Tom Petty Today
As for currently, Petty is awaiting the beginning of another famed tour with the Heartbreakers. The 40th year anniversary tour is set to kick off April 20th, 2017 in Oklahoma. Fans everywhere are raving over Petty’s upcoming tour hoping it circles among their city. 2017 will have marked a whopping 40 years since Petty and the Heartbreakers set out to find a label that was willing to sign them with not just a single, but an entire album. 40 years since they began and they still hope for many more years to continue doing what they love.
Aside from touring, Petty is still a firm believer in expressing artistic freedom through music and being in full control of expression. He is a strong advocate for upholding the standard that music is meant to be a form of art rather than just a flashy career that some desire. After fighting numerous battles throughout his career, Petty has been an influence for other aspiring musicians to not back down on something that is important, like music.
Tom Petty is nearing his late sixties now and with that, he has accomplished far more than he had thought he would. With 3 solo albums, 13 albums with the Heartbreakers, and 2 albums with Mudcrutch, Petty went above and beyond throughout his lifetime. Nearly every single one of his albums reached top charts and, or went platinum or gold. Aside from his musical career, he managed to push through the struggles that he faced among his personal life. Just like he sang in “I Won’t Back Down,” he never did and because of that he stands where he does today, a happy and successful legend. As a result of his strong willed persistence to never give up, it has shown fans everywhere that just because life can be tough doesn’t mean one should back down from it.
Aside from Petty’s accomplishments, he is a rock and roll legend that will be a standard for what rock and roll was and is. He was able to reflect on his personal struggles while also being lively enough to catch the attention of millions of fans. Petty and his band mates went against the grain and proved that doing something different with music isn’t always bad. His collaborations with other musical legends have given the world a standard to hold rock and roll music to what it should be like. Petty being an advocate for artistic freedom and control is a big part of how he helped shape the music industry. His persistence in achieving his rights as an artist made a big statement that proved that if a young, inexperienced guy can do it then anyone can do it. He inspired people to not back down when it comes to anything from personal struggles to earning the rights that are well deserved as a musician.