Tom Petty

[GeorgieGirl]

I saw Tom Petty last night in Irvine at Verizon Wireless Amphitheater (http://www.verizonwirelessamphitheater.com/losangeles/). He really rocked. I saw him a few years ago and he rocked then too. Jackson Brown (http://www.jrp-graphics.com/jackson_browne.html) opened for him and played a lot of his new stuff. Looks like he has a different band than three years ago.

Petty, always the showman, pleased the crowd with lots of rock and roll, personality, and savvy. He played a Wilbury (http://www.wilburys.info/disc.html)song, "Handle with Care," and dedicated it to "Wilbury's wherever they might be traveling." Very moving.

Both my brother and myself wore our Beatle T-Shirts, and as we were leaving we saw in the car ahead of us that they were playing A Hard Day's Night (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0000542D2/103-4201014-5281423?v=glance) on their car DVD system.

[Rellevart]

Glad you enjoyed the concert. Tom is somebody I've always wanted to see in concert, but never actually gotten around to seeing. I'm happy to hear that he rocked! :smile1:

[Hari's Chick]

Did he do "Spike"?? I saw Tom years ago with Bob and it was amazing. :smile1:

[pattiboyd's slave]

One of my most memorable moments at any concert was when I saw Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers probably circa 1980-81 and Tom was running across the stage heading towards Mike Campbell who was standing at the edge of the stage. Well, Mike wasn't paying attention to anything but to his guitar solo when BAM! Tom crashed right into him, knocking Mike flat on his ass! Mike Campbell, being the trooper he is, kept on playing his solo and gradually got up to a tremendous roar from the audience at the LA Forum!

[GeorgieGirl]

Tuesday, August 16, 2005

Aged better than wine

Review: Tom Petty reminds with Irvine bash that he and the Heartbreakers are among few still-viable touring legends. By BEN WENER
The Orange County Register

The lesson of Tom Petty's string of stuffed SoCal dates? Never forsake the power of classic rock, especially when it's still played as strongly as ever by originators.

Sure, to someone under 25 struggling to score tickets to the next Killers concert, it is surprising that such "old men" as Petty and his trusty Heartbreakers could pack Irvine's 15,000-capacity Verizon Wireless Amphitheater on Sunday night, even with fellow Hall of Famer Jackson Browne in tow.

Saturday's show at Coors Amphitheatre in Chula Vista is well on its way toward being sold out, too, and though it would take the promise of a five-hour marathon plus more special guests than the Black Crowes to fill the sprawling lawn at Hyundai Pavilion on Sunday, that show still should attract more than either the Verizon or Coors stops. (The reunited Crowes didn't open at Verizon, by the way, because they are contractually obligated to make an appearance Sept. 3 at the Long Beach Blues Festival, their only gig that close to L.A. and O.C.)

Why such a huge turnout for these dates? Several reasons, starting with the fact that Petty hasn't put out a new album in three years and has nothing slated any time soon - which means this is a greatest-hits outing by default. And if there's one thing fans love, it's a hits-packed bash.

But a more fundamental explanation, I think, is that Petty and cohorts are among that rare breed of veteran rockers who still sound as good as they did way back when, who are almost as respected for recent work as they are for staples, and whose ticket prices remain under $100.

The legends who satisfy all three can be counted on one hand, and you can eliminate the Stones, McCartney and the Eagles. Petty, however, as with Dylan, Springsteen and the pairing of Johns Fogerty and Mellencamp (whose Hollywood Bowl show is the rare stop with triple-digit prices), continues to offer stirring sets without draining your funds.

"We've got your genuine rock 'n' roll show tonight," the seemingly stoned skeleton of a man in a blue-velvet blazer told the cheering throngs two songs into his two-hour set, just after a ripping opener of "Listen to Her Heart" and the stomping "You Don't Know How It Feels" but before reviving his first hit, "Breakdown."

It was an easy boast, seeing as Petty's deep catalog teems with slices of the real thing, whether older ("Don't Do Me Like That," "American Girl") or newer ("Mary Jane's Last Dance," all of his "Wildflowers" and "Full Moon Fever" smashes). But it's also easy enough for these guys to sleepwalk through their past.

What's remarkable, then, is that Petty, now 54, and the Heartbreakers, still featuring the great Mike Campbell on guitar (searing on "Refugee" and "Runnin' Down a Dream") and with original bassist Ron Blair back in the fold, seem to be getting better with age. On record, their decade-long run from "Into the Great Wide Open" through "The Last DJ" constitutes their finest work since their start. Then there's a certain effortless magic that happens live, where chemistry is innate, performances well- rehearsed to pack punch.

The show wasn't entirely hit-bound; a quieter segment was led into by the bluesy "Honey Bee," made lovely by the gentle "Angel Dream" and an acoustic "Learning to Fly" and treated to a lengthy jam via the dark new country shuffle "Melinda," which allowed keysman Benmont Tench room to stretch out and shift from minimalist jazziness to rapid-finger boogie-woogie.

Intriguing material, but a sharper set might have traded two of those for, say, "The Waiting" or "Here Comes My Girl," among the few classics that weren't revived. Yet, much as I missed those, I wouldn't have substituted them for two covers, the Animals' "I'm Crying" and Them's eternal "Gloria."

Both extended the Heartbreakers' tradition of freshening up oldies; they've done likewise to the Searchers' "Needles and Pins" and a number of Byrds tunes. Both gave Petty room to indulge in some funny, ad-libbed banter.

And both helped place the band's canonized favorites in a larger context, reminding that Petty and Co. deserve inclusion with the greats that inspired them. In some cases (the Animals, for instance), they've far surpassed them.

The Stones-heavy Black Crowes are arguably a better fit as opening act on this tour, but Jackson Browne's well-received 70-minute set wasn't without its merits. Acknowledging his O.C. roots with the opening "A Child in These Hills," the forever-young 56- year-old, still in superb voice, nonetheless took a while to get 'round to standbys the crowd clearly savored, tossing in "For Everyman" to keep them sated while he unfurled recent works like "Culver Moon" (about the entertainment biz) and title track of 2002's "The Naked Ride Home."

When the familiar surfaced toward the end - in a run from "The Pretender" to "Running on Empty" to "Doctor My Eyes" - it mostly proved how meager hooks are in Browne's later material. Philosophically, they're profound, no matter their political bent - and it was heartening to notice outspoken pieces like Little Steven's "I Am a Patriot" and the anti- war screed "Lives in the Balance" get a rousing response.

But that doesn't gloss over such songs' lack of pop immediacy, which more than anything has contributed to Browne becoming an important cult hero more than an enduring, arena-filling star.

[BeatleChick]

Great that you had the opportunity to see him! I hope to be as lucky sometime myself! Glad to hear that it was such a great show! Thanks for sharing your experience with us!

[FPSHOT]

Here is some nice news about our Tom


10/13/2005 - TOM PETTY TO RECEIVE THE CENTURY AWARD

TOM PETTY TO RECEIVE THE CENTURY AWARD AT “THE 2005 BILLBOARD MUSIC AWARDS” TUESDAY, DEC. 6 ON FOX

Tom Petty will receive the Century Award, Billboard’s highest accolade for creative achievement, at THE 2005 BILLBOARD MUSIC AWARDS, airing live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas Tuesday, Dec. 6 (8:00-10:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed) on FOX. Now in its 13th year, the Century Award salutes the creative achievement of an artist's still-developing body of work.

Petty has been a fixture on Billboard charts for almost 30 years, seeing his first chart ink in 1977. Since then, he’s achieved 16 top 40 hits on The Billboard Hot 100, including “Free Fallin’” (1990), “Don't Do Me Like That” (1980) and “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around” (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ duet with Stevie Nicks 1981). Additionally, 10 songs in his career -- including “You Got Lucky,” “I Won’t Back Down,” “Mary Jane’s Last Dance” and “You Don't Know How It Feels” -- have also reached No. 1 on the Mainstream Rock chart.

Ten of his albums -- as a solo act or with the Heartbreakers or the Traveling Wilburys supergroup -- reached the top 10 on The Billboard 200. Those include 1979’s “Damn The Torpedoes,” which spent seven weeks at No. 2; the five-times platinum “Full Moon Fever,” which rose to No. 3 during its 71 chart weeks; and the 10-times-platinum “Greatest Hits,” which crested at No. 5 during its 154-week run.

“This award comes at a particularly nice time as the Heartbreakers and I go into the thirtieth year of our career,” says Petty. “I'm very honored that Billboard has acknowledged me with this award.”

“Tom Petty is one of the true great singer/songwriters,” Billboard co-executive editor Tamara Conniff says. “Petty’s songs and lyrics go to the root of the American dream. For over 30 years, Petty has been a rock icon who continues to inspire new generations of artists. We are honored to present him with the 2005 Century Award.”

Previous recipients of the Century Award include George Harrison, Buddy Guy, Billy Joel, Joni Mitchell, Carlos Santana, Chet Atkins, James Taylor, Emmylou Harris, Randy Newman, John Mellencamp, Annie Lennox, Sting and Stevie Wonder. Petty introduced first Century Award recipient George Harrison at the 1992 Billboard Music Awards.

[FPSHOT]

Here is a very nice website about the Tom Petty book which has quite some nice features like pdf files from the content of the book like about meeting George which is a great story

http://www.conversationswithtompetty.com/buy.html

[FPSHOT]

There is a new song called Square One, which is part of a soundtrack and you can listen to it here

http://www.elizabethtown.com/home.html

by going to "music"

It is a nice accoustic song like we know from the various Petty albums.

[Asha]

Glad you enjoyed the concert. Tom is somebody I've always wanted to see in concert, but never actually gotten around to seeing. I'm happy to hear that he rocked! :smile1:

I've always wanted to see him, too, Rell! But wouldn't you know... he always comes through here when I'm over enjoying fest with YOU! :teeth1:

Hmmm, Tom or Rell? Tom or Rell? Eeeehhh, RELL!!!

[FPSHOT]

Tom Petty will be presented with Billboard’s prestigious Century Award by Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong, it was announced today. The presentation will take place at next Tuesday’s Billboard Music Awards to be held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, NV and broadcast live (8-10PM ET) on the FOX-TV network.

Petty, who presented Billboard’s very first Century Award to George Harrison in 1992, has been a fixture on the Billboard charts for almost 30 years, having had 16 top 40 hits on The Billboard Hot 100, and ten albums in the Top 10 of The Billboard 200. The Century Award salutes the uncommon excellence of an artist’s still-unfolding body of work. In addition to Harrison, past recipients include Billy Joel, Joni Mitchell, Carlos Santana, Chet Atkins, James Taylor, Emmylou Harris, Randy Newman, John Mellencamp, Annie Lennox, Sting and Stevie Wonder.

Tom will be on CNN Sunday, December 4, 2005 as the CNN Headline News “Soundcheck” segment. It ordinarily begins airing between 3:45-4:00 pm PACIFIC TIME, then repeats every hour until the following morning -- generally about 12 airings

[Sally]

Here is a very nice website about the Tom Petty book which has quite some nice features like pdf files from the content of the book like about meeting George which is a great story

http://www.conversationswithtompetty.com/buy.html

I enjoyed reading his meeting George story, thanks :teeth1:

[joelcrowservo]

Very few people put on a 'genuine rock n roll show' these days, so its comforting to hear Toms still at it.
Some people didnt like his last 2 LPs, but I hear his upcoming one is gonna be incredible.

[jtal909]

American Girl is up there with my favorite songs of all time.

[FPSHOT]

Used by permission from Undercover News

"Tom Petty Signs With American Recordings"

American Recordings boss Rick Rubin has described the news of Tom Petty signing to the label as “a dream come true”.

The news means Petty will continue his relationship with Warner Bros., as American Recordings falls under the company’s umbrella.

Rubin went on to gush, “Tom is the consummate craftsman when it comes to recording, and has written great songs consistently for thirty years. Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers is the quintessential American rock band, and being a great rock and roll band has become a lost art.” Rubin has worked on numerous projects with Petty and the Heartbreakers in the past.

Petty’s 18th album, ‘Highway Companion’, will be the first release under the new agreement. The Petty–Jeff Lynne–Mike Campbell produced album will feature 12 new tracks, and will be released on July 25.

[Jocelyn]

Sounds like a great show ... why don't we ever get anything good like that down here in Australia? :laugh5:

The exerpt from the book about meeting George was so nice, too :smile1: Eric Idle also tells about meeting George in his book and it was quite similar, that they had an instant connection and that he really made you feel comfortable and forget about everything else :smile1: Nice :smile1:

[FPSHOT]

Here is a nice review regarding one of his latest performances during the US Tour



The (Washington) Columbian

Review: Amphitheater fans cheer Petty, band
Tuesday, August 1, 2006
By Christopher Luna For The Columbian

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers celebrated 30 years as one of America's most reliably entertaining rock bands with an enthusiastic crowd at The Amphitheater at Clark County on Saturday evening.

Fans sang along to nearly every song during a two-hour concert that included such favorites as "Free Fallin," "You Don't Know How It Feels," "Refugee," and "Runnin' Down a Dream." Clearly pleased with how loudly the audience was singing, Petty encouraged the crowd to make the "loudest noise ever" heard in history of the outdoor venue.

Dressed in a black velvet jacket with sequins, Petty danced, raised his arms triumphantly, and conducted the band throughout the show. Impressed with the crowd's energy, he thanked the audience after nearly ever song. The audience also gave a warm reception to new songs such as the lovely ballad "Square One," which appears on "Highway Companion," the Heartbreakers' first recording in four years, released July 25. One woman even briefly removed her top for the band during their sultry take on the old blues tune, "I'm a Man" (also known as "Mannish Boy").

Bandleader Petty was supported by Mike Campbell on lead guitar, Steve Ferrone on drums, Ron Blair on bass, and Ben Tench on piano. But it was Scott Thurston, born in Medford, Ore., whose solid harmonica, rhythm guitar, and backing vocals made each song come alive. Thurston's imitation of Roy Orbison's falsetto vocal from the Traveling Wilburys' "Handle Me With Care" was one of the highlights of the evening.

Tom Petty introduced special guest Stevie Nicks as someone who has been an "honorary member" of the band since 1978. Nicks was visibly moved by the audience's affectionate reaction to her entrance. She lived up to the reception, especially on her hit duet with Petty, "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around." Unfortunately, after a few songs, it became hard to hear her vocals, even after a second microphone was provided. Nicks also joined the band during the final song of its encore, "American Girl," playing tambourine and wearing a top hat similar to the one Petty used to sport in the 1980s.

Former Phish frontman Trey Anastasio warmed up the crowd with a tight band well-suited to his anthemic jams. Anastasio is known as much for his personal connection with his fans as for his virtuosic guitar playing.

That connection didn't translate in the performance at the amphitheater, but Anastasio forged ahead, making eye contact with the scattered pockets of fans who danced to his music. One dancer proudly displayed that he had shaved Anastasio's first name into his mullet haircut.

The set list is practically like this

08/08/06 - Detroit, MI Set List
LISTEN TO HER HEART
YOU DON'T KNOW HOW IT FEELS
I WON'T BACK DOWN
FREE FALLIN'
SAVING GRACE
I'M A MAN
OH WELL
HANDLE WITH CARE
Band Intro & Stevie Intro
STOP DRAGGIN' MY HEART AROUND
I NEED TO KNOW
MARY JANE
SQUARE ONE
INSIDER
LEARNING TO FLY
DON'T COME AROUND HERE NO MORE REFUGEE
RUNNIN' DOWN A DREAM
-----------------------------------
YOU WRECK ME
MYSTIC EYES
AMERICAN GIRL

[Jocelyn]

I hope he comes to do some shows here Down Under sometime ...

Has anyone got the new album, 'Highway Companion'? Is it any good?

[FPSHOT]

There is some info and a review on the album at the other thread.

Here is a bad clip from someone in the audience of the band doing Handle With Care last June in New York. The sound does not match with the film, but it is still nice to see.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZOTBUeIEgY&mode=related&search=

There is another one there from the same concert and I believe Stevie Nicks is on it.

[wildewoman]

Nice thread about Tom Petty. I had the pleasure of seeing him and Bob Dylan together in the late '80's. Great show.

I also saw Tom Petty when he headlined the San Diego "X Fest" back in the early 80's. He rocks.

[Hari's Chick]

Songwriter Sues Tom Petty




Californian songwriter Jim Wagner is continuing his battle against Tom Petty. Wagner claims Petty based his 2002 song 'The Last DJ' on his 2000 copyrighted song 'The Last Great Radio DJ'.


In an exclusive heartfelt statement to Undercover, Wagner would like to tell his side of the story.

He writes …

"This is the biggest cover-up and conspiracy in music history. No case in history remotely approaches this degree of wrongdoing regarding a copyrighted song".

"I wrote "The Last Great Radio DJ" about Jim Ladd, DJ at KLOS in Los Angeles. I sent him a demo of the song in July of 2000 after attaining a federal copyright. In October of 2000, Ladd led a panel discussion at the Museum of Television and Radio in Beverly Hills inviting his longtime friend, Tom Petty. Ladd introduced Petty to speak. Petty said, "I always refer to Jim Ladd as the last DJ.""

"Upon release, Petty blatantly lied stating that "The Last DJ" wasn't based on anyone. In an article by the San Francisco Chronicle dated October 6, 2002, he said, "This is a fictional song. It's not based on anyone." He lied again in a Westwood One Radio interview on release date stating, "It's a fictional song, although there's some people lately that seems to think that, you know, I aimed it at them or something." It is blatant lying to identify Ladd as "the last DJ" and subsequently write a song called "The Last DJ" claiming that he didn't base his song on Ladd. In addition, Petty gave Ladd credit in album liner notes stating, "Thanks to Jim Ladd for his inspiration and courage.""

"Ladd was a party to the same lie in a letter to me dated December 4, 2002, saying, "The Tom Petty song is not about me as a person, but is written about a fictional character." Ladd's lie is proven by his own official website that states, "Or as Tom Petty calls him, 'The Last DJ.'""

"Petty responded to a Superior Court lawsuit, L.A.S.C. #322570, in a press release. He said, "I have never heard the recording the lawsuit claims influenced my song." Dr. Gerald Eskelin, a Petty musicologist, stated, "I understand your disappointment when your song was replaced by Petty's. I agree with you that it would appear that Petty knew of and likely heard your song before he wrote his." Dr. Katherine Powers, a Fulbright music scholar and Professor of Musicology, said, "I certainly can see why you reacted with the notion that Petty had heard your song." Dr. Charles Tumlinson, Director of Jazz Studies, said, "I do suspect that Petty appropriated some of your material." It is blatant lying for Petty to state that he never heard my song before writing his".

"Ladd was a party to the same lie. In his letter to me, he said, "The Tom Petty tune was actually written well before you sent me your song." There is no record of Petty writing "The Last DJ" before I sent my song to Ladd. My copyright date was July 24, 2000. His copyright was in 2002 as confirmed in album liner notes."

"There was a high degree of direct access to my song from Ladd to Petty. In addition, I fully agree with Dr. Powers in her statement comparing "The Last Great Radio DJ" and "The Last DJ." She said, "There are certainly some striking similarities, both on the level of overall artistic design as well as the level of specific events.""

"Petty said in his press release, "The plaintiff is accusing me of stealing." Blatant lying is clear indication of wrongdoing. No song was ever copied becoming a hit song, hit album, national tour, pay per view, public television broadcasts, live satellite broadcast to radio stations and theaters, broadcasts on "The Music Choice" concert series to more than 24 million cable homes nationally, CD's for sale in multiple formats, "Live at the Olympic" DVD, "The Last DJ Sessions" DVD, memorabilia and performances of Petty's song on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The David Letterman Show, The Conan O'Brien Show and The Today Show. No song in history was ever infringed to this degree with Petty and Ladd blatantly lying to cover up wrongdoing."

"Ladd was immersed in Petty's project and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame as "the last DJ" that Petty wrote about in "The Last DJ." Petty changed from "The Golden Circle" to "The Last DJ" just before release".

"I copyrighted "The Last Great Radio DJ" on July 24, 2000. Petty copyrighted "The Last DJ" in 2002 as confirmed in album liner notes, "All songs written by Tom Petty c 2002 Adria K Music ASCAP. I wrote my song before Petty wrote his. He copied my song rendering my work a dead commercial property now and forever. He devastated me psychologically, physically and financially. There is little left of me at 56."

Jim Wagner

The world now awaits a response from Tom Petty and Jim Ladd.

by Paul Cashmere (undercover.com.au)