,” peaked at No. 7 on the singles charts and remains one of Petty’s most recognizable songs. Other notable tracks included “Runnin’ Down a Dream” and “I Won’t Back Down.”

Despite his burgeoning popularity as a solo artist, Petty remained committed to his bandmates. In 1990, the Traveling Wilburys released their follow-up album, Volume 3, while Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers released Into the Great Wide Open in 1991, which achieved platinum status. This album included the titular single, accompanied by a music video featuring Johnny Depp and Faye Dunaway, as well as the Top 40 hit “Learning to Fly.” During this period, Petty also revealed that he had previously negotiated a deal with Warner Bros., allowing him to part ways with MCA, effectively ending years of conflict. The culmination of his time with the label was marked by the release of a Greatest Hits album in 1993, featuring the Rick Rubin-produced single “Mary Jane’s Last Dance,” accompanied by a music video starring Kim Basinger. The album enjoyed an impressive tenure on the Billboard charts, remaining for over six years.

‘Wildflowers’ and Continued Success

For his first offering with Warner Bros., Tom Petty collaborated with producer Rick Rubin to create his second solo album, Wildflowers (1994). This album achieved remarkable success, closely matching the accomplishments of Full Moon Fever. Notable tracks include the singles “You Don’t Know How It Feels,” “You Wreck Me,” and “It’s Good to Be King.” Two years later, Petty reunited with the Heartbreakers—minus drummer Stan Lynch, who left the band in 1994—to record the gold-certified soundtrack for the film She’s the One, as well as to provide backup for Johnny Cash on the album Unchained. In 1996, Petty faced personal challenges, including a divorce from his wife, Jane, after 22 years of marriage, which coincided with a difficult period marked by a heroin addiction.

Despite these struggles, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers continued to thrive, performing 20 sold-out nights at the Fillmore in San Francisco in 1997. They subsequently returned to the studio with Rubin to produce the Top 10 album Echo (1999). Demonstrating his commitment to music fans, Petty initially offered the single “Free Girl Now” as a free MP3 download and declined to increase ticket prices for their ensuing tour.

Still Runnin’

As the new millennium began, Petty managed to overcome his personal issues, kicking his heroin addiction and marrying Dana York, whom he had met a decade earlier. In 2002, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers released their 11th album, The Last DJ, in which Petty voiced his ongoing grievances regarding the music industry. Regardless of his critiques, the industry embraced him; later that year, he and the Heartbreakers were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Amid these accolades, drummer Scott Thurston was let go due to his own struggles with addiction and sadly passed away from an overdose the following year, prompting the return of original bassist Ron Blair to the Heartbreakers.

In 2006, Petty ventured into solo work once more, collaborating with Jeff Lynne to produce the No. 4-charting album Highway Companion, before reuniting with the Heartbreakers for a 30th-anniversary tour. The following year, the band was the focus of the four-hour documentary Runnin’ Down a Dream. In 2008, they performed during the halftime show of Super Bowl XLII.

That same year, Petty revisited his roots by re-forming Mudcrutch to release their self-titled debut album, more than 30 years after the band’s original formation. He returned to the Heartbreakers in 2010 for the live studio album MOJO, followed by several years of touring, culminating in the release of their 13th album, Hypnotic Eye (2014), which achieved the remarkable feat of becoming their first album to reach No. 1 on the charts.

Death and Legacy

In September 2017, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers concluded a leg of their 40th-anniversary tour with a performance at the Hollywood Bowl. Just a week later, Petty suffered a cardiac arrest at his home in Malibu and was rushed to UCLA Santa Monica Hospital. He passed away on October 2, 2017, at the age of 66. His long-time manager, Tony Dimitriades, released a heartfelt statement on behalf of the family and band, announcing the untimely death of “our father, husband, brother, leader, and friend Tom Petty.”

The artist’s music was destined to endure, though not without its challenges: in late December 2017, Wixen Music Publishing, which administers Petty’s compositions, filed a lawsuit against Spotify, alleging unauthorized use of his hits, including “Free Fallin’.” Wixen sought damages of at least $1.6 billion.

On January 19, 2018, the Los Angeles County coroner announced that Petty’s death was attributed to “multisystem organ failure” caused by a lethal combination of drugs, including fentanyl, oxycodone, and temazepam. His family later released a statement on Petty’s website, acknowledging that he had been taking medications to manage a range of health issues while remaining committed to his fans. The statement emphasized his dedication, revealing that he had toured for 53 dates with a fractured hip, which had worsened into a more serious injury.

“On a positive note,” the statement concluded, “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.”

In July 2018, it was announced that a new collection of Petty’s works, titled An American Treasure, would be released on September 28. This 60-song box set, curated by Petty’s family and band members, features a mix of unreleased tracks, alternate versions, live performances, and outtakes, as well as home movies and concert footage, celebrating the enduring legacy of this iconic artist.