1982 saw the release of Long After Dark and the band was riding high. They were touring constantly and by this time national audiences finally understood what the L.A. club scene had known back in the mid-70's. Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers were a rock and roll band that knew how to put on a show. Shortly after the release of Long After Dark the band saw its first lineup change when bassist Ron Blair left the band. He was replaced by former John Hiatt sideman, Howie Epstein.
Southern Accents, the bands next effort was a tedious and frustrating affair to get completed and released. In 1984 while recording Accents, Petty became so frustrated, he punched a wall in the studio and broke several bones in his right hand. It was thought that he would never play guitar again (prompting fellow band members to begin to refer to him as L.V. [lead vocalist]) but the hand was surgically repaired and Petty recovered fully and in time to play on the supporting tour. Despite the fact that Accents is a very solid record and one that reflects a slight change in direction for the band, it failed to sell up to the level of the bands previous efforts.
The band embarked on a 1986 tour backing up Bob Dylan. The chemistry was so solid between Dylan and the band, Dylan ended up writing and singing along with Petty on "Jammin' Me", the single from the 1987 album Let Me Up (I've Had Enough). But even sagging record sales and less than stellar tours were not the worst thing for Petty in 1987. An arson set fire destroyed Petty's San Fernando Valley home, taking with it almost everything he owned. Fortunately Petty, his wife and two daughters escaped the fire unscathed, it was a devastating moment for Petty.
But the hard times were not to last. Shortly after the fire, Petty hooked up with fellow musicians George Harrison, Roy Orbison, Jeff Lynne and Bob Dylan and the creation of the tongue-in-cheek group, The Traveling Wilburys. The musicians all recorded under nonsense monikers,( Petty taking the name Charlie T. Wilbury Jr for the recordings) and although the group grew out an impromptu recording session to create a B-side for George Harrison, a full album resulted and, surprisingly to the group, a stunning amount of success. The Wilburys also earned Tom Petty his only Grammy award.
The Wilburys recorded a second album (minus Roy Orbison who died on December 6th, 1988) in 1990, entitled Volume 3.
Between the two Wilbury's albums, Petty recorded and released his first solo effort (oddly enough recorded with several of The Heartbreakers sitting in for the sessions), Full Moon Fever, which became the most popular of his career. It sold over three and a half million copies and stayed in the Top Ten for 34 weeks. Loaded with hits like 'Running Down A Dream', 'Free Falling' and 'I Won't Back Down', Full Moon Fever continue to make most critics lists of the top albums of the 1980's.
1991 saw Petty back with The Heartbreakers (although they never officially disbanded) to record Into The Great Wide Open. Although it did not sell quite up to par with The Heartbreakers previous efforts, it still sold more than 1 million copies and spawned the hit single 'Learnin' To Fly' and the rocking 'Making Some Noise'. But despite his successes, Petty could not seem to stay out of legal troubles. In 1992, Petty announced a surprise six record deal worth $20 million deal with Warner Brothers. It especially came as a surprise to MCA who Petty still owed two records. And again, a resolution was reached out of court.
In 1993, Petty released a greatest hits package, was vindicated by U.S Supreme Court who ruled in his favor on a copy right suit that had been filed by songwriter Martin Allen Fine over 'Runnin' Down A Dream' and saw again another member of his band depart. Drummer Stan Lynch decided to branch out on his own and left The Heartbreakers.
Petty released his second solo effort in 1994 with Wildflowers, again with the majority of The Heartbreakers sitting in on the disc. He continued to tour and record throughout the 90's, recording the film soundtrack for the Ed Burns film She's The One in 1996 and Echo in 1999. In keeping with his tradition of going toe to toe with the record companies, Petty offered the initial single from, Echo ('Free Girl Now') as a free MP3 download for two days before the label forced him to pull the MP3 down.
Petty and The Heartbreakers also served as the backup band for Johnny Cash's incredible Unchained album.
In 2002, Petty took another shot at the music industry when he released The Last DJ, a collection of songs that allowed Petty a chance to vent about the state of music and radio in America. The title track must have hit home as many radio stations across the country refused to play the single. The album sold poorly bringing in less than 500,000 copies (the poorest showing in Petty's lengthy catalogue). After taking a break for a few years, Petty came back with Highway Companion in 2006 which produced another hit with 'Saving Grace'.
In 2008, Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers performed the half-time show of the SuperBowl, launched a major tour and briefly reunited with his original band Mudcrutch for a handful of shows.
And now in 2010, quickly approaching 60 years of age, Petty keeps on doing what he has always done. Aside from near continuous touring and hosting a weekly radio show on Sirius/XM, he and The Heartbreakers continue to record and release good old fashioned rock and roll. This past June the band released Mojo, a collection of new music and blues covers that proves that Tom Petty still has the same rock and roll heart that he felt beating back when he first met Elvis Presley in 1961 and made the decision to walk along the musical path for the remainder of his life.
[FONT=Tahoma]"All I can do is be me ... whoever that is". Bob Dylan [/FONT]
