#ThrowbackThursday: Remembering Tom Petty-The Impact Of “Free Fallin'”
Image via MCA RecordsBy Matt Clizbe And Craig Clizbe
In the midst of an overwhelming week of tragedy, strife, and turmoil, associated with the deadliest mass shooting in US history at the Route 91 Harvest Festival in Las Vegas, the music community also had to endure the sudden passing of rock singer Tom Petty, who died of a heart attack on Monday October 2, 2017. Long time manager Tony Dimitriades released an official statement saying that he was taken to the U.C.L.A. Medical Center, where he couldn’t be revived. Tom Petty was pronounced dead at 8:40 pm with family, friends and bandmates present. He was 66 years old. In reflection of his passing, this week’s #ThrowbackThursday remembers the music and career of Tom Petty.
Originally from Gainesville Florida, Tom Petty began his journey in the world music with a boost of inspiration from the king of Rock And Roll. His uncle was working on the set of Follow That Dream, an Elvis Presley film being shot in a nearby town. It was then, when he saw celebrity up close in the form of Elvis Presley at the age of 10 in 1961 that the music of the 60’s would inspire a love for rock music that would define his life. From then on, although fans would often see him as very easy going and laidback, this was the beginning of a rather intense vision and drive for himself that lasted 4 decades, and delivered 16 albums that were under his name as a solo artist or with the heartbreakers.
Elvis served as his first real example of star power, but it was after he saw The Beatles’ famed Ed Sullivan performance in 1964, and became acquainted with The Rolling Stones’ more approachable and gritty image shortly thereafter, that Tom saw a way for him to take his Elvis inspired interest in music and strategize it into the career and legacy we now know him for. Even on a grass roots level, the music community was interwoven into his personal foundation.Tom began playing in bands while in junior high and high school, and it quickly took priority in his life. Eventually hooking up with fellow Gainesville native and future Eagles member Don Felder, who served as an early guitar teacher. After his unwavering dedication and intense local giging resulted in 42 days away from school with his pre-Heartbreakers band Mudcrutch, Tom knew that dropping out of college to pursue a record deal was the post high school move for him in 1974.
Under Tom’s leadership, Mudcrutch released “Depot Street” for Shelter Records. It served as a great example of work, but the label’s preference for Tom’s songwriting created a division, that ultimately ended Mudcrutch by 1975. This left Tom Petty working on solo material for the first time, but struggling in the studio resulted in him reconnecting with Gainesville friends who were also in LA Chasing a dream. These friends helped him fill in gaps that he couldn’t do with session players, and The Heartbreakers were born. By 1976 the Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers, released their highly praised self titled debut album. This first effort, which was produced by Shelter label head Dan Cordell, was initially ignored in America. Even though it features now considered classics like “Breakdown” and ”American Girl.” It took interest from the UK to spark the necessary curiosity at home, and by the time “Breakdown” was finally becoming the band’s first Top 40 hit 2 years after it’s release, things shifted for the band’s shelter within Shelter, and Shelter Records was absorbed by MCA Records.
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Newly fortified as the official leader of The Heartbreakers, Tom earned a favorable deal for what would become their commercial breakthrough Damn The Torpedoes. Now serving as a standout act for MCA subsidiary, Backstreet Records, Shelter’s Dan Cordell was replaced by a hungry young producer named Jimmy Iovine. Fresh off of working with Bruce Springsteen and Patti Smith, Iovine helped the newly empowered Tom Petty stear Damn the Torpedoes to a peak triple platinum status. Iovine’s impact was felt immediately by convincing Petty to keep “Don’t Do Me Like That” for himself and not give it to J Geils Band. It became Tom Petty And The Heartbreaker’s first Top 10 hit in November of 1979. By the dawn of the 80s, the Iovine produced “Refugee” rose Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers to a peak success, allowing them all, especially Tom to enjoy a newly earned celebrity status.
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