Tom Petty

Thomas Earl Petty (October 20, 1950 – October 2, 2017) was an American musician, singer, songwriter, multi instrumentalist and record producer. He was best known as the lead singer of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, but was also a member and co-founder of the late 1980s supergroup the Traveling Wilburys, and his early band Mudcrutch.

Petty recorded a number of hit singles with the Heartbreakers and as a solo artist, many of which are mainstays on adult contemporary and classic rock radio. His music became popular among younger generations.[2] In his career, Petty sold more than 80 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling music artists of all time.[3] In 2002, Petty was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Petty suffered cardiac arrest early in the morning of October 2, 2017, and died that night at the UCLA Medical Center in Santa Monica, California.

Links To Peel
Peel played many of Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers' songs in the late 70's and early 80's. During his 27 November 1979 show, he described Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers' Louisiana Rain track as having one of the '' 'my all-time favourite guitar solos and very nearly made my birthday 40 back in August. A record that if Mike Read is still listening to the programme he ought to know about.'''

After Roy Orbison died in 1988, Peel paid tribute to the singer by playing some of The Travelling Wilburys, which Tom Petty along with Roy Orbison and others were co-founders.

Shows Played

 * Tom Petty - Louisiana Rain HQ
 * 28 September 1978: 'Listen To Her Heart (7")' (Shelter)


 * 12 October 1978: Listen To Our Heart (single)
 * 1979
 * 27 November 1979: Louisiana Rain (LP – Damn The Torpedos) MCA (JP: "The main reason for playing it is cos it gives me an opportunity to play some Louisiana music. This contains one of my all-time favourite guitar solos and very nearly made my birthday 40 back in August. A record that if Mike Read is still listening to the programme he ought to know about.")


 * 10 December 1979: Refugee (LP – Damn The Torpedos) Backstreet
 * 13 December 1979: What Are You Doing In My Life (LP – Damn The Torpedos) Backstreet
 * 1980
 * 12 February 1980: Refugee (LP – Damn The Torpedos) Backstreet