Der Schock über den Tod von Mark Selby ist noch nicht verdaut, da kommt schon der nächste Tiefschlag. Einer meiner absoluten Favoriten, Tom Petty, ist am 2. Oktober, nur 66jährig, an den Folgen eines Herzinfarktes in Los Angeles gestorben. Er war einer der ganz Grossen der Szene. Authentisch von seinen Anfängen bis zum Ende. Noch vor einer Woche stand er auf der Bühne und niemand ahnte das rasche Ende.

Die Medien waren und sind voll mit Nachrufen. Ich werde Tom Petty in meiner Sendung Wop Bop A Loo Bop am kommenden Montag, 9. Oktober, ab 20 Uhr auf Radio fr. gedenken.

In der gleichen Sendung, werde ich vorher Mark Selby gedenken. Ich hoffe, dass dies für längere Zeit die letzten Todesfälle sind, die ich in der Sendung behandeln muss.

Anschliessend einige Videos von Tom Petty und dann noch einige Reaktionen aus den sozialen Medien zu seinem Tod.

Sein Werk ist übrigens mehr oder weniger lückenlos weiterhin auf Tonträgern erhältlich bei CeDe.ch

Einige der besten Videos von Tom Petty

Und hier einige Reaktionen von Freunden und Musikerkollegen.

John Mellencamp

Tom Petty was the Edward Hopper of American songwriters. He was a certain kind of bird that had no legs, so he could never land on this earth; he lived his whole life in the sky. And now he will spread his wings and sleep on the wind. His name ist written in the stars.

Brian Wilson

I’m heartbroken to hear about Tom Petty passing. He was just too young and still in his prime. Tom was a hell of a songwriter and record-maker and he will be missed by everyone who loves music. I’m so sad to hear about this. Love & Mercy to Tom’s friends, family and fans.

Gordy Quist (Band of Heathens)

Heartbroken with all the news today. One place I like to turn to in times of despair is music.

In Warren Zanes‘ „Petty: The Biography“ Tom Petty talked about how he wrote the song Wildflowers to his mother. While going through one of the darker periods in his life he had a revelation during a therapy session when his therapist told him that he had actually written the song to himself.

Thank you Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers for being one of the best rock n roll bands ever, and for creating the soundtrack to the formative years when I first started playing in bands. You planted a dream. My life wouldn’t be the same without it.

Thoughts, prayers, and healing to all who are suffering.

Rest in Peace TP

Dan Baird

I was so unbelievably happy when the Sats were informed we were gonna be the middle band in ’87 playing between Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and The Del Fuegos, on a tour named The Rock and Roll Caravan. I mean, who wouldn’t be?
In my world it was an apex I’d only dreamed of.
Him, his band, crew, management, all as cool as I ever hoped they’d be. Welcomed us with open arms.
I got 2 months hangin out in the best scene I could ever imagine.
TP you were an inspiration to a guy that was past his „inspiration years“.
I don’t know if you know how many people you touched that way. You did.
There’s a big hole in me and R&R now.
Goodnight and Godspeed

For me, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers were a rock and roll band that came onto the scene when the pigeon hole genres were taking over. Punk rock, new wave, heavy, hard, prog, glam, etc. There were a bunch of em. Not that they were at all bad. Some great bands came out of those rebranding and fashion trends. I was going along with the times and trying to find music I related to inside those brands, but something was missing for me.
And here comes this rock and roll band that doesn’t apologize for being just that.
2 guitars, B3, piano, bass and drums. Sing along choruses, tight punchy songs, great simple arrangements played by a gang of mo-fos on each instrument and a shaman/believer for a front man and songwriter disguised as an everyman.
They’d picked up rock and roll and placed it onto a trajectory that seemed like the simplicity of what they were reintroducing had never stopped. It had. Was very close to complete dismissal.
Their whole „We just don’t need anything new, other than more great songs“ was a bold move in the face of the change. Obviously it struck a chord with me.
Yes they dabbled in new sounds after a few years, but it somehow sounded organic inside the song. Acoustic ballads got more common, but it felt right because of the conviction and honesty of both band and singer (didn’t hurt that those ballads contained some of Tom’s finest lyric either).
The live shows could have been a greatest hits for 2 hours. They weren’t. Great covers, older obscure numbers, new songs.
To me, his North Star might have gotten hidden behind the clouds now and then, but when they cleared, look out, shit was back on.
Thank you for showing the way to work inside a traditional medium and not sacrifice integrity, heart and soul.
A rock and roller of the highest order to the end.

Dave Davies (Kinks)

Tom Petty and his band toured with the Kinks early on. I thought he was unique and a beautifully minimalist rocker-
classic stylish and cool- he helped put cool and laidback into R&R
Tom petty kept his cool / head when many rockers of his time were too busy trying to be macho and hip and boringly superficial , loud and obviously.
A huge influence on Rock. When I spent time with him he was polite and respectful. he always seemed a quiet and solitary musician. I Love his band his approach his music his demenour his wonderful songs. exquisite recordings.
Tom petty I applaud your work your legacy and integrity. Long Live your music. God Bless you.
I will miss you but I have your music. Wow thankyou so much for that.

Joe Walsh (Eagles)

I am shocked and saddened to hear about Tom Petty, a dear friend and a great musician. It was wonderful touring with him this summer. My love and thoughts are with his family and all who loved him. He will be sorely missed.

Pete Droge

Tom Petty was a huge force in my life. I’m devastated by his passing. My heart goes out to The Heartbreakers and their amazing crew.

I’m moving between heart-wrenching sadness and gratitude-laced trips down memory lane.

While his body of work has had an immeasurable influence on me as a songwriter and musician, I’m most appreciative of the man himself and the kindness and generosity he extended to his young, eager fanboy of an opening act.

One night during the first leg of the tour, I told him how impressed I was at how consistently great his voice sounded night after night. I explained how I was having trouble keeping mine in shape on the road. Your average headliner might have let that end with a “Thanks, kid. Now leave me alone while I go wait for the limo.” Not Tom. Not only did he take the time to show me his vocal warm up exercises and turn me on to Throat Coat tea, he personally instructed his monitor engineer to help get my stage sound dialed in.

We stayed in touch after the tour. Some of my all-time favorite memories are of hanging around the studio while he worked. If you saw the movie Sound City, there’s a scene where Tom talks about a session with Carl Perkins. I was there while Tom and Carl cut their vocals under the enthusiastic guidance of legendary producer Bob Johnston. Witnessing that session was incredible. So was the story time that followed. For a while the fanboy dynamic evened out and Tom and I were fanboys together listening to Carl tell stories about hanging out with The Beatles and Elvis.

I never quite got to the point with Tom where I didn’t place him on a pedestal. I was an aspiring rocker in my twenties hanging out with the guy I worshipped as a teenager. Looking back, I wonder if a deeper friendship could have developed if I had not been so impressed by my idea of what he represented to me. Fame is such a complicated phantom in our culture. And I grew up during the height of rock stars are gods era. But I digress.

First and foremost, I’m a Tom Petty fan. Just last week I listened to Full Moon Fever on headphones from top to bottom. And we’ll be sure to crank that one up for the Full Moon on Thursday while we raise a toast to Tom and relish the songs and records he leaves behind.

FYI: The picture above was taken in New York City on a night off. We’re dancing on a table to Bob Dylan’s “Changing of the Guards.”