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Wednesday, December 28, 2005

TOM FUCKING PETTY

I'm reading a great book, 'Conversations With Tom Petty' by Paul Zollo. It's by far the best Rock and Roll book ever written. Ever. If you are a fan, it's a great history. Tom talks about his formative years in Florida, his band Mudcrutch which became the Heartbreakers. He talks about success, cocaine, punching walls, Stan Lynch, Howie Epstein's decline into heroin, Willburys, love, and L.A.

If you are interested in recording music, the writing process, studios, and producing recording sessions, then this book would interest you even if you weren't a big huge Tom Fucking Petty fan like I am. If that is the case, however, you are a stupid asshole and don't deserve to read the book.

Comments:
Jackson also mentioned a little tidbit from the book last night...

Turns out the Traveling Wilbury's record was recorded on a Soundcraft board.
 
In Mike Campbell's garage.
 
I have to get that book, hopefully the library has it... Shit I hate being poor!

i remember seeing tom after his hand injury. while explaining to the audience how when he punched a window, a doctor told him he would NEVER play guitar again (as he played his guitar).

I'm not ashamed to admit, I was all teary eyed during this part of the show...

of course the booze, weed, and half hit of LSD helped...

keep up the great work.

Tom Petty IS rock. I remember I liked Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, before I even heard a song. I saw that his logo was a Flying V... and I was sold....

when you are done with the book send it my way, I'll send it back....

rock.
 
Didn't Tom Petty fly a confederate flag during his shows? Just checkin'...I gotta admit, he's not my favorite Wilbury...
 
I can see as to how one might not welcome an artist who's flying the Stars and Bars. In 1985 TP and the HB's did use a giant Rebel Flag as their backdrop on the Pack Up The Plantation Tour, which was in support of their Southern Accents lp. He took a lot of flak, and maybe rightly so. He was also criticized for the song Rebels off that album, for it's 'misguided' view of the south; that of a redneck. Tom knows from rednecks, he's from Gainsville Fla. Personally, I think Tom used certain symbols effectively to support his narrative, which was and is not racist, it's human. I also think he knew he'd raise a few eyebrows in doing so.

AS for the Wilburys, I don't really care for any of 'em.
 
Papa,
I can't argue, or at least I can't blame you for being leery of anyone using that flag. In Tom's defence, I will say that his use of the Stars and Bars on his Pack Up The Plantation Tour (1985) was meant to raise a few eyebrows. Tom took flak for it, it was misunderstood by many as being an affirmation of racist values, but it wasn't. Tom is from Gainsville Florida, and the album he was touring in support of, Southern Accents, was an attempt for Tom to reconcile his attitudes with the culture that spawned him. The song Rebels, off the same record, was criticized as well for the following lines:

'Even before my father’s fathers
They called us all rebels
Burned our cornfields
And left our cities leveled
I can still see the eyes
Of those blue bellied devils
When I’m walking around at night
Through the concrete and metal'

Many thought that this was a misguided view of history, and it is, but when taken in context of the song, it's clear that Tom is using a character to explore some very murky water; racist, redneck attitudes.

Don't fear my man, Tom is very much on our side.

As for Wilbury's, I'm not a big fan.
 
It seems I defended Tom twice, Blogger wasn't showing my comment, so I did it again.
 
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