TOM PETTY AND THE HEARTBREAKERS–GREATEST HITS and HEARTBREAKER: A MEMOIR By Mike Campbell

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I enjoyed Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers songs for years. But after reading Mike Campbell’s memoir, Heartbreaker (2025), the lead guitarist who played with Petty for decades tells how rocky the road to success really was. The band started out playing in strip clubs where the drunken audience would throw cans of beer at them if they blocked their view of the strippers.

Campbell writes about the tons of drugs and the many, many bad decisions, both personal and professional. Despite Campbell’s love for Tom Petty, Campbell tells how he and the Heartbreakers were told that the money would be split 50-50, with 50% going to Petty and the other 50% being split between the four members of the Heartbreakers. What a rip-off!

Later Campbell, who wrote and co-wrote several of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers hits, tried to advocate for himself as a co-writer and arranger. His friend denied Campbell credit telling him: “But I’m Tom Petty.” 

Another story involved Stevie Nicks, who recorded her hit, “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around” with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, trying to join the band after feuding with Fleetwood Mac. The Heartbreakers took a vote and nobody wanted Stevie Nicks in the band. Campbell suggests that dealing with an ego-maniac like Tom Petty plus a Prima Donna like Stevie Nicks would be too much!

If you’re interested in the history of a band that opened for Bob Dylan and went on to become headlines themselves, Heartbreaker lays it all out. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers — Greatest Hits includes the remastered versions of their best known songs. Are you a Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers fan? Which song is your favorite? GRADE: A for both the CD and the Book

TRACK LIST:

1Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers–American Girl Producer – Denny Cordell Written-By – Tom Petty3:30
2Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers–Breakdown Producer – Denny Cordell Written-By – Tom Petty2:42
3Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers–Listen To Her Heart Producer – Denny Cordell, Noah Shark, Tom Petty Written-By – Tom Petty3:01
4Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers–I Need To Know Producer – Denny Cordell, Noah Shark, Tom Petty Written-By – Tom Petty2:23
5Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers–Refugee Producer – Jimmy Iovine, Tom Petty Written-By – Mike Campbell, Tom Petty3:21
6Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers–Don’t Do Me Like That Producer – Jimmy Iovine, Tom Petty Written-By – Tom Petty2:40
7Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers–Even The Losers Producer – Jimmy Iovine, Tom Petty Written-By – Tom Petty3:35
8Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers–Here Comes My Girl Producer – Jimmy Iovine, Tom Petty Written-By – Mike Campbell, Tom Petty4:33
9Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers–The Waiting Producer – Jimmy Iovine, Tom Petty Written-By – Tom Petty3:54
10Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers–You Got Lucky Producer – Jimmy Iovine, Tom PettyWritten-By – Mike Campbell, Tom Petty 3:37
11Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers–Don’t Come Around Here No More Musician – David A. Stewart Producer – David A. Stewart, Jimmy Iovine, Tom Petty Written-By – David A. Stewart, Tom Petty5:06
12Tom Petty–I Won’t Back Down Musician – George Harrison, Jeff Lynne Producer – Jeff Lynne, Mike Campbell, Tom Petty Written-By – Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty2:56
13Tom Petty–Runnin’ Down A Dream Musician – Jeff Lynne Producer – Jeff Lynne, Mike Campbell, Tom Petty Written-By – Jeff Lynne, Mike Campbell, Tom Petty4:23
14Tom Petty–Free Fallin’ Musician – Jeff Lynne Producer – Jeff Lynne, Mike Campbell, Tom Petty Written-By – Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty4:14
15Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers–Learning To Fly Musician – Jeff Lynne Producer – Jeff Lynne, Mike Campbell, Tom Petty Written-By – Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty3:57
16Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers–Into The Great Wide Open Musician – Jeff Lynne Producer – Jeff Lynne, Mike Campbell, Tom Petty Written-By – Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty3:38
17Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers–Mary Jane’s Last Dance Producer – Mike Campbell, Rick Rubin, Tom Petty Written-By – Tom Petty4:32
18Stevie Nicks And Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers*–Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around Featuring [With] – Stevie Nicks
Producer – Jimmy Iovine, Tom Petty Written-By – Mike Campbell, Tom Petty		4:03

8 thoughts on “TOM PETTY AND THE HEARTBREAKERS–GREATEST HITS and HEARTBREAKER: A MEMOIR By Mike Campbell”

  1. Deb

    Yes—I’m a big fan, going back to when I was first aware of Tom Petty (he had a cameo in the movie “F.M.”). “Learning to Fly” is probably my favorite song of theirs, but I like a lot of the others, especially “The Waiting” & “You Got Lucky”. I saw TP&TH in concert once: it was in the late-1980s, iirc (it was just after his house in Hollywood burned down because he talked about it). Great show. However, if you watch Jakob Dylan’s 2018 documentary “Echoes of the Canyon” (which, if you haven’t, I highly recommend), you can already tell that Tom was not in a good place: he wears dark glasses the entire time he’s on camera and seems to stumble verbally & physically. A sad ending for a great rocker (although, apparently, not a great person).

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    1. george Post author

      Deb, Mike Campbell details the decline of Tom Petty. Drugs had a huge impact. You’re right about ECHOES OF THE CANYON. Great documentary!

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  2. Jeff Meyerson

    No, not a fan, other than the Traveling Wilburys stuff, like “Last Night,” which featured Petty with Roy Orbison. Sorry to hear he was a miserable SOB behind the mask.

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    1. george Post author

      Patti, I wished I’d attended some Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers concerts when they were touring near us. I liked their videos and songs.

      Reply ↓

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