Tom Petty

And I'm another one who'd never heard of him... Will have to find out what I've been missing as obviously much-loved by many.

I almost envy those of you who haven't heard of him. You've a real treat coming up, exploring his work!

For those who do want to know more, his Travelling Wilburys work is a good starting point and then his Greatest Hits of 1993 gives a good flavour.

I, too, have never heard of him!

His music was amazing, I'm missing him already. I loved his music. maryhoffman37 and Carol954 you missed out on something good.

Well I'm glad I'm not the only one, I had never heard of him either!

There's another good documentary about the Wrecking Crew that I bought for my SIL(on the condition that I could borrow it). About the session musicians who were the backbone of many iconic albums. Not as good as the Tom Petty documentary, but interesting. Having just watched BBC4 it reminded me just how darn cool Petty and his band were. Unlike a lot of bands, they were like a family (but a family that actually liked each other). The other band members must be devastated.

Thanks, Merlotgran! I've just put it on.

Tegan2 Dh was fossicking amongst our DVDs tonight and we also have a copy of that documentary. I thought we'd recorded it on tv so that's a happy find.

Didn't he take over when Roy Orbison died?

Thanks merlot; would've missed that.....

Freefallin my favourite

Tribute just beginning on BBC4

This is my favourite:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=fq5yHdVKSQs
No idea what the words mean though.

Very sad and too young. I love Learning to Fly and also admired what he did with the Travelling Willburys.

Loved him and crew in Travelling Wilburys
What a musical team...
won't back down Tom
??

I hadn't heard of him until I found the Wilburys group ( with George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison etc. ) Where he really shone.
Not very old, RIP.

'Refugee' def one of his best, used to relate it to one of my friends. RIP Tom.

Sue; I first saw the documentary on BBC 4 and fell asleep partway through, only to wake up hours later to find it was still on. Thought it was being reshown (as BBC4 is prone to doing). Thankfully SIL had the DVD so I borrowed it and watched it properly. Was (and still am) in love with Benmont!

Not a great fan of his music...prefer Bob Dylan... who held Tom Petty in high esteem...but as you say another one of our great generation gone.

No, I've never heard of him either - but judging by your posts I've missed a lot ...

I didn't know him either but I gather he meant a lot to a lot of people.

They're were more garage band/punky in the 70's, Tanith, so maybe if that isn't your dh's genre, he wouldn't have come across him. They became more mainstream from the 80's onwards.

Tegan2, we've watched that documentary, I think, and it is excellent. What a childhood he had, too.

What about Tom Petty's "American Girl"? (My favourite.) A huge hit! I am stunned to realise that I'm actually a year older than he was....a sobering thought.

Refugee is, IMO, his best song. Stevie Nicks wanted to join the band but, although they collaborated together on some stuff, she wasn't allowed to. Their guitarist (whose name I can never remember) is one of the best ever, and Benmont Tench is an amazing organist. There's a very good documentary about the band which is actually @4 hours long but very good watching.

I'm another who has never heard of him, DH and I were both a bit puzzled, don't even remember seeing a picture of him. DH is very into music of 60s/70s can't understand it .

Loved everything about him. His music both with his own band and the Travelling Wilburys, the fact he was a quiet unassuming, and very nice man according to those who knew him.
And he was good looking too.
Shall miss him a lot.