Mike Campbell has revealed a story about Tom Petty’s feedback in his new memoir ‘Heartbreaker.’ He further talked about it in a recent interview with People.
“Nobody is gonna pay to hear this sh*t,” Petty told Campbell after hearing music from his side project, the Dirty Knobs.
“It hurt my feelings a little bit,” Campbell recalled. “But the truth is, Tom would just get to the point, and he was right. I wasn’t ready to go out and play solo. I wasn’t ready to have another band. I wasn’t there yet.”
“He wasn’t always the most tactful person, but underneath it, it was the truth. He meant to be kind,” Campbell continued. “It doesn’t make Tom a bad person. It just makes him a person. He’s not a perfect angel who always says the right thing or does the right thing.”
“We could all be mean or untactful at times in certain situations. He had some flaws as we all do, but they weren’t major flaws. And a lot of them, the characteristics were what made him a strong leader. Underneath it all, he was pretty generous and sweet,” he added.
This frank exchange caused Campbell to keep his solo music unreleased for 15 years. The setback didn’t permanently derail Campbell’s musical aspirations with The Dirty Knobs.
Glide Magazine reported that The Dirty Knobs released their debut album ‘Wreckless Abandon’ on September 18, 2020. The band had spent years performing locally before the release. The original March launch was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The story reflects Campbell and Petty’s complex musical partnership. AXS TV highlighted Campbell’s dual role in The Heartbreakers. He served as lead guitarist and crucial songwriter. His unique riffs and solos complemented Petty’s straightforward chord progressions.
Campbell’s memoir offers insights into his contributions to the band. He brought ‘a musicality that Petty wasn’t capable of.’ Throughout their collaboration, Campbell viewed Petty as his ‘beacon.’
Ultimate Classic Rock noted that Campbell supported Petty through health challenges. Their relationship balanced mutual respect with musical independence, even when critiques were harsh.
