Petty: Life & Times Of A Rock & Roll Badass. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers 

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers are perhaps my favorite band and making this video was at once a joyful experience but also bittersweet. This guy left way too soon. Enjoy it and let me know your thoughts!

I would just like to do a little shout-out to Norman Harris of Norman's Rare Guitars. He's having some health issues at present and could use our good thoughts. Here's to you Norm!

Tom had the best radio show ever. It was on Sirius Satellite. I never missed a show. He had a particular love for early Fleetwood Mac and JJ Cale. He played something from them on pretty much every show. I worked a catering gig for the owner of Sirius. His house was on the beach in the Hamptons on Long Island, NY. Tons of celebrities live out there. Totally exclusive. Hardest job ever because we had to set up every thing from scratch on the actual beach. Total nightmare. When evening came the guests were moved to a professional stage located on the side of the guy's house. There were couches and a couple of bars all around. It was so cool. I was wondering who was playing that night when The Heartbreakers pile out of a bus in the driveway. The great Steve Ferrone was on drums. A group of people start arriving at the house for the gig but they weren't there for the party on the beach in the afternoon. My guess was there were a little under a hundred people there waiting to see Tom perform this private gig. Who was in attendance that night? Howard Stern, Jon Bon Jovi, Mayor Bloomberg, Billy Joel, Alec Baldwin, and Paul McCartney. So, I got to see Tom perform for maybe a hundred people as a Beatle rocked out about twenty feet from me.

Petty still lives through his music. Forever...

Man, I miss Tom.........of course I only knew him through music, but I that's all it takes for a guy like that. Very lucky to have seen the Heartbreakers on their last show of their last tour. often I think of him on stage saying.............this is the last show of the tour and we feel like playing! Great show!

loved Tom Petty and the Heart Breakers music. I'm afraid that they might be one of the last of the great real American Rock & Rollers.

There are really no words to describe how Tom and The Heartbreakers touched my life. All that I know is, they touched my life in the deepest places of my heart. I am grieving his passing as if he were a brother or perhaps, a past lover. Tom leaving was another major end of innocence and a major example of how life can change in a new york minute. Thank God in spirit he is forever with us. Being from Northwest Florida I feel like a hometown girl. To the music that moves me. I am honoured to have discovered your excellent audio visuals unique to you. Big applause and deep gratitude for your time and passion🎼✌️❤️😊

I enjoyed this a lot. Tom had such a magical gift for creating gold out of the ether. He seemed to believe in the power of songwriting and kept delivering great music with other amazing collaborators. He grew into his eminence, and never seemed to forget to remain humble and real. He made wherever he went cool, which is as good a compliment I could pay.

I like it when you talk with such Passion about our music history. You are not reading from a script, everything is in your head and you know your stuff. This is what makes your videos so enjoyable.

Being born in Hollywood in 1959 and living there until '83 with a decade older sibling, I was always in musical genre saturation via osmosis mode. You, sir - Are to my generation of 60's/70's music that, which Anthony Bourdain is to a 'foody'. A pleasure to watch your erudite content - sincere thanks for your effort. You have earned yet another subscriber.

🙋🏻‍♂️ Tim, enjoyed the film. 👍✌️ I loved Tom. He was like the guy down the block that made it.

I listen and fall asleep to Tom's voice every night. His music just never get's old for me. Tom 💘

Aww - I’m so glad I found this tonight. Saw Stevie Nicks two nights ago and Tom’s been on my mind. Stevie & Tom are the soundtrack of most of my life. I’m even a little homesick for LA tonight. You captured some of the haunted places that make LA a city of memories and ghosts. Beautiful reporting - thank you again.

I, too, fell in love w LA in the first hour of being here. Havent felt that anywhere else and Ive lived in many cities/towns/rural areas/islands. Every day I love LA and the rock and roll history on these streets is part of it.

thank you for this fabulous video ....TP was a giant in the music industry and a fascinating guy

Tim, Great video and historical presentation!! I've always wanted to go to LA and see those places. One year I actually drove to Gainesville, just to see some of the places where Tom grew up. So glad that I did because it made me feel somewhat "connected" to Tom, since his passing. Always cool to meet a Tom fan!!! Take care!! ✌❤🎸

I was out in the garage, and I was listening to Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers first album. I looked at the slipcover and saw Shelter Studio Hollywood and remembered this video. So, I sat down to watch it again. Thanks.

Thank you for that enthusiastic video Tim. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers have been part of the soundtrack of my life since 1976. I saw their first UK tour in 1976 and their last appearance in London at Hyde Park. I will always love their music.

Thank you, this was great. I miss Tom.

Right across Ventura Blvd from Casa de Cadillac, was the famous record store, Moby Disc Records. I used to work there at that time, and Tom and Ben would come in at least twice a week any time they were in town.

I couldn't imagine rock and roll without Tom Petty!

Great Video !! Thanks Man ... Jimmy ...

The thing that is always so cool to me is how the musicians from Petty’s era, is how these musicians paid their dues when getting started.

All your words in this were beautiful. The photos, the anecdotes, just first class. I first saw TP&TH in the mid-80's, and I was already gaga for them by then (at 16). Didn't miss too many tours after that, and I bonded deeply with their music. His loss was among the most profound of any artist in my lifetime, coming as unexpectedly as it did, and with the band still making great new music. Seeing the places Tom inhabited & frequented really helps inform and enhance our enjoyment of his art, so thank you sooo much for doing these tours.

nice one thank you

I visited L.A. in 2018 and Petty was, of course, one of the constants of that trip. Now I kinda wanna go back (I enjoyed the video so much)

Another great video..I live back east in WV and get to LA for a couple weeks every summer..I always do one of your walks..makes me feel like im 16 yrs old again...Thank you.....

Nice job, thanks!

This is really good. But I really like how Tom Petty describes everything in his documentary Runnin Down a Dream. That was amazing to watch and made me appreciate him even more. What an incredible talented guy along with the Heartbreakers.

This was great. Thank you so much!

That was very nice! If I'm going on a road trip, I want as much Tom Petty as possible. Great driving music.

FANTASTIC. SUPERB. NARRATION. A. HUGE THANK YOU.

growing up in LA during the first wave of punk rock where we turn our back on rock and roll there was always 3 band I still secretly loved Led Zeppelin...Black Sabbath and Tom Petty n the HBr's.....I never realized that Petty was so tied into the LA Music world I thought he was out in Florida and just came out to LA to record an album or two.....to this day I listen and play Petty's music....he transform simple major chords into catchy emotive songs that stand the test of time.....

This is a really good video. I remember when Tom Petty hit it big and the exact spot I was driving listening to his music on a FM Station when I heard he had passed away at the end of Free Falling. A WTF moment that left a scar.

Wonderful video, love all the stuff bout California ATB

I knew this would be a great video. I too loved Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers. This surpassed my expectations. Loved every minute of it. Thank you so much for sharing.✌🏽💖

So many legendary singer-songwriters got their start or peaked during my birth decade .. Lennon, Nilsson, Petty, Mercury, Croce, Elton , the list goes on. They’ve never met their match since then.

Loved it man! To see and visit these iconic steps leading to Tom Petty's legacy was really cool. Thank you! A couple comments. When I lived in LA for a few years I would have to drive past the brewery on some nights. Your description was spot on and it took me right back to that time in my life. Also, “Music is probably the only real magic I have encountered in my life. There's not some trick involved with it. It's pure and it's real. It moves, it heals, it communicates and does all these incredible things - Tom Petty”. I got to see Tom and the Heartbreakers in San Diego a few years back now and on that night, he became overwhelmed by the entirety of the moment and stopped playing and was just walking circles on the stage staring up, arms in the air. I'll never forget it. It was the magic.

Please do more of your music history videos like this in and around LA, you're so good at it and they are all really great! Thanks for all of them.

Tom never wrote a bad song!..and is best heard driving your car!..sold me Tim!keep up the amazing work.

What a great show I really appreciate it thank ya

Really good video, I'm a huge Tom Petty & Heartbreakers fan.

Long time since I’ve had one of your videos pop up on my feed. I’m going through a Petty Renaissance again. Great video!

Thanks so much for the video. i moved to Southern California in 1969 when I was 15. I lived in the Valley and Hollywood for a number of years. The location points are very interesting as those are mostly places I drove around. I never ran into Tom Petty. Only saw him once in concert. My daughter and I had planned to see him again; however, he passed away. So sad. I worked at KROQ for a few years in the late 70's. Had a talk show following Rodney and Fraser.

Great video I grew up in Calabasas in the 60s,70s and 80s working in Most of those studio’s as a keyboardist it was a different world back then I don’t think any of us realized how special it was. Now in my 60s and living in quiet San Luis Obispo I miss those days and a good old Carney’s chili burger.

I like your style. You're low key and informative. I am a Tom Petty fan. Thanks, and I did subscribe.

That was a enjoyable video. Great stories n view’s. I saw Tom in Boston right before his passing, to find out how much pain he was in absolute amazing he continued. God bless you Tom .

I still have a hard time with the loss of TP. 💔 I'm fortunate to have seen Tom and the Heartbreakers in concert many times, beginning in 1979, with the Damn the Torpedos Tour. Great vids, Tim. Thank you!

This video brings back great memories! I lived in Chatsworth and Encino ('76-'77) and worked in Van Nuys. I've been back briefly over the years, but plan to visit again soon. Thank you!

Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers is way up top as one of my all time favorite bands. I saw him speak at the UCLA Student Union when he refused to release his album because the record label wanted to sell it for $7.99. He thought that this was too expensive for his fans and held out for $6.99, that was eventually the list price. It took a while for him to prevail, but he did. Thus, the album's name "Hard Promises". Great artist, human being and a terrific group that played so well together.

I found this video this morning. Grabbed my coffee and hit "play". I really like the intro music that you use for these. Gets my attention every time. This video is exceptional! Thanks Tim. I have always loved the simplicity of Tom's songs. Songs about real life. I will continue to play those songs...often.

I love the way Tom could effortlessly, and authentically play a variety of genres. I think Tom was his own genre! Yeah, the two arson fires were very strange. What a sweet friend Annie Lennox was to help him out. I was so happy the rock hall finally inducted The Eurythmics. Yes...thank you Tom, and thank you Tim.

"How many guitars does a guitar player need?... One more!" I love it! I loved your video tour through Tom's old haunts, hotels, homes, clubs (Whiskey a Go Go), Sound City. You covered it all, including the Traveling Wilburys, thank you. I've loved Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers since highschool, a lifetime ago. I remember a classmate gave me their first album, with the song 'Breakdown' on it. On the cover was the word "DEMO"..... Might have been a promotional copy, don't remember how he got it but I still have it. This was around 1976. I have loved Tom and The Heartbreakers ever since. I saw them many times in concert, and Tom was always so kind and gracious, telling us fans how grateful he was that we came to see them play. How my heart broke when he passed, way before his time. He gave it everything he had during his last 40th anniversary tour, even though he was in tremendous physical pain (hip). Thanks again Tim. You always seem to give it your all with your videos. 🎸☮️❤️

Strong cup of coffee and watching this video is a great way to start my day/ Loved it! Thanks!

Thank you so much for making and sharing this!

Great video! It’s getting harder and harder to find anything watchable and informative on RU-vid; but this video is great. Gonna see Mike Campbell and Stan Lynch play tomorrow in Houston. ✌️

Tom always invited star performers on stage with him and the Heartbreakers...and ya couldn't miss the huge grins and the fun they had. I learned from this that he even got with The Boss ...now that would have been something to see...

thanks for sharing this awesome show , much appreciated Tim 👍🎸✌️

I just turned 66 years old last week… the same age Tom Petty was when he left this world… way too young… unfortunately. There were two people that left us over the past few years that shook me up pretty hard… 1… was John Prine the other was Tom Petty… it seemed like Petty would always be around… putting out beautiful music… there was so much great stuff to listen to from him… I loved “ Wildflowers “ & “ Highway Companion “… along with the rest of his work. I got to see him several times… but passed on the last tour… thinking I might catch it next time… bad decision on my part. The first time I saw him… him and the band… just blew me away… around’78 in NJ… they did a great version of “ Hang On Sloopy”… that I’ll never forget… Thanks 🙏 for the tour Tim…& to TP & HB… for ALL the great music 🎶 🎵🎶 🌜🌞🌛

Best American rock band ever

If anyone asks my kids who their dad's favorite band is they will unhesitatingly reponds it's Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers without reservation. They grew up listening to my incessant infatuation with guitars and guitar music and I don't think anyone would argue that TP and Mike Campbell really defined electric guitars in their heyday. RIP Tom, and thanks Tim.

Well done really enjoyed. I'm 72 and born in Los Angeles. My father had a record store on Westwood Blvd in the 60"s and 70's. I feel blessed I lived those years. New Subscriber..

Very cool video, love Tom and love LA - thanks for making this!!!

I've been watching your "Mini-Docs" today like I was eating a bag of potato chips! Got absolutely no work done, but that's OK, I'm self-employed! Thanks for all the hard work that you did to put them together, you weave the stories with great love that shines through brightly. Keep 'em coming, please!

Thank you for this very enjoyable video. Having never been to LA I liked seeing the different areas and your descriptions were helpful in learning where they were in relation to each other as well what each location was like. I will always miss Tom; being of the same generation as he was I enjoyed a lot of the same music as he did. His music touched me like no one else's.

Loved this. Loved Tom. I appreciate this info and insight into his life.

Another great video Tim! Thanks for posting it!

More Rock and Roll LA tours friend!

My mother-in-law grew up with Jane so we got to spend the night in Charos house had a ball hung at the pool plus he showed me his office and a favorite rick he had a picture of it in a collecters book just like i would man he truly loved it and was very cool to chill with.I'll miss him.

You’ve really done an excellent one Tim! Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers one of my top favorite bands!🎵

Tom had me at Damn the Torpedoes when I was in junior high. He was a master of his craft, and we all benefitted from his brilliance. Thanks for taking us on such a memorable tour of the locations associated with his legacy. Gone too soon. Since you have already covered The Doors might I suggest another band that was a quintessential part of the California sound, albeit at the opposite end of the spectrum, The Beach Boys. I don't believe you have a post on them. Thanks for all you do. I can see it is a labor of love.

I so look forward to each and every new hike that you take us on and even the past ones I still go back and watch them all over again because they're that good. Thank you and hopefully there's many more to come.

Love your channel Tim. Thank U for taking the time to do these and show us around LA. Greetings from Michigan!

Epic Video keep them coming 😎

Thanks Tim for a great ride, that was so cool! I love Tom and his music, his death really saddened me.

Thank you for doing this!! I love Tom Petty and loved all the places he hung out in LA and a feel of how it was for Tom and the band when he first came to California.

This is soooo good. Intertwining the guitar info with the personal space/home info was top notch. You are so good at this! I guess I'm about the same age...from the British Invasion to Echo and the Bunnymen, and beyond!

Another video knocked out of the park! Thanks Tim, keep'em coming please! Tom petty is the only act I regret not seeing live, it's weird because they are one of my favorite artists. Rest In Peace Tom!

Great video….I really enjoyed your work…even subscribed…thanks, looking forward to more videos

"How many guitars does a guitar player need?... One more!" Indeed brother....indeed.

Excellent ! Nice to see you also... Rock On,

Saw him for the first time in 82 the long after dark tour. I even still have the shirt, or had. My daughter took it. She wore it once to the grocery store and said ‘all the old people kept stopping me and wanted to talk about Tom Petty and where I got the shirt.’

Great job on this one. I really enjoyed it.

Great episode! Well done.

Man I love your videos ,especially when classic rock n roll is the topic ! which they usually are.

Love the video. Nice to see how and where it all started. He was amazing. He is missed, so glad we have all the music and videos. Thank you.

Love Tom Petty. The man was destined to be a musician. I was such a big fan of Tom that I never knew he had a drug addiction and if you told me he had one, we'd be having a throw down I was sorry to hear about his passing. It was totally unexpected. I was shocked. Thanks for sharing Tom music history, Tim. RIP Tom

The first time I ever saw Tom in L.A. was at a after show party for the Coral Reefer Band after Jimmy Buffet Universal Amp. show. Lots of celebs were there. Early seventies.

Love your videos. I used to make it out to LA for the NAMM Show every year, (living in Canada, and it being January, made it even better!!) and always took a few days to check around LA/Hollywood etc. Your videos take me back there, and make me want to come back soon and follow your tracks. You would be a most awesome tour guide for your beautiful city. Thank you♥️♥️

This is great. Love and Peace from Liverpool ❤

Couldn't love this channel more. I was in LA 1965-72 as a teenager while my Dad was a Dodger executive and we knew a lot of movie and TV stars who came to the games. I like to see where they live and the choices they made in that regard, because every 3 miles in LA is completely different. Brentwood is not like Westwood which is not like Santa Monica which is not like Venice. Hancock Park is next to Hollywood but they are nothing like each other, and so on. So the choice of where you live says a lot about what you value and what you like. The one on Linda Ronstadt was masterful.

I thoroughly enjoyed and just added a sub. Thanks so much for the blast thru Toms past. The ability to walk and ride along with you in some of Toms old stomping ground was absolutely amazing. My wife and I have always loved Tom, his bands,and all the music they made. Never to be forgotten!

You rock Tim , another cool video. Love those old pics!

I will never forget watching MTV and seeing the inspired by Mad Max video Refugee. Just listened to The Traveling Wilburys collection last month. Amazing how good those two records are. Miss Tom Petty but the music certainly lives on. Great to get a picture of California --- especially inside the Whiskey A Go Go! How legendary is that venue?! (rhetorical question😃) great video history again by Rock Essentials with Tim

This was a fantastic video! Really really enjoyed it! Tom is loved by us all!

More like this please !!..60/70s rock hangout's

Tom Petty was and always will be like a dear family member who has passed on. His loss still makes me emotional and I'm sure always will.

I love the wonderful tours you takes us on with the great shades. Adventure, history, and stories about the people who created the modern American culture.

Man, love your videos, always look forward to them!

Thanks for taking the time ! Born in Glendale in 52 , so many places around there were really easy to get to because half the population then , but the songs of so many bands was like a 30 year tsunami flowing over the Valley , the Palomino Club in North Hollywood was Harrison's favorite , but all that's gone now , I moved away in 1980 , can't seem to get back home , memories will have to do ! Rick Daly