The Genius of TOM PETTY

Tom Petty stands for everything I believe in, creatively and artistically. The man and his music exude integrity and honesty. He's an artist who has improved as he's aged. He doesn't have big hits like he used to, but that's not important. The industry cares about hit records, the great artists care about their art.

What we really want, when we listen to a record, is to connect. I get that on a song-to-song basis more with Petty than I do with any other artist (possibly shared with Bruce Springsteen). I obsessively listen to his live recordings. The version below of 'Learning To Fly' is one of my favourite songs of all time. I listen to it on a daily basis. I know every single moment of it inside out.

I guess that's why it's a little heartbreaking that Tom Petty is in London this week doing two shows at the Royal Albert Hall, because it's sold out --- and I don't have tickets. I'm angry at myself for missing the opportunity to get tickets before they sold out. How is it than an artist who lives in my headphones EVERY DAY, can be playing at the glorious Royal Albert Hall and I don't have a ticket? Life is cruel!

What makes Petty masterful, is his subtlety. That's why I got obsessed with his song 'Something Good Coming'. It's the type of song that a new artist couldn't create, because there's just too much wisdom and experience in there. That's why Petty has got better as he's gotten older. People get weaker when they chase the big hits, chase the glory days; but all Petty chases is expertise, and we love him for it. 

“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. It’s been so good to me that I want to be good to it. I want to make music that’s worth making.”

-From a recent interview in The Daily Telegraph.