I'm still in shock. After hearing the tragic news about the horror in Las Vegas, hearing that Tom Petty passed just topped off a shitty day. His music has been a big part of my life. I have seen him live about 15 times and he never failed to be amazing. I am so glad I got to see him one last time this past July.
I agree whole heartedly, This One Hurts!
R.I.P Tom Petty
RIP Tom, one of the True Greats!!!
I liked Tom Petty a lot. One of my favourite artists. He just had that 'all American' vibe about him. Loved his music. It was sad to hear of his passing.
This is very sad news. Tom Petty is one of the all-time great rock-n-rollers. He came from Gainesville, Florida. That is a university town, and college towns like that have spawned many great rockers. Tom Petty was a rock giant.
Tom Petty will be greatly missed. Sure wished he'd had a much longer life.
I've had Petty on when driving to and from work today. Full Moon Fever on the way to work, a Heartbreakers greatest hits compilation on the way home. My relationship to Petty is a bit funny. I've known of him since I started high school (Damn the Torpedos came out around that time) but I didn't really become a big fan until The Traveling Wilburys, though his music was part of the soundtrack of my life right through the eighties.
I have cherished his genius for years.
Now he is gone, too young and still performing too.
He surely will be missed.
"The Gods that smiled when you were born
are laughing now."
Saw Dylan, the Dead and Petty in Minneapolis in 86. Great show. Then Dead and Petty in Alpine Valley, same year.
The last 2-3 years we lost several great performers, poets and singers.
Peace
What a shame. I loved the Traveling Wilburys and also remember a great documentary which included him and Springsteen, Elvis Costello and many others honouring Roy Orbison, "Roy Orbison: A Black and White Night".
As Buz noted above, Petty was from Gainesville, home of the University of Florida. I was a student there before his career took off and saw a number of his free concerts with his band set up around an outdoor fountain at the Reitz Student Union.
Years later I heard one of the Miami rock DJ's telling a Petty story on the air. It seems that there was a music store in Gainesville that supported the local rockers. The store sold sheet music, vinyl albums, tapes in various formats, and all sorts of musical instruments. The owner encouraged the local musicians to try out the new stuff at a bandstand set up in the corner of the store. If they tried a new guitar or piece of gear they liked, he fronted it to them and allowed them to pay it off over time. Years later, when the owner was selling the business and going into retirement, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers put on a benefit concert in Gainesville with the proceeds going to the music store owner's retirement fund. It was their way of supporting the guy who supported them. I thought that was a very fitting thing to do. Put me down as another saddened by his untimely death.
The people of The United States want socialism. The people of Venezuela want toilet paper.
A recent article in "The Miami Herald" reveals that the food shortages caused by the economic collapse in Venezuela have had at least one positive side effect. Whereas before Venezuelans were having problems being overrun by herds of wild burros (donkeys), they've solved the problem by eating them. Now they have no burros or toilet paper.
My favorite, really going to miss him.
