Tom Petty is a talented man who has achieved immense success due to the events that occurred in his early years. He experienced barriers that taught him determination to push through difficulties, and triumphs that drove him further. Likewise, he had friends and family that kept him grounded. Everything that Petty went through shaped him and the music that he and his friends made. Tom Petty’s early life impacted his music and career.
Tom Petty was one of two sons to Katherine and Earl Petty, (Zollo “Tom” 1) a Floridian insurance sales man (Macnie 1). Petty’s mother was loving, but it was his relationship with his father that drove him to go his own way. His father was an abusive drunk with a gambling problem, who regularly ran his car …show more content…
With The Epics, Tom Petty traveled up and down Florida, sometimes staying away from home for several days (Zollo “Tom” 3). Eventually, Petty decided to quit high school when he was 17 to be in the band full time (Macnie 1). Petty loved being in the band, playing, and travelling, but The Epics were wild and drunk, and they loved to party (Zollo “Tom” 3). Ultimately, Petty left The Epics with newfound friend, Tom Leadon, to form Mudcrutch (Zollo “Tom” …show more content…
Then Petty heard a demo by Campbell, Tench, Blair, and Lynch (Macnie 1). Tench invited Petty to play harmonica in his new group with a few of Tench’s own songs (Zollo “Tom” 5). While in this group, Petty convinced the members to join him on his contract with Shelter, suggesting that they could become famous (Zollo “Tom” 5). The group decided to call themselves The Heartbreakers, and they released their debut self-titled album in 1976, on which Petty played his 12-string Rickenbacker (Macnie 1). At first, their new album did not sell, but then The Heartbreakers went on tour in England, making British charts, and soon the American one followed, with the album’s single, “Breakdown” reaching the Top 40 list after a year from the initial release (Macnie 1). Everything only went up from
Tom Petty was one of two sons to Katherine and Earl Petty, (Zollo “Tom” 1) a Floridian insurance sales man (Macnie 1). Petty’s mother was loving, but it was his relationship with his father that drove him to go his own way. His father was an abusive drunk with a gambling problem, who regularly ran his car …show more content…
With The Epics, Tom Petty traveled up and down Florida, sometimes staying away from home for several days (Zollo “Tom” 3). Eventually, Petty decided to quit high school when he was 17 to be in the band full time (Macnie 1). Petty loved being in the band, playing, and travelling, but The Epics were wild and drunk, and they loved to party (Zollo “Tom” 3). Ultimately, Petty left The Epics with newfound friend, Tom Leadon, to form Mudcrutch (Zollo “Tom” …show more content…
Then Petty heard a demo by Campbell, Tench, Blair, and Lynch (Macnie 1). Tench invited Petty to play harmonica in his new group with a few of Tench’s own songs (Zollo “Tom” 5). While in this group, Petty convinced the members to join him on his contract with Shelter, suggesting that they could become famous (Zollo “Tom” 5). The group decided to call themselves The Heartbreakers, and they released their debut self-titled album in 1976, on which Petty played his 12-string Rickenbacker (Macnie 1). At first, their new album did not sell, but then The Heartbreakers went on tour in England, making British charts, and soon the American one followed, with the album’s single, “Breakdown” reaching the Top 40 list after a year from the initial release (Macnie 1). Everything only went up from