Tragic week if you love legends. Tom Petty passed away at 66.
He and his Heartbreakers were just in Vancouver 35 days ago for a show at the arena. I was obsessed as usual, to get tickets to see him with Lumineers opening the show. I did get the tickets a few days before the show, and I knew in my gut, that it would be the last time. Never thinking today would come, he made it clear before the tour started, this would be his last ‘big tour’. He just performed less than two weeks ago. Doing what he loved to do, in his adopted hometown of Los Angeles.
We all have memories of Tom. Here are a few I can recall.
Full Moon Fever was one of my first cd’s and I was an instant fan. I made sure I would see him each time he was in town( or wherever I was living at the time). The most memorable for a lot of us, would be the ultra sweet, 2008 Pemberton Festival. Tom Petty, Coldplay and Jay-Z all headlined that weekend. It was just incredible how much beer I consumed that weekend, I was in awe of myself for that stat. It was an unforgettable time with good friends, with an incredibly well curated lineup. Tom Petty was my highlight of the weekend, (along with NIN). He had a huge crowd and pounded out the hits during his Pemberton Set. It was like a masterclass of hits! I still, as you may recall, him talking from the stage about what a beautiful setting it was for a show. Which it was!
The other half dozen times I was able to see Tom over the years were all great. He never had a bad show, and you certainly wouldn’t know if he did.
I can’t think of another artist who wrote such great songs, and always, always delivered the goods when he played live. As I got into vinyl 5 years ago, I made sure one of my first purchases would be, was to score a nice copy of Full Moon Fever, and I have been able to amass most of his catalogue, except for one title. The title in question is the impossible to find, Wildflowers. I’m definitely going to keep hunting for it.
Tom Petty, a legend gone at 66.