Tom Petty met Elvis when he was 10 and fell in love with rock and roll. At 17 he started a band called Mudcrutch and by 1970 moved to LA in hopes of getting a recording contract. They were offered one but split soon after and Petty didn't want to be signed as a solo artist. Over the next few years he drifted in and out of various bands then in 1975, hooking back up with Mike Campbell (Mudcrutch guitarist) and Benmont Tench (Mudcrutch keyboardist). At the time they were playing with bassist Ron Blair and drummer Stan Lynch. Petty got involved with the band, then called 'The Heartbreakers' and in 1976 released their brilliant debut eponymous album, 'Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers'.
'American Girl'
Breakdown
Their second album did well then a legal battle arose when MCA bought ABC (which subsidiary, shelter records, they were signed to) and Petty tried to renegotiate his contact.. By mid-79 he filed for bankrupcy. After 9 months of litigation, they signed to Backstreet (MCA subsidiary) and their third album, Damn the Torpedoes, went platinum......many interesting things happened - another record company battle, his house burned down, you should look it up. I have to get on and finish this because I am on my way out.
In 1988 Tom became a founding member of The Travelling Wilburys with Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Roy Orbison and Jeff Lynne...
In 1989 followed his solo album (which a lot of the Heartbreakers played on) 'Full Moon Fever'
'I Won't Back Down'
In 1991, Petty, back with the Heartbreakers, released Into The Great Wide Open.
'Learning To Fly'
A quick note now on Mike Campbell, guitarist. He was also a producer. He co-produced a few Heartbreakers albums including Let Me Up and Into The Great Wide Open as well as Tom Petty's solo album and a few Roy Orbison songs from his album "Mystery Girl'.
Campbell was also a songwriter and his credits include songs for Johnny Cash, Fleetwood Mac, Stevie Nicks....and this one co-written with Don Henley. Released in 1984 from Henleys album 'Building the Perfect Beast'. The video was directed by Jean Baptiste Mondino and won best video in 1985.
'Boys Of Summer'
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