Classic concert: Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers at Rockpalast 1977


This was the first time I saw Tom Petty on the TV, and it blew me away! I was 11 years old and just started to discover music beyond Abba, Beatles and The Eagles.

Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers was formed in Gainesville, Florida in 1976 and soon started churning great rock songs. Rockpalast from Germany was one the few things worth watching in our “one-channel Tv-world” back in the late 70s in Norway. It was shown in the middle of the night, because you now, rock’n roll could deprave the minds of children. Some of us, stayed up all night to catch these few glimpses of what was happening in the great exciting world of rock’n roll.

Tom Petty, Mike Campbell, Ron Blair, Benmont Tench and Stan Lynch opened their June 14,1977 taping at WDR Studio-L in Cologne with Surrender, a cover of Chuck Berry’s “Jaguar and Thunderbird” came next. The setlist was a wonderful mix of originals and great cover versions. The world was changing.

We miss Tom Petty deeply. Continue reading “Classic concert: Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers at Rockpalast 1977”

Tom Petty is dead – Rest in Peace Mr. Petty

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“I remember playing shows [with Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers in the ‘80s] and looking out
[thinking] I didn’t have that many fans coming to see me,” he says. “They were coming to see
Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers.”
~Bob Dylan (to Robert Hilburn, December 1997)

“Tom Petty was rushed to the hospital Sunday night after he was found unconscious, not breathing and in full cardiac arrest

Update:
Now it is confirmed by Tom Petty’s family that their father, brother, husband and friend died peacefully at 20:40 local time
– AFP

UPDATE: We’re told after Petty got to the hospital he had no brain activity and a decision was made to pull life support.”
– TMZ.com

Tom Petty, the rocker best known as the frontman of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, is dead at 66, CBS News has confirmed.

UPDATE:
The confusions started when CBS and TMZ published about Tom Petty’s death after tweeting that the LAPD had confirmed it.

“Coroner’s officials said Monday they have not received a report of Petty’s death. Fire officials have said they responded to an emergency call for a man experiencing cardiac arrest on the block where Petty lives in Malibu on Sunday night, but could not confirm it was the rocker who was taken to a local hospital.

…the 66-year-old entertainer is still alive, and news outlets that announced his death Monday retracted their stories later Monday. The Walk of Fame tribute was canceled.”
– Billboard

 

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Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers London July 9 2017 (videos)

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.
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October 20: Happy Birthday Tom Petty

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“I remember playing shows [with Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers in the ‘80s] and looking out
[thinking] I didn’t have that many fans coming to see me,” he says. “They were coming to see
Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers.”
~Bob Dylan (to Robert Hilburn, December 1997)

“Well I won’t back down
No I won’t back down
You can stand me up at the gates of hell
But I won’t back down”
~Tom Petty (I won’t back down)

I Won’t Back Down:

Continue reading “October 20: Happy Birthday Tom Petty”