Tom Petty’s manager Tony Dimitriades has confirmed that the star has died at the age of 66. He was admitted to hospital on Sunday night after suffering a cardiac arrest, and he died on Monday night.
Born in Gainesville in 1950, Petty embarked on a solo career after a stint in the band Mudcrutch, where he formed a backing band, The Heartbreakers. Their self-titled album was released in 1976, which featured one of his signature songs, ‘American Girl’, as well as ‘Breakdown’.
Petty was also part of the supergroup The Traveling Wilburys alongside Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Roy Orbison and Jeff Lynne. He continued working with Lynne on his first solo album ‘Full Moon Fever’, which featured hits such as ‘Free Fallin’.
In recent years, Petty reunited with Mudcrutch, with their most recent album arriving in 2016.
As reported by Pitchfork, he iconic singer and songwriter died “surrounded by family, his bandmates and friends”.
Read a full statement from Tony Dimitriades below.
Read More
Hear previously-unreleased Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers track ‘For Real’
The song features on forthcoming compilation, ‘The Best of Everything’.
15th February 2019, 12:00am
Tom Petty Adds Second London Show To Tour
Tom Petty will now be playing two dates at London's Royal Albert Hall.
18th January 2012, 2:44pm
Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers Reveal Royal Albert Hall Show
The Heartbreakers will play in the capital ahead of their headlining slot at Isle of Wight festival.
13th January 2012, 12:18pm
Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers Announce US And Europe Tour
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers will be headlining at next year's Isle of Wight Festival.
14th December 2011, 4:35pm
With Bob Vylan, St Vincent, girl in red, Lizzy McAlpine and more.