The Passing of Music Icons 2017 – Tom Petty – October 2, 2017 | Eastern North Carolina Now

    This is a work in progress for the year 2017. When a music Icon passes, their life is documented in many online tributes. When I started this series, I had the intention of recalling personal memories relating to the musician. While there are many sources for the details of their life and death, for many years, I have tried to capture my personal feelings when a music Icon I enjoyed passes. I usually try to write a contemporaneous note and compile them at end of the year. I do this just as a reminder that all things must pass and musicians mark the mood of the times with their music. - Bobby Tony

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The Passing of Music Icons 2017 – Tom Petty – October 2, 2017

   Both Stan and I missed the opportunity to post on the passing of Tom Petty. We each thought the other would offer a better commentary.
Here is an excerpt from our private messages (followed by Stan or BT to identify author)

• You know, neither one of us wrote anything about Tom Petty. There was a bunch of big news (probably about the Trumpster) when he died, and he damn near went forgotten. (Stan)

• Ted, Asked me about that and I said that I would wait for you to post one as I was not an avid fan, then I forgot to revisit. I preferred his participation in the Traveling Wilburys more than his solo career, although I did enjoy free falling. (BT)

• I was not a huge fan, but bought the Wilburys CD, and then I saw a documentary on Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, and realized what a remarkable band leader he was, and mostly a fine song writer. He has written a bunch of songs that I like.

The cool thing about Petty is that he wrote the music and then used his band mates to their fullest potential.

I think I wrote off Petty early because he impressed me as a Roger McGuinn sound alike.

Now, I realize that it is just his voice, and he actually does that voice better than McGuinn, and Bob Dylan, who he also sounds like. His performances were always steady. Also, Stevie Nicks loved Petty (musically) nearly as much as she loved Buckingham, which is high praise. (Stan)
• I am on track, I dismissed him as a Dylan imitator, and Roger as well. That just goes to show that first impressions can be deceptive. (BT)

    Well Stan's comment was all it took for me to do the research needed on Tom. After all what better way to find out about someone than to read about him from someone that I had an imaginary love affair with – Stevie Nicks.
Tom and Stevie - Live Hyde Park 2017

    Here is a quote from Stevie Nicks about Tom:

Interviewer: Tom came out of a macho Florida culture and was the leader of a band that was almost like a gang. Yet he had a unique ability, among male rock stars, to write about women with frank but affectionate empathy. Where did that come from?

Stevie: He had two daughters. He had two amazing loves [Petty's first wife Jane; his second wife Dana, whom he married in 2001]. He was surrounded by really strong women. The women around him pretty much went their own way, and he was good with that. He gave me a lot of advice about stuff. He was the kind of person who said, "Here's my advice. If you take it, great. If you don't, that's fine too." He was never going to shake a finger in your face and make you feel bad if you didn't take his advice.

Stevie Nicks remembers Tom Petty

Top Ten Petty songs – a You Tube tribute


COUNTDOWN

• Breakdown
• You don't know how it Feels
• Learning to Fly
• Running Down a Dream
• Into the Great Wide Open
• Mary Jane's Last Dance
• I won't back Down
• Refugee
• American Girl
• Free Falling

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   Subsequent research on my part has revealed that Tom was one of the first recording artist to fight back against the creative accounting of the music industry. In 1979 he declared bankruptcy when his record company was sold to MCA including his contract. MCA ultimately released him from his contract and resign him to another more financially attractive contract. He later revolted when "in 1981 MCA announced its intention to sell it for $9.98—a full dollar more than the typical retail price at the time." History.com Petty Declares Bankruptcy.

    Sorry Tom, I should have paid more attention. (BT)

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    From Stan:|

    Tom Petty was the perfect Rags to Riches guy, who came along at the perfectly right time, who had many stories to tell through his music, which he did with a great a proclivity to do so. As mentioned earlier, I came late to be a fan of Tom Petty for a variety of reasons: Was he a Roger McGuinn knock off? How can I find time to listen to music anymore with all these children to care for?

    As I and my children got older, and I found more time to do Stan stuff, I found that I liked Tom Petty and his music. His music was simple in construction, but varied in scope, message and melody. His Roger McGuinn quality aside, Petty had a measured voice that fit his melodies like a well fitting glove. His voice told his many stories perfectly, and in the end Tom Petty out-McGuinned McGuinn.

    Rest in peace Tom. You and your music died too soon.