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Remembering music legend Tom Petty

Tom PettyFrom Gainesville, Florida to stages around the world, Tom Petty was intertwined in the very fabric that made up rock and roll, and the soundtrack that made up our lives. He didn’t just write songs; he created memories. He used music to make the intangible tangible. And through his lyrics, he proved that there was nothing as poetic as the simplicity of life.

His songs stood for something and meant everything. He didn’t just show us how to fly; he made us believe that it was in us all along. He didn’t just show us how to be free; he made us believe that we were free all along. His songs were as much a part of us as we were a part of them.

Tom Petty didn’t just write songs.

Modern Records co-founder Paul Fishkin was a fan of Petty’s longer than he knew him. The two met during the time that Jimmy Iovine was producing albums for both Petty and Stevie Nicks. Paul and Jimmy strongly supported the idea of a Stevie Nicks and Tom Petty collaboration on each of their projects. And out of that came the classic “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around.”

Paul speaks fondly of Petty’s talent and legacy. “I loved his writing and was so moved by his songs. I was just a huge fan. In my opinion, he was one of the top 3 or 4 writers in that era of songwriters and performers. His band was uncomplicated. He just had the right guys who completely understood what they needed to do to get the best out of his songs. They were magical in that sense. There were a lot of bands that were self- indulgent and a lot of bands overperformed. What Tom and the Heartbreakers had was magical. They were a true American band. Their roots came out of R&B and all the great early rock from the ’50s, and then influenced by Dylan and the Birds and all that. So they integrated all those wonderful American elements. Their taste was immaculate. They were truly respectful of their roots and reflected them in a beautiful way. Tom took that to a whole other level. He had that slight punkish side to him too, the edgy punk side to him that he was able to integrate. It’s not easy to do. He just tapped a little into that whole thing, but he did it in an honest way. He wasn’t calculated. He was just a great writer. And he allowed those influences to sort of come into his world, his life, and his art. He wrote about them, manifested them, and performed it in a way that was just really honest. And grasping the times in a way that was powerful and transcended just doing pop music. He was a poet. He was brilliant and down to earth, and he was hip enough and cool enough to do it in a way that you felt that he really understood what was going on.”

Through working together, Nicks and Petty struck up a friendship that would span decades. Paul explains the unique connection the two icons had. “It just started out from respect for each other’s talents. They both sort of came from the same world of artists creating their art, and not being intimidated or succumbing to the needs of the record label and compromising their music because of that. They both were very strong-minded in that regard, which of course I loved and respected. The seed of their relationship was in strong mutual respect for each of their talents, that was the essence of it. And then it grew into a friendship. They were creating on their own terms, surrounded by people who respected that and allowed that.”

Stevie Nicks, Tom Petty
(Scott Weiner)

From the Epics, to Mudcrutch, to the Heartbreakers, Tom Petty redefined himself over and over again, yet stayed so utterly loyal to the artist who captured the world’s heart in the first place. He tapped into the essence of what makes us all human and transcended race and gender to make music that spoke to us all. From “You Don’t Know How It Feels” to “Learning to Fly,” from “Won’t Back Down” to everyone’s anthem “Free Fallin’”- Tom Petty made you feel like you could take the most wonderful four minutes of your life and make it last forever. His songs were more than lyrics and melodies; they were road trips and backyard BBQ’s, high school football games and slumber parties. They were sneaking out at midnight in your parents’ car, picking up your best friend, and driving wherever the wind took you. A Tom Petty song made you happy to be alive because it made you feel alive.

Most importantly, Tom Petty understood the importance of creating something that would live on long after him. “I’m just trying to make good quality music, ’cause I do realize this music is going to be around much longer than me. I do know that now. If I’m gonna get it together to go make a record, I want it to be something that does feel timeless and honest.” (Billboard, 2005)

Every line, every note, every word, will forever be a testament to the talent, legacy, and truth that is and always will be Tom Petty.

Keldine Hull / Inspirer / Thursday, October 5, 2017

stevienicks

LIVE IN CONCERT (2024)

Stevie Nicks

MAY 3, 2024 – MAY 5, 2024
Lovin’ Life Fest
Charlotte, NC
TICKETS

MAY 7, 2024
Enterprise Center
St Louis, MO
TICKETS

MAY 10, 2024
WinStar World Casino & Resort
Thackerville, OK
TICKETS

MAY 14, 2024
Bridgestone Arena
Nashville, TN
TICKETS

MAY 18, 2024
Frost Bank Center
San Antonio, TX
TICKETS

MAY 21, 2024
Yaamava’ Resort & Casino – Yaamava’ Theater
Highland, CA
TICKETS

MAY 24, 2024
BottleRock Napa Valley
Napa, CA
TICKETS

MAY 27, 2024
Delta Center
Salt Lake City, UT
TICKETS

MAY 30, 2024
Ball Arena
Denver, CO
TICKETS

JUN 4
Gainbridge Fieldhouse
Indianapolis, IN
TICKETS

JUN 9 
Mohegan Sun Casino
Uncasville, CT
TICKETS

JUN 12
MVP Arena
Albany, NY
TICKETS

JUN 15
Hersheypark Stadium
Hershey, PA
TICKETS

JUN 18
Van Andel Arena
Grand Rapids, MI
TICKETS

JUN 21, 2024 (with Billy Joel)
Soldier Field
Chicago, IL
TICKETS

JUL 12, 2024
BST Hyde Park
London, England
TICKETS

^ Non-Live Nation show


Previous 2023 dates

March 10, 2023 – BILLY JOEL
Los Angeles, CA
SoFi Stadium

March 15, 2023
Seattle, WA
Climate Pledge Arena

March 18, 2023
Las Vegas, NV
T-Mobile Arena

May 12, 2023
Raleigh, NC
PNC Arena

May 16, 2023
Knoxville, TN
Thompson-Boling Arena

May 19, 2023 – BILLY JOEL
Nashville, TN
Nissan Stadium

May 22, 2023
Atlanta, GA
State Farm Arena

May 25, 2023
Orlando, FL
Amway Center

June 16, 2023 – BILLY JOEL
Philadelphia, PA
Lincoln Financial Field

June 20, 2023
Toronto, ON (Canada)
Scotiabank Arena

June 23, 2023
Chicago, IL
United Center

June 27, 2023
Louisville, KY
KFC Yum! Center

August 5, 2023 – BILLY JOEL
Columbus, OH
Ohio Stadium

August 8, 2023
Milwaukee, WI
Fiserv Forum

August 12, 2023
Houston, TX
Toyota Center

August 15, 2023
Austin, TX
Moody Center

August 19, 2023 – BILLY JOEL
Kansas City, MO
Arrowhead Stadium

September 23, 2023 – BILLY JOEL
Foxborough, MA
Gillette Stadium

September 27, 2023
Pittsburgh, PA
PPG Paints Arena

October 1, 2023
New York, NY
Madison Square Garden

October 4, 2023
Buffalo, NY
KeyBank Center

October 7, 2023 – BILLY JOEL
Baltimore, MD 
M&T Bank Stadium

October 28, 2023
Memphis, TN
FedEx Forum

November 1, 2023
Savannah, GA
Enmarket Arena

November 4, 2023
Allentown, PA
PPL Center

November 7, 2023
Detroit, MI
Little Caesars Arena

November 10, 2023 – BILLY JOEL
Minneapolis, MN
U.S. Bank Stadium

November 29, 2023
San Diego, CA
Viejas Arena

December 2, 2023
Inglewood, CA
The Kia Forum

December 5, 2023
Palm Desert, CA
Acisure Arena

December  8, 2023 – BILLY JOEL
Phoenix, AZ
Chase Field

December 12, 2023
Sacramento, CA
Golden 1 Center

December 15, 2023
San Francisco, CA
Chase Center

FEB 10, 2024
Mark G Etess Arena
Atlantic City, NJ

FEB 14, 2024
UBS Arena
Belmont Park, NY

FEB 17, 2024
CFG Bank Arena
Baltimore, MD

FEB 21, 2024
Bon Secours Wellness Arena
Greenville, SC

FEB 24, 2024
Hard Rock Live
Hollywood, FL

FEB 28, 2024
Smoothie King Center
New Orleans, LA

MAR 3, 2024
CHI Health Center
Omaha, NE

MAR 6, 2024
Simmons Bank Arena
North Little Rock, AR

MAR 9, 2024
AT&T Stadium
Arlington, TX
Billy Joel

 



2022 Tour

Stevie Nicks

Jazz Aspen Snowmass
Snowmass, CO
Labor Day 2022

Ravinia Festival
Highland Park, IL
September 8, 2022
September 10, 2022

Pine Knob Music Theatre
Clarkston, MI
September 13, 2022
w/ Vanessa Carlton

Sea Hear Now Festival
Asbury, NJ
September 17, 2022

Xfinity Center
Mansfield, MA
September 19, 2022
w/ Vanessa Carlton

Maine Savings Amphitheatre
Bangor, ME
September 22, 2022
w/ Vanessa Carlton

Sound on Sound Festival
Bridgeport, CT
September 24-25, 2022

Ohana Festival
Dana Point, CA
September 30, 2022

Hollywood Bowl
Los Angeles, CA
October 3, 2022
w/ Vanessa Carlton

POSTPONED
Ak-Chin Pavilion

Phoenix, AZ
October 6, 2022
w/ Vanessa Carlton

POSTPONED
Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion

The Woodlands, TX
October 9, 2022
w/ Vanessa Carlton

Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
Alpharetta, GA
October 12, 2022
w/ Vanessa Carlton

Ascend Amphitheater
Nashville, TN
October 16, 2022
w/ Vanessa Carlton

Credit One Stadium
Charleston, SC
October 19, 2022
w/ Vanessa Carlton

PNC Music Pavilion
Charlotte, NC
October 22, 2022
w/ Vanessa Carlton

MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
Tampa, FL
October 25, 2022
w/ Vanessa Carlton

iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre
West Palm Beach, FL
October 28, 2022
w/ Vanessa Carlton

Orion Amphitheatre
Huntsville, AL
October 31, 2022

RESCHEDULED SHOWS

Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
The Woodlands, TX
November 2, 2022
w/ Vanessa Carlton

Ak-Chin Pavilion
Phoenix, AZ
November 5, 2022
w/ Vanessa Carlton