Tom
Petty was born on October, 20, 1953, in Florida. The Heartbreakers
were formed from the ashes of Petty's first professional band, Mudcrutch,
in 1971. In addition to Tom Petty the band comprised; Mike Campbell
(b. 1 February 1954, Florida, USA; guitar), Benmont Tench (b. 7 September
1954, Gainesville, Florida, USA; keyboards), Stan Lynch (b. 21 May
1955, Gainesville, Florida, USA; drums) and Ron Blair (b.16 September
1952, Macon, Georgia, USA; bass).
Armed with a Rickenbacker guitar and a Roger McGuinn
voice, Petty's debut was accepted more in England where anything Byrds
-like would find an audience. McGuinn in fact later recorded 'American
Girl' (and did a fine Petty impersonation). The tight-structured rock
formula of the first album showed great promise and eventually it
made a substantial impression on the US charts, over a year after
release.
Having received rave reviews following his visit to Europe
he released a second collection You're Gonna Get It to excellent reviews.
Petty was able to appeal both to the new wave and lovers of American
west coast rock with his rock songs. Damn The Torpedoes followed after
a lengthy legal battle during which time he filed for bankruptcy.
His cash-flow soon improved as the album was only kept from the top
of the US charts by Pink Floyd as it went platinum. Petty's subsequent
albums have been similarly satisfying although not as successful.
In 1981 he duetted with Stevie Nicks on 'Stop Draggin My Heart Around',
complete with an MTV -style video, and in 1983 he was one of the artists
to encourage Del Shannon to record again, producing his album Drop
Down And Get Me. In 1985 he had another major hit with
'Don't Come Around Here No More' aided by an imaginative and award
-winning Alice in Wonderland video depicting him as the Mad Hatter.
During the recording of Southern Accents Petty smashed his hand (in
anger) on the recording console and had to have a metal splint permanaently
fixed as the bones were too badly broken. Petty's outburst failed
to stop the album becoming another million-seller. That same year
he played Live Aid in Philadelphia. The following year he reunited
with Nicks for a remake of the Searchers' 'Needles And Pins'.
His association with Bob Dylan prospered and they toured
together; additionally Petty performed on Dylan albums and co-wrote
with him. The live album Pack Up The Plantation delighted old fans,
but failed to break any new ground. Tradegy struck that year when
Petty's home was burnt down. In 1988 Jeff Lynne and Petty struck up
a friendship and together with George Harrison, Roy Orbison and Dylan,
they formed the Traveling Wilburys. Lynne's high-tech and over crisp
production was in evidence on Full Moon Fever (a solo project) and
Into The Great Wide Open, and fortunately the strength of Pettys songs
won through. Both albums combined much of Petty's great gift for melody
and irresistible 'middle eights' while acknowledging his influences
including the Beatles, Byrds, R.E.M. and the Searchers. A greatest
hits album was released in 1993 and became a huge hit in his homeland
(3 million sales to date). It served as an introduction to a younger
audience who had seen Petty cited as a major influence to some of
the 90s guitar based rock bands. This new wave of success seemed to
have inspired Petty to deliver Wildflowers, probably his most satisfying
album. This overtly acoustic and mellow collection gave his lyrics
a chance to be heard clearly and together with a lower and more mature
vocal delivery it is a stunning work. Seasoned session drummer Steve
Ferrone replaced the long serving Stan Lynch and together with Howie
Epstein (bass) they have bolstered the permanent band members of Petty,
Tench and Campbell into an unbeatable live band.
Petty has succeeded in a fickle marketplace by playing
honest, unpretentious catchy rock with irrisistible hook lines. He
is one of the most durable American artists of the past two decades
and one that is still being creative and not dwelling on his past
glory.
