Tom Petty to play Super Bowl halftime show Sun Dec 2, 5:14 PM ET



Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers will play the coveted halftime slot at the Super Bowl in Arizona on February 3, organizers of the year's No. 1 television event said on Sunday.

This year, nearly 140 million Americans watched Prince play at the football extravaganza.

Other recent acts have included the Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney and U2. The most infamous performer was Janet Jackson, who bared her breast during the 2004 event, triggering a bipartisan political crackdown on televised smut.

The National Football League's annual championship game will be held at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, near Phoenix. It will be televised by Fox.

Petty's performance will mark a rare occasion where the veteran rocker is closely aligned with a corporate sponsor, in this case the North American arm of Japanese tire firm Bridgestone Corp, which has lent its name to the halftime event.

Petty, 57, is an outspoken opponent of sponsorship of rock concerts, and his last album with the Heartbreakers, 2002's "The Last DJ," was a pointed assault on corporate greed. His spokeswoman did not respond to a request for comment.

Holy Handbag batman...looks like I wont be near the stadium Lmao

IAintTheOne said:

Free fallin'

Cool! Tom's a great musician. Should be a good show.

Tom Petty is cool, and I LOVE Last Dance With MaryJane, but...I won't be watching the Superbowl this year

Odd choice.

A safe choice, but then halftime shows aren't really about cutting edge performances.

You see what they has happens after seeing a black tittie?

floetcist said:

Can we please not go on another janet jackson titty jack?

lazycrockett said:

If it wasn't for Janet Jackson titty jacks, this forum would have about 3 threads most of the time.

Forget the tit, that Janet Halftime show w/ Kid Rock was the worst musical experience of my life.

Well then who should get the honor???

It seems that people complain that the acts at the half-time show are older, are "past their prime" and are not at all "current", but then I fail to see any "current" artist that would honestly appeal to the crowd that would be at the Super Bowl.

I am not sure what the powers that be are expected to do.....artists who have a great track-record such as those who have been on the show the past few years would obviously be the most popular and familiar to fans in the stadium and those watching on tv regardless of whether fans between the ages of 13 and 25 would think of them as has-beens or "not cool".

Snoozefest

Wow, I didn't expect this. I respect Tom Petty and I like a few of his songs, but I think I might have to sit this one out. Whether you still dig the man or not, Prince made a mark this year that will be hard as hell to top for future Super Bowl Halftime shows. Good luck Tom.

Why did I think it was already announced that The Eagles where doing the SB halftime show?

I'd rather see some gargantuan titties that another boring Super Bowl halftime show.

IAintTheOne said:

Stop it! Stop it! You got me laughing/crying at the same time!

floetcist said:

Oh, yes! Isn't that something? THE POWER OF THE BLACK TITTY!!!!

floetcist said:

I think from now on,they're gonna stick with old,"safe" performers like Tom Petty....folks that won't cause any controversy.

VoicesCarry said:

Dude the traffic is going to be nuuuuuts that whole freeway is going to be packed Glendale Ave is gonna be a maaaaadhouse

Oh well, looks like we'll have to wait until 2009 for the Jacksons half-time show.

Count me out this time.