Tom Petty is one of those rare singers who doesn’t just transcend genre, but is able to transcend time. I grew up listening to his work, from the moment I was born to the moments as I type. My parents were fans, and with the exception of a period of time where I was scared to death of the man (blame the “Don’t Come Around Here No More” video that was on MTV) I’ve thoroughly enjoyed his work. There was no heavy version, no country period, none of that crap. Petty, along with his bretheren in The Heartbreakers, simply played good music. That’s it. No show gimmicks, no controversy, no problems.
Losing Tom Petty would be more than just the loss of an entertainer. Look back on his discography, remember the songs. His is a sound that few can make and far fewer are able to keep relevant. It doesn’t matter if it’s “Free Fallin'” being sung in a club somewhere on a rainy night by drunk revelers or “Learning To Fly” wafting out of a vintage household radio on a fall day like today as you relax and let the leaves come down, the sound is timeless.
After going through a short list of favorites, I went to one that I enjoyed best as I laid out on the hood of a primer red Caprice as a teenager. While the berries from the Pacific madrona trees dropped onto the hood, I soaked up the rays of the late fall sun and laid back against the windshield, not looking for any meaning from the song, but just quietly singing along to myself, lost in the vibes of a good mood when the majority of my days were filled with anger, angst, and depression. Sometimes, all it takes is a good song to come out of it.
Unfortunately, though, Petty’s time on this earth ended yesterday evening, and the loss will be felt. It will be the loss of a talent that knew no bounds, a voice that crosses through the decades, and the art of just being good at something will have taken another hit. Rest easy, Tom, and thank you for the music you have left behind.
Monday was a bad day all around. Petty will be missed. In Las Vegas evil ran rampant. What is with the world these days?
Very sobering on many levels. Younger than me. . Must grab each day and live the fullest possible. His legacy will outlive all of us.
Tom Petty sure have a sound to call his own. Never followed any trends, just made good music.
RIP Tom.
Saw him in Saratoga in June 1980. I wasn’t a maniacal fan, but he had some great songs…RIP…
Saw him last month at the end of his tour, absolutely in my top list of shows we’ve seen, Incredible song writer, Tom & Heartbreakers were an awesome cohesive band. He will be missed, very missed.
Curious how an old stoner musician gets a feature, but the 59 who died senselessly at a country concert in Vegas don’t even get mentioned.
Loved his work with The Traveling Wilburys.
George Harrison, Roy Orbison, Tom Petty, … all gone too soon.
Hey Gump, don’t be a D-bag here, ok? Like Pontiac drag racer said ” a bad day all around”. I was not a huge Tom Petty fan, but I do have a few of his tunes in my library. People are looking for some comfort at a time like this. Did you ever think that maybe someone out there IS a big Petty fan AND lost someone in Vegas?
I really don’t care. BS should have mentioned it at least.
why though?
Is BS a general news site? No
Do they have a semi-regular music feature? Yes
So why would they cover stuff that is on every general news site right now?
And I guarantee if someone lost someone in the Vegas tragedy they are none too concerned about Tom Petty’s passing.
Stop being a snowflake.
God. They\’re over here too!!