Tom Petty reflected on a notorious concert from more than four decades ago during an interview that has recently resurfaced in Cameron Crowe’s documentary, “Tom Petty: Heartbreakers Beach Party.” The late Petty recounted an incident at the December 1978 Winterland Concert in San Francisco where he was roughed up by the crowd. It occurred when he leaned too far into the audience between the songs “Shout” and “I Fought the Law.” “I just got a little too excited. I leaned out, and someone grabbed my legs, pulling me down into the crowd. It was quite a scary moment,” remembered the singer of “American Girl.” Although on the tape it appeared that he was swiftly rescued, Petty felt like it lasted an eternity. “They seemed intent on taking a piece of me home. I managed to get back up and complete the performance.”
The band, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, originated in Florida in the ’70s, comprised of Petty, guitarist Mike Campbell, keyboardist Benmont Tench, bassist Ron Blair, and drummer Stan Lynch. Widely recognized for hits like “Don’t Do Me Like That,” “Free Falling,” “Breakdown,” and “I Won’t Back Down,” the group continued to produce new music and tour for numerous decades. Their final studio album, “Hypnotic Eye,” was released in 2014, and Petty’s last live show took place during the band’s 40th-anniversary tour, concluding with “American Girl” at the Hollywood Bowl in September 2017, just a month before his passing at the age of 66.
The documentary provides an entertaining and insightful journey with the iconic rock band, offering a glimpse into Tom Petty’s enduring creative brilliance during the MTV era. With never-before-seen bonus content, including fresh commentary from Crowe and intimate interviews, the film sheds light on the band’s dynamic as they worked on the critically acclaimed “Long After Dark” album with producer Jimmy Iovine. “Tom Petty: Heartbreakers Beach Party” is a must-watch for fans of the legendary musician and his band.
You can watch it on Paramount+ streaming service. Check out the original article on People’s website.
