My favorite Tom Petty stories:

During one recording session, he couldn't get the right sound out of his guitar. He became so frustrated that he punched a wall with his left hand. It broke. The hand, not the wall! For awhile, doctors were not sure if it would heal, which would mean that he'd never play the guitar again (unless he switched hands!). Fortunately for the music world, it healed. I'm sure Petty never punched anything again!

Petty was dedicated to his craft and his fans. He was distressed by the rising cost of albums. In 1981, the record company told him that his latest album was going to retail for $9.98. "Screw that!" said Tom. "That's too high and I won't make my fans pay that much. But if you insist on pricing it like that, then the name of the album is going to be 'THE $8.98 ALBUM'". Petty won, and the album ("Hard Promises") retailed for $8.98.

RodeoSchro said:

My favorite Tom Petty stories:

During one recording session, he couldn't get the right sound out of his guitar. He became so frustrated that he punched a wall with his left hand. It broke. The hand, not the wall! For awhile, doctors were not sure if it would heal, which would mean that he'd never play the guitar again (unless he switched hands!). Fortunately for the music world, it healed. I'm sure Petty never punched anything again!

Petty was dedicated to his craft and his fans. He was distressed by the rising cost of albums. In 1981, the record company told him that his latest album was going to retail for $9.98. "Screw that!" said Tom. "That's too high and I won't make my fans pay that much. But if you insist on pricing it like that, then the name of the album is going to be 'THE $8.98 ALBUM'". Petty won, and the album ("Hard Promises") retailed for $8.98.

Thats awesome!!

Purplestar88 said:

purplethunder3121 said:

Tom Petty’s daughter has words for Rolling Stone...

That's really careless! Everybody want to be the first to report who's dead and what happen without getting the facts.

Read for FILTH. Snatched!!

I love the album price story too, Rodeo. Pretty much the last gasp of any artist holding sway over the music industry while working within the system.

[Edited 10/3/17 8:24am]

If Tom Petty's daughter really wrote that instagram, it is very sad. The disgusting images will always be linked to the day he died, as click bait. She was clearly in deep anger/grief but this is the stuff that should remain private.

I was so sad to hear of the passing of Tom. A true musician in every sense of the word.

a friend that gave me a hard time last April is taking this hard... he said he was sorry he was not being thoughtful.

poppys said:

If Tom Petty's daughter really wrote that instagram, it is very sad. The disgusting images will always be linked to the day he died, as click bait. She was clearly in deep anger/grief but this is the stuff that should remain private.

I'd be pissed too with the media reporting he was dead when he wasn't. The disgusting images of the headines saying Tom Petty Dead, when he wasn't will probably not be forgotten by his family either. All the Prince FaceBook groups was reporting he was dead when he wasn't, even the org on fb. It's ridiculous and it probably would've stayed quiet, if the stupid media didn't get it wrong.

PennyPurple said:

poppys said:

If Tom Petty's daughter really wrote that instagram, it is very sad. The disgusting images will always be linked to the day he died, as click bait. She was clearly in deep anger/grief but this is the stuff that should remain private.

I'd be pissed too with the media reporting he was dead when he wasn't. The disgusting images of the headines saying Tom Petty Dead, when he wasn't will probably not be forgotten by his family either. All the Prince FaceBook groups was reporting he was dead when he wasn't, even the org on fb. It's ridiculous and it probably would've stayed quiet, if the stupid media didn't get it wrong.

I totally agree with you on that Penny. Posted it myself on the org very early because I saw and heard it on a local news show on NBC at 3:30 EDT. Wikipedia had his death date as 10/2/17 and when I clicked around and clicked back the date had been removed, true story. I think it is terrible that it happened that way in the press. I know how that kind of grief feels, as we all do - or will. Would have loved to see her decide not send that instagram, my opinion.

poppys said:

If Tom Petty's daughter really wrote that instagram, it is very sad. The disgusting images will always be linked to the day he died, as click bait. She was clearly in deep anger/grief but this is the stuff that should remain private.

what disgusting images?

Did I miss something?

So sad - another one of my musical favorites is gone

just a few days ago- by the end of the tour- he posted on his FB-site something like: "--now it's time for a nap " Never thought it would be an eternal one......

RIP Tom Petty and thank U 4 the music !!!

2045RadicalMattZ said:

poppys said:

If Tom Petty's daughter really wrote that instagram, it is very sad. The disgusting images will always be linked to the day he died, as click bait. She was clearly in deep anger/grief but this is the stuff that should remain private.

what disgusting images?

Did I miss something?

I am referring to the visual images that the words - I will fucking shit down your throat and your family's - invoke.

I am saying it is too bad she did not have anyone to talk her out of that instagram at age 19. Her outrage is real, no doubt. She will probably regret that particular way of expressing it.

[Edited 10/3/17 13:53pm]

poppys said:

2045RadicalMattZ said:

what disgusting images?

Did I miss something?

I am referring to the visual images that the words - I will fucking shit down your throat and your family's - invoke.

I am saying it is too bad she did not have anyone to talk her out of that instagram at age 19. Her outrage is real, no doubt. She will probably regret that particular way of expressing it.

[Edited 10/3/17 13:53pm]

I think that will be likely the only thing she'll be able to laugh at in the future.


Sitting bedside with a loved one, waiting and hoping, and seeing doctors pass in and out, clinically observe, clinically state, and all the interminable beeping and isolation. The hope, the prayers.. After seeing that happen hour after hour, it makes a person very defensive of the ailing one.

I know, having been through that.

For her, doubtless seeing others take a "scoop!", and generate "net buzz"... makes someone like herself feel angered and hurt and mightily defensive. You can 't actually punch the people doing it. But you can do your best to tell them to stop.

That's such a terrible position to be in. To see it on TV, news, blips, have your phone bombarded... it only escalates the sense of violation.

[Edited 10/3/17 14:48pm]

2045RadicalMattZ said:

poppys said:

I am referring to the visual images that the words - I will fucking shit down your throat and your family's - invoke.

I am saying it is too bad she did not have anyone to talk her out of that instagram at age 19. Her outrage is real, no doubt. She will probably regret that particular way of expressing it.

I think that will be likely the only thing she'll be able to laugh at in the future.


Sitting bedside with a loved one, waiting and hoping, and seeing doctors pass in and out, clinically observe, clinically state, and all the interminable beeping and isolation. The hope, the prayers.. After seeing that happen hour after hour, it makes a person very defensive of the ailing one.

I know, having been through that.

For her, doubtless seeing others take a "scoop!", and generate "net buzz"... makes someone like herself feel angered and hurt and mightily defensive. You can 't actually punch the people doing it. But you can do your best to tell them to stop.

That's such a terrible position to be in. To see it on TV, news, blips, have your phone bombarded... it only escalates the sense of violation.

Have been through the scenario with both parents, resulting in death. Instagram was not necessary. She will be defending that choice of words for the rest of her life. I've said my on this social media phenom, thank you. It is taking away from the loss of Tom Petty.

[Edited 10/3/17 15:23pm]

The guy had to have been in pretty decent shape to have gone through the long tour.

I wonder if he had any preexisting condition (other than being a wiry old-ing guy)... or if this could be 'death by misadventure'.... Maybe as simple as a cocktail and a blood thinner, or an ambien, or some heavy grade mari jah wanna....

...Rock Forever, Tom Petty.

2045RadicalMattZ said:

The guy had to have been in pretty decent shape to have gone through the long tour.

I wonder if he had any preexisting condition (other than being a wiry old-ing guy)... or if this could be 'death by misadventure'.... Maybe as simple as a cocktail and a blood thinner, or an ambien, or some heavy grade mari jah wanna....

...Rock Forever, Tom Petty.

How ironic that it happened AFTER he finished a long grueling tour...

RIP

RIP, really sad he talked about spending time with his granddaughter after finishing this tour, this was supposed to be his last major tour

I will buy and listen to his entire catalogue. I know of the hits and a few others but it would be nice to discover the whole discography and find more gems in there.

hhhhdmt said:

RIP, really sad he talked about spending time with his granddaughter after finishing this tour, this was supposed to be his last major tour

I will buy and listen to his entire catalogue. I know of the hits and a few others but it would be nice to discover the whole discography and find more gems in there.

I was the same way, only owning the "Greatest Hits" cd for years. A few months ago, after hearing "Free Fallin" in Rite Aid (a song I used to hate) I couldn't get it out of my head. After a day or two, I decided to watch the "Runnin' Down A Dream" documentary on Netflix and I decided then to go through his whole discography and I have found some absolute gems! He's pretty much all I've been listening to since this past May. There's tons of great concert footage on Youtube to check out as well. In a way, he was kinda filling that "purple void", so the news of his passing hit me hard. Here are some songs you should give a spin that aren't "hits".

"No Second Thoughts" from Your'e Gonna Get It

"Straight Into Darkness" from Long After Dark

"It'll All Work Out" from Let Me Up I've Had Enough

"Don't Treat Me Like A Stranger" bside of "I Won't Back Down"

"King's Highway" from Into The Great Wide Open

"The Dark Of The Sun" from Into The Great Wide Open

"Time To Move On" from Wildflowers

"House In The Woods" from Wildflowers

"Swingin'" from Echo

"One More Day, One More Night" from Echo

"Dreamville" from The Last DJ

"Have Love, Will Travel" from The Last DJ

"When A Kid Goes Bad" from The Last DJ

"Flirting With Time" from Highway Companion

"Nightdriver" from Highway Companion

"Down South" from Highway Companion

"Something Good Coming" from Mojo

"Good Enough" from Mojo

"Fault Lines" from Hypnotic Eye

"Red River" from Hypnotic Eye

There are other great songs throughout his discography, but these are the standouts to me outside of the hits. Happy hunting!

Mindbells9 said:

hhhhdmt said:

RIP, really sad he talked about spending time with his granddaughter after finishing this tour, this was supposed to be his last major tour

I will buy and listen to his entire catalogue. I know of the hits and a few others but it would be nice to discover the whole discography and find more gems in there.

I was the same way, only owning the "Greatest Hits" cd for years. A few months ago, after hearing "Free Fallin" in Rite Aid (a song I used to hate) I couldn't get it out of my head. After a day or two, I decided to watch the "Runnin' Down A Dream" documentary on Netflix and I decided then to go through his whole discography and I have found some absolute gems! He's pretty much all I've been listening to since this past May. There's tons of great concert footage on Youtube to check out as well. In a way, he was kinda filling that "purple void", so the news of his passing hit me hard. Here are some songs you should give a spin that aren't "hits".

"No Second Thoughts" from Your'e Gonna Get It

"Straight Into Darkness" from Long After Dark

"It'll All Work Out" from Let Me Up I've Had Enough

"Don't Treat Me Like A Stranger" bside of "I Won't Back Down"

"King's Highway" from Into The Great Wide Open

"The Dark Of The Sun" from Into The Great Wide Open

"Time To Move On" from Wildflowers

"House In The Woods" from Wildflowers

"Swingin'" from Echo

"One More Day, One More Night" from Echo

"Dreamville" from The Last DJ

"Have Love, Will Travel" from The Last DJ

"When A Kid Goes Bad" from The Last DJ

"Flirting With Time" from Highway Companion

"Nightdriver" from Highway Companion

"Down South" from Highway Companion

"Something Good Coming" from Mojo

"Good Enough" from Mojo

"Fault Lines" from Hypnotic Eye

"Red River" from Hypnotic Eye

There are other great songs throughout his discography, but these are the standouts to me outside of the hits. Happy hunting!

Thanks alot. Great post. I will make sure to check out all these and more.

He was a rebel like Prince. He also found fame at a young age. Check out the documentary on Netflix called Runnin Down a Dream....it is excellent. I remember discovering one of his albums "Damn the Torpedoes" in my mom's record collection when I was eleven. Some great pop rock songs on there.

3rdeyedude said:

He was a rebel like Prince. He also found fame at a young age. Check out the documentary on Netflix called Runnin Down a Dream....it is excellent. I remember discovering one of his albums "Damn the Torpedoes" in my mom's record collection when I was eleven. Some great pop rock songs on there.

Tom Petty and the Hearbreakers was the first concert I went to as a young adult at a brand new venue in my hometown... I went out of there half-deaf but obsessed with good Rock'n'Roll... Tom kept churning out great tunes long after his heyday was over... Gonna play some of them right now in remembrance of that first concert way back in '81...

purplethunder3121 said:

Tom kept churning out great tunes long after his heyday was over...

Yes he did, indeed! He never got stale.

djThunderfunk said:

purplethunder3121 said:

Tom kept churning out great tunes long after his heyday was over...

Yes he did, indeed! He never got stale.

I'm having so much fun tonight listening to "Damn The Torpedoes" while I'm cleaning house. Reminds me of why I became a fan of his so long ago... The one and only concert I went to was in 1981--and that's how I remember Tom... One of my first as a young adult.

purplethunder3121 said:

I'm having so much fun tonight listening to "Damn The Torpedoes" while I'm cleaning house. Reminds me of why I became a fan of his so long ago... The one and only concert I went to was in 1981--and that's how I remember Tom... One of my first as a young adult.

That's so cool, purplethunder3121. Music memories from your own first times, so special.

They were so intense recording that stuff. I remember a story Jimmy Iovine (co-producer) told about flying to New York City with the demo just see how it sounded there compared to California. I think it was Damn the Torpedoes.