Tom Petty (1950-2017) The rock star who spoke for all of us
Petty redeemed the promise of rock & roll to provide inspiration, elation and solace, of never forgetting the wonder of youth and of looking at life with a twinkle in the eye and a smirk on the lips.
By DAVID BRINNUpdated: OCTOBER 3, 2017 11:42Singer and songwriter Tom Petty performs during the half time show of the NFL's Super Bowl XLII football game between the New England Patriots and the New York Giants in Glendale, Arizona, U.S., February 3, 2008(photo credit: REUTERS/LUCY NICHOLSON/FILE PHOTO)
The death of Tom Petty seems to hurts more than the other huge losses to the music world in recent years, like Prince, David Bowie, Lou Reed and Leonard Cohen.The latter were all, poets, prophets, larger than life artists who chose music as their medium. Petty didn't have a choice. He was an everyman, another skinny teen loser who found liberation, adventure and self-worth in a chiming electric guitar, a wicked beat and loads of attitude.Unlike the rest of us underdogs, Petty possessed the talent, charisma and craftsmanship to grab his dream and create his own universe of hooks, rhymes, choruses and solos that spoke to millions over a 40-year career that stands proudly next to any other musical giant of the late 20th century.As Peter Himmelman, a singer-songwriter whose influences ranged from his father-in-law Bob Dylan to Petty himself, wrote in tribute: "Was there ever a better songwriter, a cooler rockstar, a better role model for some kid from anywhere-in-the-world who saw him or herself learning to play guitar and gettin' up onstage to say, 'I'm alive on this planet and so are you'? I think not. Tom Petty was my favorite. Hands down."Petty redeemed the eternal promise of rock & roll to provide inspiration, elation and solace, of never forgetting the wonder and awe of youth (how else could he continue calling his band of AARP card-carriers 'the Heartbreakers') and of looking at life with a twinkle in the eye and a slight smirk on the lips.From the first time seeing him electrify an audience in a tiny club in Boston in 1977 on the heels of his band's stunning debut album, it was clear that he was already a fully-formed star, but without any of the affectations. Five years later, he was the same aw-shucks guy performing at a sold-out Boston Garden.The last time I saw Petty was five years later in Jerusalem's Sultan Pool, as he and the Heartbreakers made good on their promise yet again with their own riveting set, sandwiched between legends and influences Roger McGuinn and Dylan, provided the latter with his most sympathetic and assured backing since The Band.The younger spunky brother in The Travelling Wilburys with Dylan, George Harrison and Roy Orbison; the cheerleading, vice-principal to Springsteen in the 'ain't no sin to be glad you're alive' school of thought; or the grizzled veteran taking a victory lap on his recently completed 40th anniversary tour – whatever stage of life or performance, Petty raised everyone around him with his integrity, honesty and cheeriness, armed with a slew of memorable songs that will long outlive him.He proved time and time again that, as he sang with such conviction - yes, even the losers get lucky sometimes.
