Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers

Latest about Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers

Mike Campbell and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, 'Long After Dark' tour, 7 December 1982 Wembley Arena.
Nearly a decade after Tom Petty’s death, the Heartbreakers reunite: “There was a deep love that kept us together”

By Joe Bosso Published

Mike Campbell recalls his decades-long partnership with Petty and the musical chemistry that defined the band

Guitarists
Musicians Tom Petty & Stevie Nicks perform onstage in 1981.
Tom Petty and Mike Campbell on the song they couldn’t give Stevie Nicks — and the one they did that became a hit

By Christopher Scapelliti Published

Asked to write a song for Nicks, Petty nearly gave away a cut he considered one of his best

Albums, Singles & New Releases
Mike Campbell and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, 'Long After Dark' tour, 7 December 1982 Wembley Arena.
Mike Campbell on the Tom Petty song that stunned him at every performance

By Christopher Scapelliti Published

The guitarist also shared details behind the hit song that gave the Heartbreakers their greatest challenge in the studio

Guitarists
Tom Petty performs circa 1985 in Los Angeles, California.
“I thought it was just a little bit too simple.” Tom Petty almost gave away his biggest hit — five years after he wrote it

By Christopher Scapelliti Published

It took a persistent producer and a blunt comment from a studio assistant to convince him to dust off the gem and claim it for the Heartbreakers

Music
American Rock and Pop musician Tom Petty (1950 - 2017) plays guitar as he leads his band, the Heartbreakers, during a performance on the 'Long After Dark' tour at Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, New York, March 31, 1983.
How Tom Petty broke up his band to form the Heartbreakers — and the musician he left behind

By Andrew Daly Published

Fifty years later, former Mudcrutch bassist Charlie Souza still wonders what happened

Guitarists
Mike Campbell and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, 'Long After Dark' tour, 7 December 1982 Wembley Arena.
How Mike Campbell survived his toughest audition — in front of Tom Petty

By Christopher Scapelliti Published

The guitarist didn’t have the gear but he had the chops, and that was all that really mattered 

Guitarists
UNSPECIFIED - CIRCA 1983: Photo of Tom Petty & Heartbreakers
Tom Petty and Mike Campbell on how a chance meeting saved the Heartbreakers’ debut single from oblivion

By Christopher Scapelliti Published

Petty was so excited to find the hook, he called the band back in the studio to remake the song — at four in the morning

Albums, Singles & New Releases
Tom Petty photographed onstage circa 2005
Tom Petty on the accident that nearly ended his guitar-playing days

By Christopher Scapelliti Published

In a flash of anger over a song, the guitarist saw his future nearly disappear

Guitarists
Mike Campbell and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, 'Long After Dark' tour, 7 December 1982 Wembley Arena.
How Stevie Nicks inspired one of Tom Petty’s biggest hits — which led to one of Mike Campbell’s greatest guitar solos

By Joe Bosso Published

Stewart says the Heartbreakers' 1985 smash “Don’t Come Around Here No More” became a tune for Petty after Nicks took a pass

Music
Mike Campbell & Tom Petty during Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers Tour 2002 - Los Angeles at The Forum in Los Angeles, California, United States.
Mike Campbell reveals how he and Tom Petty developed the guitar tandem that defines the Heartbreakers' classic sound

By Phil Weller Published

Petty had started out as a bass player, but when he moved to electric the seeds of one of rock’s greatest guitar partnerships were sown

Guitarists
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