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ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MAY 11, 1995
By Steve Newton
Some rock bands have a magical way of winning over a crowd straightaway, and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers are a prime example. I saw them do it back in ’78 at the Commodore on the You’re Gonna Get It tour, and they did it again on Saturday (May 6) at the nearly sold-out Coliseum.
This time it was the stripped-down clamour of “Love Is a Long Road” that got things going, with Everyman vocalist Petty casually rambling over to the front of the stage in low-rent runners to anoint the masses with a hoist of his ever-ready Telecaster.
The fact that the stage was strewn with Persian rugs and rows of flickering candles helped create a homey, let’s-hang vibe, and by the time Petty got around to his second tune, many fans had already taken its “let’s roll another joint” idea one smoky step further.
The Heartbreakers followed “You Don’t Know How It Feels” with one of their earliest tunes, “Listen to Her Heart”, instilling that jangly rocker with the same bouncy bluster I recall cheering for 17 years ago. The band lineup has varied somewhat since then, the most noteworthy change being original drummer Stan Lynch’s replacement by session ace Steve Ferrone, who also plays on the current Petty disc, Wildflowers.
Although I must admit to a real fondness for the workmanlike thump and clatter that heavy hitter Lynch conveyed over the years, Ferrone’s well-practised and precise drumming left little to beef about.
The instrumental star of Petty’s universe has always been lead guitarist Mike Campbell, who pulled out all the stops on a wild twang-o-rama version of the Ventures’ 1964 surf classic, “Diamond Head”. He even used a pink Fender Mustang for added authenticity and tossed in a few bars of the James Bond theme for extra coolness.
Petty also snuck selections by Chuck Berry and J.J. Cale into the mix, which he likely does to break up the monotony of performing his own compositions night after night. I would have preferred it if he’d included the sadly missed “Breakdown”, “I Need to Know”, or “Don’t Do Me Like That”, but, as usual, Petty forgot to call and put me in charge of the show’s set list.
He did save the best for next to last, though, and the tactic of flicking the houselights on during the penultimate “American Girl” helped to further undermine any audience/performer partitions that might have held during the Heartbreakers’ two-hour barrage of cannonball rock.
To hear the full audio of the interview I did with Heartbreakers guitarist Mike Campbell in 1999 subscribe to my Patreon page, where you can eavesdrop on over 350 of my uncut, one-on-one conversations with:
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Ian Gillan of Deep Purple, 2006
Joss Stone, 2012
Glenn Tipton of Judas Priest, 2005
Jack Blades of Night Ranger, 1984
Vivian Campbell of Def Leppard, 1992
Colin James, 1995
Kim Simmonds of Savoy Brown, 1998
Tom Cochrane of Red Rider, 1983
Ed Roland of Collective Soul, 1995
Taj Mahal, 2001
Tom Wilson of Junkhouse, 1995
Mike McCready of Pearl Jam, 2003
David Lindley, 2002
Marty Friedman of Megadeth, 1991
John Hiatt, 2010
Nancy Wilson of Heart, 2006
Jeff Golub, 1989
Moe Berg of the Pursuit of Happiness, 1990
Todd Rundgren, 2006
Chad Kroeger of Nickelback, 2001
Steve Earle, 1987
Gabby Gaborno of the Cadillac Tramps, 1991
Terry Bozzio, 2003
Roger Glover, 1985
Matthew Sweet, 1995
Jim McCarty of the Yardbirds, 2003
Luther Dickinson of North Mississippi Allstars, 2001
John Rzeznik of the Goo Goo Dolls, 1995
Steve Hackett from Genesis, 1993
Grace Potter, 2008
Buddy Guy, 1993
Steve Lynch of Autograph, 1985
Don Wilson of the Ventures, 1997
Gordie Johnson of Big Sugar, 1998
Trevor Rabin of Yes, 1984
Albert Lee, 1986
Yngwie Malmsteen, 1985
Robert Cray, 1996
Tony Carey, 1984
Ian Hunter, 1988
Kate Bush, 1985
David Gilmour from Pink Floyd, 1984
Jeff Healey, 1988
Gord Downie of the Tragically Hip, 1996
Richie Sambora of Bon Jovi, 1993
Colin Linden, 1993
Kenny Wayne Shepherd, 1995
Justin Hayward of the Moody Blues, 1986
Elliot Easton from the Cars, 1996
Wayne Kramer from the MC5, 2004
Bob Rock, 1992
Nick Gilder, 1985
Klaus Meine of Scorpions, 1988
Jason Bonham, 1989
Tom Johnston of the Doobie Brothers, 1991
Joey Spampinato of NRBQ, 1985
Patterson Hood of the Drive-By Truckers, 2003
Andy Powell of Wishbone Ash, 2003
Steve Kilbey of the Church, 1990
Edgar Winter, 2005
Johnette Napolitano of Concrete Blonde, 1990
Randy Hansen, 2001
Dan McCafferty of Nazareth, 1984
Davy Knowles of Back Door Slam, 2007
Jimmy Barnes from Cold Chisel, 1986
Steve Stevens of Atomic Playboys, 1989
Billy Idol, 1984
Stuart Adamson of Big Country, 1993
Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull, 1992
Warren Haynes of Gov’t Mule, 1998
John Bell of Widespread Panic, 1992
Robben Ford, 1993
Barry Hay of Golden Earring, 1984
Jason Isbell, 2007
Joey Belladonna of Anthrax, 1991
Joe Satriani, 1990
Vernon Reid of Living Colour, 1988
Brad Delp of Boston, 1988
Zakk Wylde of Pride & Glory, 1994
John Sykes of Blue Murder, 1989
Alice Cooper, 1986
Lars Ulrich of Metallica, 1985
John Doe, 1990
Shannon Hoon of Blind Melon, 1992
Myles Goodwyn of April Wine, 2001
John Mellencamp, 1999
Kenny Aronoff, 1999
Doyle Bramhall II, 2001
Jon Bon Jovi, 1986
Dickey Betts of the Allman Brothers, 1992
Randy Bachman, 2001
Little Steven, 1987
Stevie Salas, 1990