![]() Petty passed away in 2017, accidentally overdosing on the painkiller medication that he was taking for his fractured hip. While Petty’s 21st-century albums were generally weaker than his earlier material he remained a popular live act. Petty faded in the mid-1980s, as he attempted to update his style, but bounced back into the mainstream with the Travelling Wilburys and 1989’s Full Moon Fever. The Heartbreakers matured into one of the finest backing bands in rock music, and success continued through the early 1980s. In 1979, Petty was signed to MCA Records, and the larger-scale production of Jimmy Iovine helped ‘Don’t Do Me Like That’, ‘Refugee’, and Damn The Torpedoes to become very successful. Their 1976 debut album featured The Byrds-inspired ‘American Girl’ – it later became a signature song for Petty, but he was initially more popular in the UK than in his home country. Lead guitarist Campbell and keyboardist Tench were joined by drummer Stan Lynch and bassist Ron Blair. Petty started a solo career, but soon reconvened with the members of Mudcrutch, naming them The Heartbreakers. Mudcrutch recorded a single but didn’t attain popularity outside of Gainesville, and split in 1975. His band became known as Mudcrutch and featured future Heartbreakers Mike Campbell and Benmont Tench. Petty dropped out of school at the age of 17 to play bass in a band and learned guitar from future Eagle Don Felder. His interest in rock and roll was sparked when he met Elvis Presley in 1961, and was cemented when he saw The Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show. Rock and roll’s perpetual underdog, Thomas Earl Petty was born in Gainsville, Florida, in 1950. ![]()
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