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Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers was an American rock band from Gainesville, Florida, formed in 1976. The original line-up consisted of singer and rhythm guitarist Tom Petty, lead guitarist Mike Campbell, keyboardist Benmont Tench, drummer Stan Lynch and bassist Ron Blair. Petty had previously played in Mudcrutch and was attached to Shelter Records as a songwriter. In 1982 Blair left the group and Howie Epstein joined. In 1994 Steve Ferrone took Lynch's place.

Music and breakthrough

The band released its first album in 1976, with Breakdown and American Girl. You're Gonna Get It! followed in 1978, Damn the Torpedoes in 1979 with Refugee, Hard Promises in 1981 with The Waiting, Long After Dark in 1982 and Southern Accents in 1985. Later came Learning to Fly in 1991 and Mary Jane's Last Dance in 1993. In 1989 Petty made the solo album Full Moon Fever. In 2002 the band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The last studio album, Hypnotic Eye, appeared in 2014. After Petty's death in 2017 the band ceased to exist.

Influence

Petty wanted to call his music simply rock 'n' roll. Critics speak of southern rock and heartland rock, alongside Bruce Springsteen, Bob Seger and John Mellencamp. The band played clear, melodic rock with guitars and keyboards, and made songs that stayed on the radio for a long time. In this way it became a fixture of American rock.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to American Girl and notice the guitar sound and the driving drums. Can you hear how the song keeps pushing forward without becoming heavy?

Discography

Studio albums

See also

Categories: ArtistsHeartland rock