RIP Tom Petty

Steve B Howard

Oct 3, 2017·1 min read

I think Refugee the very first Tom Petty song I ever heard. Most likely in the back seat of my brother in law’s ’68 Camaro and probably sporting one hell of a contact high at the age of nine as my older sister and brother in law’s bong hits blew in my face threw the open rear window.

I was born in 1970, so for me Tom Petty means the 70’s even though Damn the Torpedoes was released in 1979. It’s like the last of the classic 70’s rock album sound before Disco, New Wave, and Heavy Metal began dominating the airwaves in the 80's.

Later, in the 80’s well into the 2000’s Tom Petty’s music was always a solid bet when I wanted to listen to just your basic good rocking music.

Originally I wanted to write something about Las Vegas today, but I was too hurt and angry to really get anything down. Tom Petty’s passing hurts too, but I have some many wonderful memories connected to his music that it took the edge off my sadness enough that I could at least get this short little tribute to him written.

Thanks for all the great music over the years.