There is talk of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers marking their 50th anniversary in 2026.
Guitarist Mike Campbell tells Rolling Stone, “The management said that if we did it, we’d get the original band back together, have some guest singers, and maybe just do a couple of shows.
“But then I always throw my hands up and go, ‘I can’t think about that. I’m not ready to go back and do that.’ And I don’t want to do anything to dishonor the legacy. I’m not sure how that would feel to me, to have a bunch of people singing Tom’s parts. I’m open, but I’m not overly enthralled with the idea…
“There’s something good about leaving like it was. We left on a high note musically, and I don’t know. I have mixed feelings about it.”
Ironically, Campbell has that same Florida drawl like Petty so he can easily pull off the singing, which he does with his band, Dirty Knobs, who do a few Petty songs in their set.
Petty died of an accidental overdose on October 2nd, 2017 at the age of 66.
Campbell and the Dirty Knobs will release their new album, Vagabonds, Virgins & Misfits, on June 14th.
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