#TOM PETTY AND THE HEARTBREAKERS FREE#

Still Runnin’Īt the start of the new millennium, Petty got his personal life in order, kicking his heroin addiction and marrying Dana York, whom he had met a decade earlier.

#TOM PETTY AND THE HEARTBREAKERS FREE#

Continuing his record of siding with music fans against the might of the record labels, the single “Free Girl Now” was initially offered as a free MP3 download, and Petty refused to raise ticket prices for their subsequent tour. Personal struggles aside, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers kept grinding away, playing 20 sellout nights at the Fillmore in San Francisco in 1997 before returning to the studio with Rubin to produce the Top 10 album Echo (1999). However, handling such a large group of personalities proved both time-consuming and frustrating, and at one point the tensions grew so great that Petty punched a wall in the studio, breaking his left hand. The sessions also included a wide array of additional musicians and backup singers as the band experimented with different sounds. Looking to take their music in a new direction, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers began work on their new album with producers Dave Stewart (of the Eurythmics), Robbie Robertson (of The Band) and Jimmy Iovine, who had co-produced Damn the Torpedoes with Petty. Though some of Petty’s finest hours were still to come, the road there would not always be easy. Shortly after the release of Long After Dark, Ron Blair left the group and was replaced by Howie Epstein. 21, respectively.Īt the same time, the pressures of fame were taking their toll on both Petty’s marriage and his relationship with his bandmates. 9 on the charts, and the singles “You Got Lucky” and “Deliver Me” hitting No. Back in the studio with the Heartbreakers, he continued his successful run with 1982’s Long After Dark, which reached No. That same year, Petty collaborated with Stevie Nicks on her album Bella Donna, recording the hit single/duet “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around,” and also produced Del Shannon’s Drop Down and Get Me. 5 on the charts and went platinum, with its lead track, “The Waiting,” giving the group its first No. Newly empowered, Petty stood his ground when MCA planned to raise the price of their follow-up for the label from the then-standard $8.98 to $9.98, threatening to either withhold the recordings or title it Eight Ninety-Eight in protest. The label ultimately relented, and Hard Promises was released in 1981. 15), which firmly established Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers as rock superstars. Packed with quality songs from beginning to end, among its more recognizable tracks were the enduring singles “Don’t Do Me Like That” (No. 2 on the charts on its way to selling more than 3 million copies. More Hits- 'Refugee' and 'The Waiting'ĭespite this acrimonious start with MCA, the group signed with its subsidiary Backstreet Records and began work on their next album, Damn the Torpedoes. 23 on the charts and producing the popular singles “Listen to Her Heart” and “I Need to Know.” However, their momentum was momentarily threatened when Shelter was bought by MCA, and Petty’s attempts to renegotiate their contract led to lengthy legal proceedings that left him bankrupt and bitter. Undeterred, the group returned to the studio to record their second album, 1978’s You’re Gonna Get It!, which fared far better than its predecessor, reaching No. Released in November 1976, their self-titled debut established the blueprint for success that would follow on much of their subsequent work, combining a hard-edged, rock-and-roll foundation with the pop sensibilities of 1960s groups such as the Beatles and the Byrds, and featuring Petty’s distinctive voice and gift for succinct storytelling. Shortly thereafter, they restructured Petty’s deal with Shelter, signed a contract as Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and set to work on a new record. Tom Petty and the HeartbreakersĪfter trying for a while to put together a new backing band, Petty eventually reconnected with his former Mudcrutch bandmates Mike Campbell (guitar) and Benmont Tench (keyboards), who were playing with bassist Ron Blair and drummer Stan Lynch. Within a few years, their confidence in him would be duly rewarded. However, the label recognized Petty’s talent and offered him a solo contract. There, Petty and Benyo had their second daughter, AnnaKim, and Mudcrutch signed to Shelter Records, but when their lone single went largely unnoticed, the group disbanded. The year 1974 proved a pivotal one for Petty, who married his girlfriend, Jane Benyo (with whom he already had a daughter, Adria), before moving to Los Angeles with Mudcrutch in the hopes of reaching a wider audience.

Tom petty and the heartbreakers