Awesome Tom Petty article
 

Wow, I can't believe his record company rejected Full Moon Fever - crazy!



What I've Learned: Tom Petty
Rock star, 56, Malibu, California
Interviewed by Mike Sager

I don't think I've learned anything that I didn't already know. I just didn't recognize it at first.

When I met Elvis, we didn't really have a conversation. I was introduced by my uncle, and he sort of grunted my way. What stays with me is the whole scene. I had never seen a real mob scene before. I was really young and impressionable. Elvis really did look -- he looked sort of not real, as if he were glowing. He was astounding, even spiritual. It was like a procession in church: a line of white Cadillacs and mohair suits and pompadours so black, they were blue.

The energy of the crowd is insane. Twenty thousand people. It's the biggest jolt of adrenaline. It's very hard to explain. You know the old story about the woman lifting the car off her kid? It's in that realm. You can actually hurt yourself and not know it.

If you're phony, they will feel it in the farthest row of the arena. You have to really care. And you have to make yourself care time and time again.

I remember John Lennon saying, "Sid Vicious died for what? So that we might rock?" You've got to keep that in perspective. At the end of the day, they're just phonograph records.

Do something you really like, and hopefully it pays the rent. As far as I'm concerned, that's success.

I feel sorry for kids these days. They get so much homework. Remember the days when we put a belt around our two books and carried them home? Now they're dragging a suitcase. They have school all day, then homework from six until eleven. There's no time left to be creative. The hardest part for me is when my thirteen-year-old is complaining about the workload. I agree with him. I'm supposed to be responsible and support the teacher. But it's like, "You're right, son. This is (crap)."

If we're born in God's image, then God knows how we can (screw) up. And he knows that you really didn't mean it.

I like to be an optimist, but I like to be a realist, too.

The war in Iraq is shameful. Whether you're pro or con Bush, you've got to admit: The guy lied. And he continues to do so. I can't understand why he's just not run out on a rail. To send somebody's kids off and have them killed for no good reason -- he's going to have his day in hell for that. I wouldn't want that karma.

When you kill somebody's little sister with a missile, he's going to hate you forever. And the next generation will hate you even more.

The great thing about the Wilburys was that none of us had to take the heat by ourselves. I was just a member of the band. Nobody felt like he was above anybody else. We had such a good time.

There used to be this real sense of community integrity in rock. It has really eroded. Everyone seems to be on their own now.

When my record company rejected Full Moon Fever, I was hurt so bad. I was pretty far along in my career at that point. I'd never had anything rejected; I'd never really even had a comment. So when that happened, it was really just a board to the forehead. But then finally I picked myself up. I said, "I'm not buying this, there's nothing wrong, I really like this record." And then I waited awhile, until the top regime at the record company changed. And I came back and I played them the same record, and they were overjoyed. It turned out to be a huge hit.

"Free Fallin'" is a very good song. Maybe it would be one of my favorites if it hadn't become this huge anthem. But I'm grateful that people like it.

I guess if I were this age and nothing had gone right, it would really be bad.

What I've learned about marriage: You need to have each other's back; you have to be a kind of team going through life. That's beautiful-to have that kind of friendship. You're going to need it when you get old.

Rock 'n' roll was one thing, and then they chopped off the roll and called it rock, which became a sort of umbrella term for anything with a guitar in it. Like hair bands. How could we possibly believe that? It's just gotten downright silly, to the point where now it's sort of become like professional wrestling. The fans know it's phony, but they don't care.

I couldn't exist nowadays. I could never have built a career like I've had if I were just starting out now. Radio doesn't take a chance on anything anymore; they've streamlined the playlists to the lowest common denominator. It's really kind of silly that they think people would rather hear "Stairway to Heaven" one more time than a new song.

As you're coming up, you're recognized song for song or album for album. What's changed these days is that the man who approaches me on the street is more or less thanking me for a body of work -- the soundtrack to his life, as a lot of them say. And that's a wonderful feeling.

It's all an artist can ask.

http://boomers.msn.com/articleES.asp...77196&GT1=9206

What a great read...
 

one of the better reads I have had lately. Makes me even like Tom Petty that much more (Need to get my ass around and get his latest release)

That's sounds like a Mom-ism to me (Definately sounds like something my Mom wouldve said.)

That is one great quote by John Lennon...So effing true, it's just music folks.

Glad to see I follow Tom's path on being a realist.

Even Tom thinks the war (aka WWIII) is a sick joke :thumbsup: Get 'em Tom!

So true, so true...And that's why I dont care about alot of American music because it seems phony as hell. Gang-rap to me, is about as phony as WWE (Believe me, I am a lifelong wrasslin' fan, And even now the **** is phonier than ever - and for the record Mick Foley is God!!! His books are great reads even if you hate wrestling.)

Because of radio's refusal to play new music is why I dont listen to the radio. Seems the only time the radio is on in our car is when I stop to change cd's.

^^^
That's what I would say to Tom if I ever met him (Well that and why the hell do you look identical to my older brother Bill, minus the blond hair, it freaks me out.)

Thx. Love him. My favorite? "It's really kind of silly that they think people would rather hear "Stairway to Heaven" one more time than a new song. "

I thought he was gonna hold a press conference so he could announce to the world that, for the first time since 1975, he was going to eat a cheeseburger. :shrug:

"So when that happened, it was really just a board to the forehead".

Love his metaphor's. Very cool guy. Love those "old school" rock (& roll) guy's. Great read :thumbsup:

Thank you for that. what a great article. He just gets right to the point and he's so right about every one of them. I loooove his descriptions of Elvis. :)

I have never listened to the radio in my current automobile. :shocked: :)