Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers performed a rare UK gig in Hyde Park on July 9, armed with a career of classic hits and a reputation as one of the greatest musicians of the past 40 years. The gig celebrated the band’s 40th anniversary.
Their only European date of 2017, this was just the second time Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers playing the UK in 18 years. The band’s last visit in 2012 included a headlining appearance at the Isle Of Wight Festival and two rapturously received sold out shows at the Royal Albert Hall.
Joining him was Stevie Nicks, forever celebrated as singer and songwriter with Fleetwood Mac and perhaps one of the greatest artists of the rock era.
Set list:
Rockin’ Around (With You)
Mary Jane’s Last Dance
You Don’t Know How It Feels
Forgotten Man
I Won’t Back Down
Free Fallin’
Walls
Don’t Come Around Here No More
Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around (with Stevie Nicks)
It’s Good to Be King
Crawling Back to You
Wildflowers
Learning to Fly
Yer So Bad
I Should Have Known It
Refugee
Runnin’ Down a Dream
Encore:
You Wreck Me
American Girl
“He returned to the stage for an encore as quickly as he departed it finishing the evening with a performance of 1976’s “American Girl” – over 40 years later, it somehow sounded record fresh, backing up his earlier promise.
The crowd may have been in the presence of Heartbreakers, but not one soul left Hyde Park without a smile etched on their face.”
– The Independent
– Hallgeir