Profile of Tom Petty

Type(s) of Music: Rock

Full name: Thomas Earl Petty

Place of Birth: Gainesville, Florida

Date of Birth: October 20, 1950

Musical Influences:

Associated bands: Heartbreakers, Travelling Wilburys

Tom Petty Biography/History

Thomas Earl "Tom" Petty (born October 20, 1950) is an American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He is the frontman of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and was a founding member of the late 1980s 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, notably his hits, has become increasingly popular among younger generations as he continues to host sold-out shows.[1] Throughout his career, Petty and his collaborators have sold 60 million albums.[2]

Petty and his band the Heartbreakers celebrated their thirtieth anniversary with a tour in 2006, though Petty has occasionally released solo work, such as 2006's Highway Companion[3], on which he performed most of the backing instrumentation. Members of the Heartbreakers have played on each of his solo albums and the band has always backed him when touring in support of those albums. He has also toured with Mudcrutch in order to promote their debut album.

Petty has been managed by Tony Dimitriades since 1976.[4] On February 3, 2008, Petty and the Heartbreakers performed at the Super Bowl XLII Halftime show.[5]

****

Background information

Birth name Thomas Earl Petty

Born October 20, 1950 (1950-10-20) (age 59)

Origin Gainesville, Florida, U.S.

Genres Rock, heartland rock

Occupations Singer-songwriter, guitarist

Instruments Guitar, vocals, harmonica, piano, bass guitar, drums

Years active 1971–present

Labels Shelter, Backstreet, MCA, Warner Bros., American

Associated acts Mudcrutch, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Traveling Wilburys, Stevie Nicks, Bob Dylan

Website www.tompetty.com

Notable instruments

Rickenbacker 660/12

Vox Mark III

****

Early life

Tom Petty was born and raised in Gainesville, Florida, U.S. and attended Gainesville High School. His interest in rock and roll music began at age 10 when he met Elvis Presley.[6] 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.[7] He instantly became an Elvis Presley fan and soon traded his Wham-O slingshot for a box of Elvis 45s.[4] 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.[8] One of his first guitar teachers was Don Felder, a fellow Gainesville resident, who would later join The Eagles. [9] As a young man, Petty worked briefly on the grounds crew for the University of Florida, but never attended as a student. An Ogeechee lime tree that he planted while employed at the University is now called the Tom Petty tree. [10][11] 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. [12][13][14]

Recording artist

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (1976–1987)

Main article: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Shortly after forming his musical aspirations, Petty started a band known as the Sundowners, later to evolve into Mudcrutch. Although the band, which featured future Heartbreakers Mike Campbell and Benmont Tench were popular in Gainesville, their recordings went unnoticed by a mainstream audience, although their only single, "Depot Street", remains popular amongst fans. 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 first album, simply titled Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, gained minute popularity amongst American audiences, achieving more success in Britain. The single "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.[3]

Their second album, You're Gonna Get It!, marked the band's first Top 40 album[3] and featured the singles "I Need to Know" and "Listen To Her Heart". Their third album, Damn the Torpedoes, quickly went platinum, selling nearly two million copies; it includes their breakthrough singles "Don't Do Me Like That", "Here Comes My Girl" and "Refugee." [15]

In September 1979, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers performed at a Musicians United for Safe Energy concert at Madison Square Garden in New York.[16] Their rendition of "Cry To Me" was featured on the resulting No Nukes album.[17]

1981's Hard Promises became a top-ten hit, going platinum and spawning the hit single "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 Dave Stewart. The song's video featured Petty dressed as 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.[18]

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

Main articles: Traveling Wilburys and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

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," 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, incongruously 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" a staple of the 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 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 second Wilbury record.

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" and "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" package. "Mary Jane's Last Dance" and Thunderclap Newman's "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 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.[19] His first album on his new label, 1994's 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 approximately 2.5 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, 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).

In 1999, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers released their last album with Rubin at the helm, Echo. Two songs were released as singles in the U.S., "Room at the Top" and "Free Girl Now". The album reached number 10 in the U.S. album charts.

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," and "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, Tom 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 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" 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" (which is available on the Runnin' Down a Dream package: bonus features) and a verse in the concert-closer "American Girl."

In July 2006, Petty released a new solo album titled "Highway Companion", which included the hit "Saving Grace". It debuted at number 4 on the Billboard charts, 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," "Square One," "Down South," and "Flirting with Time".

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

During the summer of 2007, Tom Petty reunited with his old bandmates Tom Leadon and Randall Marsh along with Heartbreakers Benmont Tench & 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, 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.[20]

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.[21]. 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. During the halftime-show they played "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 BBC2.

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 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."

Acting

Tom Petty's first appearance in film took place in 1978, when he had a cameo in FM. He later had a small part in 1987's 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 show-within-the-show's final guests. In the episode, Petty gets bumped from the show and nearly comes to blows with Greg Kinnear. Petty also appeared as The Bridge City Mayor (and from the dialogue it's implied that he is playing a future version of himself) in the 1997 movie The Postman directed by and starring Kevin Costner.

In 2002, he appeared on The Simpsons in the episode "How I Spent My Strummer Vacation". In it, he 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 Elroy "Lucky" Kleinschmidt in the animated show King of the Hill until it was cancelled in 2009.

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 series. Petty thus joined various musical guest stars on the show, including Iggy, Dave Grohl of Nirvana and Foo Fighters, and Anthony Kiedis and Flea of The Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Awards and accolades

Main article: List of awards and nominations received by Tom Petty

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

In April 1996, Petty received the UCLA's George 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.[22] 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 premiered at the New York Film Festival on October 14, 2007, .

On February 3, 2008 Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers played during the Super Bowl XLII halftime show.

Views on artistic control

Petty is known as a staunch guardian of his creative 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 and the Olivia Newton-John/Electric Light Orchestra Xanadu soundtrack. This so-called "superstar pricing" was $1.00 more than the usual list price of $8.98.[23] 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.[24]

In 1987, Petty sued tire company 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.[25]

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.[26] 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 [I'd sue]. But I don't believe in lawsuits much. I think there are enough frivolous lawsuits in this country without people fighting over pop songs."[27]

Personal life

His first marriage, to Jane Benyo, lasted 22 years. He spent most of those years working, on the road or in the studio. He has two daughters, director Adria and artist AnnaKim Violette, by that marriage. Since 2001 he has been married to Dana York, whom he first met years earlier when she came to one of his concerts.[28]

In 1987, an arsonist set fire to Petty's house in Encino, California. The fire caused $1 million in damage but 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. [29][30]

Equipment

Tom Petty owns and has used a number of guitars over the years. From 1976-1982, his main instrument was a sunburst 1963 Fender Stratocaster. He has also used a number of Rickenbacker guitars from 1979 onwards, notably the Rose Morris 1993 and 1997 models and the 360/12 and 660/12 models. The Rickenbacker 660/12TP was designed by Petty (specifically the neck) and featured his signature from 1991 to 1998.[31] 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.

Petty's current amplifer setup features a Marshall Plexi 50 watt head and a Hiwatt Custom 50 amp head, through a Vox Super Beatle extension cabinet.[32]

The Heartbreakers

1976–1982 Tom Petty - lead vocals, rhythm guitar, harmonica

Mike Campbell - lead guitar

Ron Blair - bass guitar, backing vocals

Benmont Tench - keyboards, backing vocals

Stan Lynch - drums, percussion, backing vocals

1982–1991 Tom Petty - lead vocals, rhythm guitar, harmonica

Mike Campbell - lead guitar

Howie Epstein - bass guitar, backing vocals, mandolin

Benmont Tench - keyboards, backing vocals

Stan Lynch - drums, percussion, backing vocals

1991–1994 Tom Petty - lead vocals, rhythm guitar, harmonica

Mike Campbell - lead guitar, mandolin

Scott Thurston - rhythm guitar, harmonica, backing vocals, percussion, piano

Howie Epstein - bass guitar, backing vocals

Benmont Tench - keyboards, backing vocals

Stan Lynch - drums, backing vocals

1994–2002 Tom Petty - lead vocals, rhythm guitar

Mike Campbell - lead guitar, mandolin

Scott Thurston - rhythm guitar, harmonica, backing vocals, piano

Howie Epstein - bass guitar, backing vocals

Benmont Tench - keyboards, backing vocals

Steve Ferrone - drums, percussion

2002–present Tom Petty - lead vocals, rhythm guitar

Mike Campbell - lead guitar, mandolin

Scott Thurston - rhythm guitar, harmonica, backing vocals, piano

Ron Blair - bass guitar, backing vocals

Benmont Tench - keyboards, backing vocals

Steve Ferrone - drums, percussion

Discography

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Albums

Studio albums with the Heartbreakers

Year Album details Peak chart positions[1][2] Certifications[3][4]

(sales threshold)

US UK AUS NOR SWE AUT

1976 Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Released: November 9, 1976

Label: Shelter Records

 55 24 — — — — US: Gold

1978 You're Gonna Get It!

Released: May 2, 1978

Label: Shelter Records

 23 34 — — — — US: Gold

1979 Damn the Torpedoes

Released: October 19, 1979

Label: Backstreet Records

 2 57 — — — — US: 2× Multi-Platinum

CAN: 2× Platinum

1981 Hard Promises

Released: May 5, 1981

Label: Backstreet Records

 5 32 — — 22 — US: Platinum

CAN: Platinum

1982 Long After Dark

Released: November 2, 1982

Label: Backstreet Records

 9 45 — — 20 — US: Gold

CAN: Gold

1985 Southern Accents

Released: March 26, 1985

Label: MCA Records

 7 23 — — 10 — US: Platinum

CAN: Gold

1987 Let Me Up (I've Had Enough)

Released: April 21, 1987

Label: MCA Records

 20 59 — — 15 — US: Platinum

CAN: Platinum

1991 Into the Great Wide Open

Released: July 2, 1991

Label: MCA Records

 13 3 28 5 2 7 US: 2× Multi-Platinum

CAN: 2× Platinum

1999 Echo

Released: April 13, 1999

Label: Warner Bros. Records

 10 — — 43 5 27 US: Gold

CAN: Gold

2002 The Last DJ

Released: October 8, 2002

Label: Warner Bros. Records

 9 — — — 21 54 

"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Solo albums

Year Album Chart positions [1][2] Certifications Record label

US UK US[3] CAN[4]

1989 Full Moon Fever 3 8 5x Multi-Platinum 6x Platinum MCA

1994 Wildflowers 8 36 3x Multi-Platinum 2x Platinum Warner Bros.

2006 Highway Companion 4 56 Gold — American Recordings

Live, Compilation, & Specialty albums

Year Album Chart positions [1][2] Certifications Record label

US UK Albums U.S.[3] CAN[4]

1977 Official Live 'Leg (promo)  — — — Shelter Records

1985 Pack Up the Plantation: Live! 22 — — — MCA Records

1993 Greatest Hits 5 10 10x Multi-Platinum 2x Platinum

1995 Playback — — Platinum —

1996 Songs and Music from "She's the One" 15 37 Gold — Warner Bros. Records

2000 Anthology: Through the Years 132 14 Gold — MCA Records

2009 The Live Anthology 51 — — — Warner Bros. Records

Singles

 This section requires expansion with:

Canadian positions.

Year Single Chart positions [5][6][2] Album

US US MSR UK

1977 "Breakdown" 40 — — Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

"Anything That's Rock 'n' Roll" — — 36

"American Girl" — — 40

1978 "I Need to Know" 41 — — You're Gonna Get It!

"Listen to Her Heart" 59 — —

1979 "Don't Do Me Like That" 10 — — Damn the Torpedoes

1980 "Refugee" 15 — —

"Here Comes My Girl" 59 — —

1981 "The Waiting" 19 1 — Hard Promises

"A Woman in Love (It's Not Me)" 79 5 —

♦ "Nightwatchman" — 21 —

1982 "You Got Lucky" 20 1 — Long After Dark

♦ "We Stand a Chance" — 37 —

♦ "A One Story Town" — 15 —

♦ "Between Two Worlds" — 35 —

1983 "Change of Heart" 21 10 —

1985 "Don't Come Around Here No More" 13 2 50 Southern Accents

"Make It Better (Forget About Me)" 54 12 —

"Rebels" 74 5 —

1986 "Needles and Pins" 37 17 — Pack Up the Plantation–Live!

"So You Want to Be a Rock 'n' Roll Star" — 9 —

1987 "Jammin' Me" 18 1 — Let Me Up (I've Had Enough)

♦ "Runaway Trains" — 6 —

♦ "Think About Me" — 36 —

"All Mixed Up" — 19 —

1989 "I Won't Back Down" 12 1 28 Full Moon Fever

"Runnin' Down a Dream" 23 1 55

"Free Fallin'" 7 1 64

♦ "I’ll Feel a Whole Lot Better" — 18 —

♦ "Love Is a Long Road" — 7 —

1990 "A Face in the Crowd" 46 5 93

"Yer So Bad" — 5 —

1991 "Learning to Fly" 28 1 46 Into the Great Wide Open

♦ "Out in the Cold" — 1 —

"Into the Great Wide Open" 92 4 —

1992 "Too Good to Be True" — — 34

"Kings Highway" — 4 —

♦ "Makin' Some Noise" — 30 —

"Peace in L.A." — — — single

1993 "Mary Jane's Last Dance" 14 1 52 Greatest Hits

1994 "Something in the Air" — 19 53

"American Girl" 109 — —

"You Don't Know How It Feels" 13 1 119 Wildflowers

1995 "You Wreck Me" — 2 101

"It's Good to Be King" 68 6 —

"A Higher Place" — 12 —

♦ "Cabin Down Below" — 29 —

♦ "Waiting for Tonight" — 6 — Playback

1996 "Walls (Circus)" 69 6 — Songs and Music from "She's the One"

♦ "Climb That Hill" — 6 —

1997 ♦ "Change the Locks" — 20 —

1999 ♦ "Free Girl Now" 120 5 — Echo

"Room at the Top" — 19 —

♦ "Swingin'" — 17 —

2002 ♦ "The Last DJ" — 22 — The Last DJ

2006 "Saving Grace" 100 26 198 Highway Companion

♦ "Flirting with Time" — — —

"—" denotes singles that did not chart or were not released in that country

"♦" denotes album tracks that charted but not commercially released as singles

Guest singles

Year Single Artist Chart positions Album

US US MSR US Country CAN Country UK

1981 "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around" Stevie Nicks (with Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers) 3 2 — — 50 Bella Donna

1986 "Band of the Hand" Bob Dylan and the Heartbreakers 28 — — — — Band of the Hand soundtrack

1987 "Mind Your Own Business" Hank Williams, Jr. (with Reba McEntire, Tom Petty, Reverend Ike and Willie Nelson) — — 1 1 — Montana Cafe

Traveling Wilburys

Albums

Year Album Chart positions [7][2] Certifications Record label

US UK US[8] CAN[4]

1988 Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1 3 16 3x Multi-Platinum 6x Platinum Wilbury Records

1990 Traveling Wilburys Vol. 3 11 14 Platinum Platinum

2007 The Traveling Wilburys Collection 9 1 Gold —

Singles

Year Title Chart positions [9][10][2] Album

US Pop US

Rock US

AC UK

Singles

1988 "Handle with Care" 45 2 30 21 Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1

♦ "Last Night" — 5 — —

1989 ♦ "Tweeter and the Monkey Man" — 41 — —

"End of the Line" 63 2 28 52

♦ "Heading for the Light" — 7 — —

1990 "Nobody's Child" — — — 44 Nobody's Child: Romanian Angel Appeal

"She's My Baby" — 2 — 79 Traveling Wilburys Vol. 3

♦ "Inside Out" — 16 — —

1991 "Wilbury Twist" — 46 — —

"—" denotes singles that did not chart or were not released in that country

"♦" denotes album tracks that charted but not commercially released as singles

Mudcrutch

Albums

Year Album Chart positions [11] Record label

US UK

2008 Mudcrutch 8 — Reprise Records

Singles

Year Title Chart positions Album

US Pop UK

Singles

1971 "Up in Mississippi" — — single

1975 "Depot Street" — — single

2008 "Scare Easy" — — Mudcrutch

"—" denotes singles that did not chart or were not released in that country

Videos and DVDs

1986: Pack Up the Plantation–Live! (VHS, Betamax; out of print)

1989: A Bunch of Videos and Some Other Stuff (VHS, out of print)

1990: Full Moon Fever: The Videos (VHS, laserdisc; out of print)

1992: Take the Highway Live (VHS, laserdisc; out of print)

1995: Playback (VHS, laserdisc; DVD released in 2000)

1999: High Grass Dogs: Live from the Fillmore (VHS, DVD)

2003: Live at the Olympic: The Last DJ (DVD)

2005: Soundstage Presents Live in Concert (DVD)

2007: Runnin' Down a Dream (DVD)

Discography source from: Wikipedia.org at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Petty_discography

****

References

1.       ^ http://www.highwaycompanions.com/index.php?module=tour

2.       ^ http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704204304574544184285937304.html

3.       ^ a b c Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (2006). "Tom Petty - Biography". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:0ifexqr5ldhe~T1. Retrieved 2008-04-12. 

4.       ^ a b Newman, Melinda (2005-11-28). "Tom Petty: A Portrait Of The Artist". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/feature/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001571263. Retrieved 2008-04-12. 

5.       ^ Pareles, Jon (2008-02-04). "The Stubborn Voice of a Troubadour". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/04/sports/football/04half.html?ref=football. Retrieved 2008-04-12. 

6.       ^ Sager, Mike (2006-06-30). "What I've Learned: Tom Petty". Esquire. http://www.esquire.com/features/what-ive-learned/ESQ0806WIL_134. Retrieved 2008-04-12. 

7.       ^ "Tom Petty's life changed when he met Elvis". The Gainesville Sun. 2007-08-16. http://tompetty.warnerreprise.com/lastdj_newsdetail.php?section=announcements&id=8965. Retrieved 2008-04-12. 

8.       ^ "Tom Petty Knows 'How It Feels'". National Public Radio. 2006-07-27. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=18580517. Retrieved 2008-04-12. 

9.       ^ Felder, Don (2008). Heaven and Hell: My Life in the Eagles. Wiley. ISBN 978-0-470-28906-8. p. 28

10.   ^ Bernie Machen (2006-09-06). "September 13, 2006 Speech to Campus Community Council". University of Florida Office of the President. http://www.president.ufl.edu/speeches/2006/09/campusCommunityCouncil.html. Retrieved 2008-09-10. 

11.   ^ "Tom Petty Gets Key to Gainesville, Fla". Fox News. 2006-11-22. http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2006Sep22/0,4670,PeopleTomPetty,00.html. Retrieved 2008-04-15. 

12.   ^ DeYoung, Bill. "Full Steam Ahead" Goldmine July 13, 1990

13.   ^ Zollo, Paul. Conversations With Tom Petty (2005): 8-15

14.   ^ Runnin' Down a Dream (2007), documentary by Peter Bogdanovich.

15.   ^ "Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - History of the Band". Mudcrutch Farm. http://www.mudcrutch.com/index.php?pageid=heartbreakers_history. Retrieved 2008-04-12. 

16.   ^ Finn, Natalie (2007-10-23). "Raitt, Browne & Nash Rerock Against Nukes". E! Online. http://www.eonline.com/news/article/index.jsp?uuid=08ca35ba-fcf8-4e5d-89a3-db9ecaf79907. Retrieved 2008-04-12. 

17.   ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. ""No Nukes" - Overview". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=&sql=10:f9fyxqrjldke. Retrieved 2008-04-12. 

18.   ^ ""Jammin' Me Review"". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=33:kvfwxxqkldte. Retrieved 2009-04-19. 

19.   ^ Philips, Chuck. "Petty's Secret Deal Isn't for Petty Cash" Los Angeles Times April 5, 1992: 58.

20.   ^ [http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2007/09/17/tom-petty-covers-fats-domino-listen-to-im-walkin/

21.   ^ Komodo Rock | Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers Announce US Summer Tour

22.   ^ USA Today, September 22, 2006 (AP story)

23.   ^ Goldstein, Patrick. "Petty Battling MCA Over Record Price Hike" Los Angeles Times February 1, 1981: N72.

24.   ^ Marsh, Dave. "Tom Petty" Musician July 1981: 43.

25.   ^ "BFG Ad Not Petty To Petty" Akron Beacon Journal March 6, 1987: D8.

26.   ^ wgmd.com

27.   ^ Rolling Stone Interview, 2006

28.   ^ Zollo, Paul. Conversations With Tom Petty (2005): 155-157.

29.   ^ "Rock Star Tom Petty's Home Damaged in Fire", Los Angeles Times, May 18, 1987, Metro

30.   ^ Zollo, Paul (2005). Conversations With Tom Petty. pp. 106–109. 

31.   ^ http://www.celebrityrockstarguitars.com/rock/petty.htm

32.   ^ http://www.guitaredge.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=107:backstage-pass-tom-petty&catid=48:backstage-pass&Itemid=69

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Source: Wikipedia.org at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Petty

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