A music icon, a video star, a tireless fighter for the little guy—the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer played all those roles with aplomb, all while writing some of the most enduring hits of the 20th century. He was the embodiment of the American Dream, in rock star form.A blue-collar renegade from Gainesville, Florida, Tom wanted nothing else but to follow in the footsteps of his heroes, Elvis Presley and The Beatles. Somehow, improba- bly, he did just that, distinguishing himself as a truly remarkable songwriter with hits like “American Girl,” “Refugee” and “I Won’t Back Down,” anthems that put him among the pantheon of rock storytellers and endeared him to millions of fans around the world.No matter how high his star rose, Tom never lost touch with his roots. He fought passionately for artist royalties and fans alike, waging war with record companies on multiple occasions to keep prices down and to improve pay for his peers. Having survived arson, drug addiction and a painful divorce, he could always find refuge in play- ing rock ’n’ roll, and did so for captivated audiences till the very end. “It’s the only true magic I know,” Tom once said of his live shows. “It’s not pulling a rabbit out of a hat; it’s real. It’s your soul floating out to theirs.”Among the first musicians to grasp the importance of music videos, Tom and his band, the Heartbreakers, became household names with buzzworthy videos for songs like “Don’t Come Around Here No More,” “Into the Great Wide Open,” and “Mary Jane’s Last Dance,” which boasted cameos by superstars from Johnny Depp to KimSince Tom’s untimely passing on Oct. 2, 2017, at the age of 66, the world has continued to revere his legendary body of work, to the tune of more than 80 million albums sold worldwide. Now we pay tribute to the late rocker with this special, career-spanning retrospective, a fitting celebration for a dearly beloved underdog.
TOM PETTY
Long After Dark • PAYING TRIBUTE TO ONE OF ROCK ’N’ ROLL’S GREATEST HEROES, TOM PETTY.
American Treasure • BACKSTAGE MEMORIES AND INTIMATE MOMENTS FROM THE REMARKABLE LIFE AND CAREER OF A NATIONAL ICON, TOM PETTY.
Want to Be a Rock ’n’ Roll Star? • TOM PETTY GREW UP UNDER THE YOKE OF AN ABUSIVE FATHER IN GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA, SEEING MUSIC AS HIS TICKET TO FREEDOM.
ALL SHOOK UP • The artists who turned the young Floridian into an aspiring rocker.
Dreams of Flying • MUDCRUTCH GOT THE SINGER HIS FIRST RECORD DEAL IN THE 1970S. IT WAS A FALSE DAWN THAT ONLY GOT ITS HAPPY ENDING 30 YEARS LATER.
TRUSTED HANDS • For more than four decades, Mike Campbell and Benmont Tench played wingmen to Tom Petty.
Making Some Noise • WITH HIS NEWLY FORMED BAND, THE HEARTBREAKERS, TOM PETTY FINALLY BROKE THROUGH—DESPITE AMERICAN LISTENERS FIRST PAYING NO HEED.
THAT ’70s SHOW • Early on, the band drew comparisons to power pop: energetic music with melodic hooks that bore the influence of the British invasion. These were the genre’s key players.
Don’t Do Me Like That • THERE WERE MORE GOOD TIMES THAN BAD IN THE STAR’S MARRIAGE TO HIS FIRST WIFE, JANE BENYO, BUT SUBSTANCE ABUSE CAUSED THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO SPIRAL.
SAVING GRACE • Daughters Adria and Annakim carry on their father’s legacy in their chosen fields.
I Won’t Back Down • ON THE CUSP OF STARDOM, TOM PETTY TOOK ON THE MIGHT OF THE RECORD INDUSTRY, AND CAME AWAY WITH HIS FIRST CLASSIC ALBUM, DAMN THE TORPEDOES.
WHITE WINGED DOVE • The star forged a unique bond with Fleetwood Mac’s Stevie Nicks.
The Essential Tom Petty • THE STORIES BEHIND 10 OF THE SONGWRITING LEGEND’S SIGNATURE HITS.
Southern Discomfort • THE BAND FOUND TOUGH GOING AS THEY WRESTLED WITH FAME AND A FAILED CONCEPT ALBUM, THEN JOINED FORCES WITH A BELEAGUERED HERO, BOB DYLAN.
HEARTS OF GOLD • The singer played a central...