Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Infobox musical artist
Name = Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

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Img_capt = Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers performing live in Indianapolis June 23, 2006
Img_size = 250
Landscape = Yes
Background = group_or_band
Origin = Los Angeles, California, United States
Instrument =
Genre = Rock, heartland rock
Years_active = 1976–present
Label = Shelter, Backstreet, MCA, Warner Bros.
Associated_acts = Mudcrutch, Tom Petty, Traveling Wilburys
URL =
Current_members = Tom Petty
Mike Campbell
Benmont Tench
Ron Blair
Scott Thurston
Steve Ferrone
Past_members = Stan Lynch
Howie Epstein

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers are an American rock band, formed in 1975 by Tom Petty, Mike Campbell, and Benmont Tench and known for their album-oriented rock n' roll. They have recorded numerous hit singles, such as "American Girl", "Breakdown" and "Mary Jane's Last Dance", most of which remain heavily played on mainstream radio. Despite this success, Petty is a vocal critic of the modern recording industry and the disintegration of independent radio stations (see "The Last DJ").

Career

Early years

Petty's early bands included The Sundowners, The Epics and Mudcrutch (the latter with drummer Randall Marsh and future Heartbreakers members Mike Campbell and Benmont Tench). In 1974, Mudcrutch signed with Shelter Records and re-located to Los Angeles, California. The band released one single, "Depot Street," in 1975, which failed to chart, and the group disbanded. According to Campbell, "Out of that the Heartbreakers sort of morphed and became what they are." The Heartbreakers began their recording career with a self titled album. Initially, the Heartbreakers did not gain much traction in America, although they achieved minor success in the UK playing Anything That's Rock 'n' Roll on Top Of The Pops. Early singles included Breakdown and American Girl. "Breakdown" was re-released to radio in the USA and became a Top 40 hit in 1977, after word filtered back to the States that the band was creating a firestorm in the UK.

Their 1978 second album "You're Gonna Get It!" marked the band's first gold album, and featured the singles "Listen To Her Heart" and "I Need To Know". Shortly after its release, the band was dragged into a legal dispute when ABC Records was sold to MCA Records.

Petty refused to simply be transferred to another record label without his consent. He held fast to his principles for nine long months, which eventually led to him filing for bankruptcy.

1979 - 1989

After the dispute was settled, the Heartbreakers released their third album "Damn the Torpedoes" (1979) which rapidly went triple-platinum. It included "Don't Do Me Like That" and "Refugee", their U.S. breakthrough singles.

Though he was already extremely successful, Petty ran into record company trouble again when he and the Heartbreakers prepared to release "Hard Promises" (1981), the follow-up album to "Damn the Torpedoes". MCA wanted to release the record at the list price of $9.98, which was considered a high price for a record album at the time. This so-called "superstar pricing" was $1.00 more than the usual list price of $8.98. 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 or naming it Eight Ninety-Eight were considered, but eventually MCA decided against the price increase. The album became a Top Ten hit, going platinum and spawning the hit single "The Waiting". The album also included the duet "Insider", with Stevie Nicks.

On their fifth album "Long After Dark" (1982) bass player Ron Blair was replaced by Howie Epstein (formerly of Del Shannon's backing band), giving the Heartbreakers their line-up until 1991. Long After Dark, features You Got Lucky. The album was to feature a track called "Keepin' Me Alive", but producer Jimmy Iovine vetoed it from the album. Petty has expressed that he feels the album would have turned out better if the song had been included on the album.

On the next album, "Southern Accents" (1985), the Heartbreakers picked up where they had left off. The recording was not without problems; Petty became frustrated during the mixing process and broke his left hand after punching through a wall. The album includes the hit single "Don't Come Around Here No More," which was produced by Dave Stewart. The video for the single featured Tom 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. This caused minor controversy after it was criticized by feminist groups, but the video did win an MTV Video Music Award.

A successful concert tour led to the live album "" (1986). The band's live capabilities were also showcased when Bob Dylan invited the Heartbreakers to join him on his True Confessions tour through the U.S., Australia, Japan (1986) and Europe (1987). Petty praised Dylan saying "I dont think there is anyone we admire more"

Also in 1987, the group released "Let Me Up (I've Had Enough)", a studio album made to sound like a live recording, using a technique they borrowed from Bob Dylan. It includes "Jammin' Me", which Petty wrote with Dylan.

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers' 1989 tour featured college rock band The Replacements opening every show. Petty eventually borrowed Paul Westerberg's line "rebel without a clue" from "I'll Be You" for the title track of the Into the Great Wide Open album.

Move to Warner Bros. Records

In 1991 the band released Into the Great Wide Open, produced by Jeff Lynne who had worked with Petty in Traveling Wilburys. Songs included the title track itself and "Learning to Fly". By this time multi instrumentalist Scott Thurston had joined the band. In 1993, Petty released "Greatest Hits" which included hit single "Mary Jane's Last Dance" . Shortly after Lynch was fired from the band and replaced by Steve Ferrone. Tom's second solo album, named Wildflowers was recorded and released after the firing of Lynch, like his last solo album, the album would feature extensive contributions from all members of the Heartbreakers, including new drummer Ferrone.

In 1995, a six CD box-set entitled "Playback" was released. Approximately half of the tracks were previously available on albums, while the rest were B-sides, demos and live tracks. Two notable tracks are a solo version of Tom's 1981 duet with Stevie Nicks, "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around" and the song "Waiting For Tonight," which features vocals from The Bangles. The latter song also appeared on the two CD anthology released in 2000, .

In 1996, Petty "reunited" with the Heartbreakers and 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""). Three singles were released from this album; these 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 a song by Beck, "Asshole".

In 1999, Petty and the Heartbreakers released the album "Echo" with producer Rick Rubin at the helm. 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.

In 2002, Petty and the Heartbreakers released "The Last DJ". Many of the tracks' lyrics contain stinging attacks on the music industry and major record companies. The album reached number 9 in the U.S. charts. Ron Blair played on three of the tracks. He also replaced the man who had previously been his replacement, Howie Epstein on the band's 2002 tour as a result of Epstein's deepening personal problems and drug abuse. Epstein died in 2003. Tench described him as "the coolest guy in the band"

Tom's third solo album, 2006's Highway Companion, would come the closest to a true "solo" album as most of the music was performed by himself and Jeff Lynne, though Mike Cambell would contribute guitar parts for many of the songs.

In 2007, a film titled "Runnin' Down a Dream" was released, documenting the career of the band, directed by Peter Bogdanovich. That year, the Heartbreakers were also featured as the Super Bowl XLII Halftime Show. In 2008 the members of Petty's prior band, Mudcrutch, including Heartbreakers Petty, Benmont Tench and Mike Campbell along with Randall Marsh and Tom Leadon got together to record a Mudcrutch album.

Other works and recognition

In 1985, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers participated in the world-spanning charity rock concert Live Aid. They also played at the 2001 benefit concert.

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In 2002, the band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame during their first year of eligibility. The band also played at a special Concert for George Harrison who had died the previous year.

30th anniversary year (2006)

In February 2006 Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers were the headline act at the fifth annual Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival. In addition to Bonnaroo, Petty was on tour throughout the summer in 2006. The tour started in Charlotte, North Carolina on June 9 and end in Randalls Island, NY on August 19. Stops included major cities such as New York, St.Louis, Indianapolis and Denver. Supporting acts during the tour included Pearl Jam, The Allman Brothers Band & Trey Anastasio. Additionally, Stevie Nicks joined Tom Petty onstage during the first eight concerts as well as subsequent second leg dates to perform various songs from the Heartbreakers' vast catalog. For the "Highway Companion Tour" they offered a Highway Companion's Club which allowed fans to recevie priority seating, discounts at the Tom Petty Store, a complimentary CD of "Highway Companion" and a personalized email address.

In 2006, the ABC U.S. television network hired Petty to do the music for its NBA Playoffs coverage.

On September 22, 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. Tom Petty quipped when questioned about the key he received from Gainesville's Mayor, "It's a lot nicer than the one we got in Chicago.". [http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/P/PEOPLE_TOM_PETTY?SITE=FLROC&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT]

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 from a visit to his home by some of the Rock Hall curatorial staff.

Band members

* Mainstream Rock Tracks

ee also

*List of best-selling music artists
*Traveling Wilburys

External links

* [http://www.tompetty.com Official Site]
* [http://www.mudcrutch.com Mudcrutch Farm] - Fan Community
* [http://www.gonegator.com Gone Gator] - Fansite
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* [http://www.youtube.com/tompetty official youtube channel] - featuring videos of The heartbreakers performing some of their most well known songs