Marking One Year Since Tom Petty Went Into The Great Wide Open

On October 1st of last year Tom Petty was found unconscious in his Malibu home having suffered a cardiac arrest. Fans around the world were shocked & saddened when he passed away the following day at the age of 66. It was less than a week since he’d finished his 40th Anniversary Tour at the Hollywood Bowl following nearly 50 shows around the country. He’d hinted that it was probably his last big tour & that he wanted to spend more time with his family.

Drugs common in prescription pills were found in his system including fentanyl & oxycodone and the cause of death was listed as “multisystem organ failure caused by accidental drug toxicity”. He had also been diagnosed with coronary artery atherosclerosis (hardening of arteries) & emphysema. I can only imagine how 40 years with the same band pouring out your heart and soul on stage takes a toll on the body…

From Stephen Rodrick of Rolling Stone, here’s a bit from the only interview Petty gave during that whole tour.

What was it that made you want to do this 40th-anniversary tour – that made you think, “OK, it’s time to do big places and do it as a proper tour rather than just a few shows”?

There was, among us, a desire to do it. It’s not what I would have thought of. We get together and do one little thing, and then you go, “My God, it’d be good to carry on.” I think it was almost a year ago that we decided we would do the tour. And as far as the venues, the demand is huge.

I’m sure you could do 80 dates if you wanted.

You want everybody to get to see it, you know? I wouldn’t count on us next year. I don’t know how much more of this we’re gonna do. So every show is precious, and I’m just really having fun playing.

I loved that last line. That was an artist who really cared about his audience and who genuinely loved his craft, and it showed in most everything he did and in the dedication of his fans.

In 2006 I saw him play over in Camden, NJ with the Allman Brothers (er, not quite the original band) opening. Regrettably that’s the only time I saw him play but it was a fantastic concert, minus the part where I sat on some mustard packets in white short-shorts. Even though it was created mostly before my time so many of his songs struck a chord with me. The day he passed I drove around with my windows down blaring Full Moon Fever.

Since no one asked, if I had to pick a top five I’d go with these in no particular order:

1) Wildflowers
2) Yer So Bad
3) Breakdown
4) American Girl
5) Runnin’ Down A Dream

…but it’s rare I’ll skip past any of his songs that happen to cross my playlist.

Here’s his final performance at the Hollywood Bowl. The Heartbreakers start with the 1st track from the 1st album they ever did & they end with a great rendition of American Girl. The whole band steps forward & hugs as they throw guitar picks into the audience & smile. Petty spends his last moments on stage, at what would turn out to truly be his final show, signing posters & greeting his fans.