JOHN WALLACE: Tom Petty was one who never backed down

I am a big fan of Tom Petty. Not only the musician, but the man. They say the guy you saw on stage and screen was the same guy you met in person. Although I am saddened by his loss, and regret we will not hear new songs by him, I do not have any pity for his passing. While he was here he lived a life that is the stuff dreams are made of.

There is no doubt that Petty had a tough time growing up in Gainesville, Fla. His mother adored him. His younger brother adored him. His father hated that his son wanted to be a musician. His father beat him up for years, trying to make him toe the line. Tom wouldn’t back down. He escaped to a local record store he called his safe place. His love for music became his dream.

When he was 10, his uncle took him to where he was working on an Elvis Presley movie. He introduced Tom to Elvis and Elvis grunted and nodded to Tom. Tom said Elvis was so perfect he glowed. The biggest impression was the mob scene that followed Elvis everywhere.

But it was the Beatles on Ed Sullivan that convinced Tom, along with millions of other future rock and rollers, this was something he would like to do. He took guitar lessons at the record store from another local kid for 18 months. That kid’s name was Don Felder, who would go on to fame and fortune as one of the Eagles and the guy who wrote the music for “Hotel California,” among others.

Tom joined a local band “The Sundowners” and then “The Epics” where he met and played with Tom Leadon, brother of Bernie, future founding member of the Eagles. Tom left the Epics, taking Tom Leadon with him to form Mudcrutch. He also recruited Mike Campbell and Benmont Tench to be in the band. They would continue to be his bandmates until the other day. Tom started thinking about what kind of band he wanted Mudcrutch to be.

“No one could do what Elvis does. Elvis just starts singing and musicians step out of the bushes behind him and start playing. The Beatles were a one in a gazillion chance of happening, so much talent in one band. But then I saw the Rolling Stones and I thought, well, we could do that.”

Mudcrutch attracted enough attention that they signed with Shelter Records and moved to L.A. to set the record world on fire. It didn’t happen and they broke up. They went back to Gainesville with their tails between their legs, but Tom’s dream wouldn’t die. He got Mike and Benmont and two other Gainesville boys, Stan Lynch on drums and Ron Blair on bass, and formed the Heartbreakers.

Their first album was released in November 1976 and got little notice in the U.S until “Breakdown” and “American Girl” started getting airplay. It rose to No. 55 on Billboard, which is not too shabby for a debut album. But lots of bands have great debuts. They are singing songs they have been polishing for years. You want to impress someone, have some hits with your second album.

“You’re Gonna Get it” was released in May 1978. It rose to 23 on Billboard, propelled by hits like “I Need to Know” and “Listen to Her Heart.” Tom saw his dream was coming true. He wasn’t the only one taking notice.

His third album was where Tom started to show his ass. His record company was bought by MCA, along with his contract. Tom had signed away his publishing rights to his songs. He said he thought it meant royalties from music books. By the time MCA bought Shelter records, he knew he had screwed up. He wanted to renegotiate his contract. MCA said a deal is a deal.

Tom filed for bankruptcy as a way to have the contract declared Null and Void. MCA counter offered with giving him his publishing rights and his own record label. MCA found out what Tom’s father had found out a long time ago. Tom would not back down.

“Damn The Torpedoes” was released in October 1979. It rose to No. 2 on Billboard for seven weeks. Two more hits, “Refugee” and “Don’t Do Me Like That.” This guy was the real deal. That’s when I became a fan. His picture was on all the magazines and I saw the cassette in the PX in Okinawa. I thought, let’s see what all the excitement is about. And I have been a fan since that day.

Then Tom really stepped up. For his next album, MCA decided they were going to attach “superstar” pricing of an extra dollar added to the normal price of $8.98. Tom was a music fan at heart and knew this was ripping off the fans. He hid the master tapes and went to the press with his grievances. He threatened to name the album “Eight Ninety Eight.” The company backed down and the album was released with a picture on the cover of Tom in his old record store standing in front of a stack of albums and 45s. That’s when he became a legend in the music industry.

So, I’ll miss him but I don’t pity him. I’m guessing you have few regrets when you won’t back down.

John Wallace of Leesburg is an occasional contributor to the Perspectives page.