Tom Petty never stopped performing and his last show was in August 2017 when he completed a summer tour at the Hollywood Bowl. Speaking to Rolling Stone in December, Petty’s words were eerily futuristic. He said, “I'd be lying if I didn't say I was thinking this might be the last big one."
Family members told CNN that Petty suffered Cardiac Arrest at his home on Sunday 1st October and was rushed to the UCLA Medical Center. However, he never regained consciousness and was confirmed dead the following day. Speaking to the Daily Mail, singer Sheryl Crow said, “I feel like today, the music truly died.”
Stars react to a legend’s passing
John Mayer also mourned the loss of his friend and said: “I loved Tom Petty and I covered his songs because I wanted to know what it felt like to fly.” Bryan Adams tweeted “Thanks for all the great rockin’ music.
Hard to believe you’re gone.”
In an interview with CNN in 2007, Petty remarked that he loved music and it was the only “real magic that I know”. He added, “there is something really honest and clean and pure and it touches you in your heart."
Petty is survived by second wife Dana York Epperson and daughters Adria and Kimberly from his first marriage to Jane Benyo.
Petty decided on a music career at a young age
A chance meeting with Rock And Roll King Elvis Presley changed Tom Petty’s life forever. He was 11 years old and decided to become a rocker. His dreams became reality after years of hard work and his music was his legacy. It wasn’t a complete bed of roses for Petty, who became a heroin addict following the breakup of his first marriage in 1997.
His latest album at that time “She’s The One,” failed to gain traction with listeners and Petty fell into an emotionally dark place. In addition to his singing prowess, Petty was a talented actor who appeared in "The Postman” with Kevin Costner in 1997. He also did the voice of Elroy "Lucky" Kleinschmidt in the animation "King of the Hill."
A star in the making
An ambitious youngster, Petty joined his first band in high school at the age of 14.
He left The Sundowners and moved over to The Epics, which later changed its name to Mudcrutch in the 1970s. Petty would soon find fame, however, in yet another group known as Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers in 1976. Rolling Stone confirms that his biggest album was “Damn the Torpedoes” which was certified triple platinum and included hits like “Refugee” and “Don’t Do Me Like That.” Petty was well known for his songwriting ability and that led him to numerous collaborations with singing superstars.
Fleetwood Mac’s Stevie Nicks’ hit “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around” featured Petty, so did songs by the Eurythmics, Grateful Dead, Roy Orbison and the Beatles’ George Harrison. Petty’s hits included “Last Dance With Mary Jane”, “You Got Lucky”, “Southern Accents” and “Don’t Come Around Here No More”. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002.
