On March 18, 2025, the day Mike Campbell’s memoir Heartbreaker got here out, he posted the opening sentence of the ebook on his Instagram account: “You don’t find out about me with out having heard a band by the title of Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers.”
And he’s proper. However that’s about to alter. Up till the publication of his ebook (written with novelist Ari ‘Double Nickels’ Surdoval), in all probability every thing you knew about Campbell was contained within the sound of these 13 albums by the Heartbreakers – the band he helped present in 1976, as lead guitarist, co-writer (writing or co-writing 36 songs within the Heartbreakers’ mighty canon) and co-captain, as he typically likes to explain himself. However maybe a extra correct time period is liege lord: the one Heartbreaker to look on all three of Petty’s solo albums, he was the singer’s right-hand man, apologist and generally dragon-slayer. He stood to the left of Petty on stage for 4 many years, darkish, quiet, watchful, cool and a bit dangerous-looking, an inscrutable distinction to Petty’s rangy, tow-headed, insider deportment and brutal confidence.
Whereas they have been markedly completely different in temperament, manner and core competency, what bounded the 2 have been a shared a British Invasion sensibility within the music they beloved – not widespread amongst their Northern Florida brethren – and dreaming the identical dream, a dream they may solely obtain collectively. Though if cornered, each would have been loath to confess it.
“Tom by no means doubted that we might make it,” Campbell writes within the intro to Heartbreaker. “He all the time knew we have been going to the highest. Nothing was going to cease him. He was little and he was skinny, however he may very well be unbreakable. He may face up to strain like no one I’ve ever seen. Tom Petty was one of many hardest folks I’ve ever met, however it may make him onerous on folks.”
Together with Campbell.
Petty was all the time seen because the ‘folks’s rock star’, the hyperlink between the widespread man and the rock stars up on Valhalla, like his bandmates within the Travelin’ Wilburys. Campbell paints a extra sophisticated image of his buddy and bandmate, breaking the code of band silence about what it was wish to work with the pushed, typically risky, frontman.
From their first days in Mudcrutch, a swampy psychedelic rock’n’roll band they shaped on a rundown farm exterior Gainesville, Florida, in 1970, Campbell was at Petty’s aspect. He was at his bedside throughout his final moments, after he’d suffered coronary heart failure following an unintended drug overdose every week after the Heartbreakers completed a three-night stint on the Hollywood Bowl on September 25, 2017, closing out their fortieth Anniversary Tour.
“I feel I’ll be grieving Tom’s dying all my life,” says Campbell, within the lounge of his studio in Woodland Hills, California. It’s obvious that he nonetheless hasn’t absolutely accepted it, though Petty has been gone greater than seven years – he nonetheless speaks of his companion within the current tense.
Among the many issues followers will discover when studying the ebook is that the psychic prices of success are increased than most may think. Even one thing seemingly as mundane as naming the band is fraught with dominance and submission inside the band.
It’s not solely Petty that Campbell portrays in incisive, obsessive element. He offers a sitcom-worthy profile of bandmate Stan Lynch, and the indignities and near-psychological warfare the drummer suffered by the hands of producer Jimmy Iovine and engineer Shelly Yakus whereas they have been recording 1979’s Rattling The Torpedoes. He remembers the kindness and humanity of blues-grouch Al Kooper, who brings bandmate Benmont Tench a turkey sandwich when he was in rehab, exhibiting a a lot completely different aspect of the Tremendous Session organist/organiser. There’s a hilarious but edifying trade with Gene Simmons, when the Heartbreakers opened for Kiss, during which the bassist explains the distinction between main, secondary and tertiary markets and which days of the week you must play every, as if delivering a lecture from the mount. There are bon mots about George Harrison (who asks him if he dyes his hair!), John Lydon, Bob Dylan, Johnny Money (his father’s favorite artist), and an opportunity assembly with future, a canine, and the lady who would develop into his spouse of fifty years.
On the centre of the ebook, regardless of all of the machinations, energy struggles, betrayals, sudden quirks of character and shifts of loyalties, the brushes with medicine and the dying of a bandmember, Heartbreaker isn’t a story of ruthless ambition and treachery, or perhaps a tell-all, however certainly one of endurance and transformation, and a person’s love story for a band, a lady and an period.
What motivated you to jot down Heartbreaker? What story did you are feeling that you simply wanted telling, and why proper now?
Nicely, to be sincere, I didn’t assume I wanted to inform any of the tales and I wasn’t intending to jot down a ebook in any respect. It by no means even crossed my thoughts till my buddy Jaan Uhelszki stated she knew an writer that was eager to jot down a ebook about me, Ari Surdoval, who turned out to be an important companion. So it got here into my lap with out me in search of it. I simply dug into my reminiscence banks and talked for hours and hours.
Had been there stuff you didn’t get to say to Tom that you simply wished you had?
In truth, I had no burning need to say something to Tom that I by no means stated to him when he was alive. I did sit with him at his [hospital] bedside, and I do know he may hear me. He couldn’t speak, however I informed him all of the issues I say within the ebook.
Your portrayal of Tom is of somebody extra advanced and complex than his public persona. Was it troublesome so that you can present his ruthlessness?
Ruthless? Actually? I informed the reality. I didn’t really feel I needed to present Tom’s onerous aspect any greater than his candy aspect. His onerous aspect, in comparison with lots of people, was not that onerous. He was pushed and impressive, however ‘ruthless’ sounds a bit harsh. Perhaps it was domineering and controlling and highly effective, however ‘ruthless’ feels like there’s some type of evil intent beneath it. There by no means was with him.
You speak about Tom’s “unbreakable” confidence. Was that contagious for the remainder of the band?
Nicely I want I’d have had a few of his confidence. I used to be insecure and not sure about issues. Thank god I had a companion who had these traits. Did it rub off on the remainder of us? Yeah, it did. He was a frontrunner. He was just like the coach: “Okay, we’re going to win the sport.”
You write: “Generally he made me so indignant I couldn’t take a look at him, however nothing may ever cut up us up. Early on we made some unstated deal that we’re taking place the road collectively it doesn’t matter what.” Do you know instantly, and was the connection simply concerning the music?
It was rapid. It was the identical once I met my spouse. I instantly knew that there’s a connection right here and that is going to be a long-term relationship. With Tom it was principally the music, however I additionally simply preferred the dude. He’s enjoyable to hold with, he was humorous, he was sensible, he revered my opinions and my mind, no matter I had of it, we had nice discussions about music, and we have been simply buddies.
On the coronary heart of the ebook, for me, are two love tales: primary in your band – you go to any lengths to protect it – the opposite one is assembly your future spouse, Marcie, in 1974.
Sure. Probably the most lovely factor about our relationship is when Marcie met me I used to be no one. After we first met, she didn’t know if I used to be value a shit or not. However we related with out all that shrapnel round us. It was simply, you’re a candy little child who’s misplaced; I’m misplaced too. I such as you for who you’re, the little boy in there, not the rock star. Nobody else may ever give me that. Only a few rock marriages survive, and doubtless most of it’s as a result of the connection is concerning the star or the approach to life and never concerning the little boy inside.
You have been in your band for forty-one years. You’ve been married for nearly fifty years. Do you assume, being a baby of divorce, you’d go to any lengths to maintain issues collectively?
It’s my concept, it’s the most effective I can give you. Perhaps the emotional tumultuous second was when my dad and mom cut up up. I didn’t like that feeling, and so going ahead in my life I didn’t wish to have issues break up.
You speak about your insecurity and doubt, however what was the second the place you began to consider in your expertise?
I don’t keep in mind the precise state of affairs, however as a rule the higher I bought on the guitar, the extra ladies would speak to me. After which in fact once I met Tom he was very supportive. That gave me confidence. [Producer] Denny Cordell was a heroic determine for me. I by no means thought I may write till he informed me I may. Rick Rubin did that too. He recognised one thing in me. There’s been numerous occasions alongside the best way. George Harrison was so type to me and complimented me. Dylan. And people little moments offer you confidence alongside the best way. As a result of musicians, most of them which can be any good, are in all probability insecure. I nonetheless have hassle taking part in demos for Marcie. It’s a tortured-artist impact. It’s onerous to play music that you simply’ve written for somebody. It’s like being overly clear and bare.
It’s humorous that the remainder of us assume you artists reside on Mount Olympus with no care on the planet.
I feel a whole lot of followers don’t realise what psychological and bodily sacrifice and onerous work goes into maintaining a band collectively and turning into profitable. Sleeping on mattresses for years, consuming bologna sandwiches, driving round in Econoline vans within the snow and getting a flat tyre. They assume you simply stroll into the studio, go la-di-dah, there’s a success single, and off we go.
You speak about Tom separating himself from the band – having his personal bus, his personal dressing room – and also you stated he was like Elvis. What was the clearest indication of that change? Did you are feeling the connection between him and the band was getting extra tenuous?
It was not an enormous second when he bought his personal bus, however till then the band was all the time within the van, all the time in the identical bus, all the time round one another, for years. For Tom, I assumed he’s in all probability sick of us. We’re in all probability sick of him. We’d talked about every thing there may be to speak about, and we in all probability want some house. It wasn’t an enormous deal, however there was a line drawn.
However that wasn’t the tip of it. When Elliot Roberts got here in as a part of the administration group, he referred to as a gathering and knowledgeable the band – Tom wasn’t there – that going ahead, Tom would obtain fifty per cent of the income and also you, Benmont Tench, Stan Lynch and Ron Blair would cut up the opposite half among the many 4 of you.
All people needs to speak about that!
Since you set it within the ebook, it’s a must to speak about it. You satisfied the remainder of the band that it was higher to remain than stop the band. Why weren’t you resentful?
Nicely, to begin with I actually like Elliot. He was all the time stoned and making jokes and perhaps bent the reality every now and then to let you know what you needed to listen to. Even when he was being hardass, folks preferred him anyway.
The band assembly was awkward and I didn’t have time to organize for it. The brand new cut up wasn’t like we have been going to speak about it, it was this has already been determined and take it or depart it. My first response was like when Tom bought his personal bus: we’ve all the time completed every thing collectively. It’s all the time been 5 for one and one for all. Now it’s not.
Then he laid it out for us: this man’s doing this, this, this, this, this, this, this. They shouldn’t get as a lot cash as this man who’s doing all of the shit. Which means Tom. I utterly bought that. And like I stated within the ebook, I figured, effectively, why bellyache over this? It’s logical, and if I used to be Tom I’d in all probability be saying the identical factor. If we don’t get hung up on this difficulty we will all do effectively. Which we did. At that time we hadn’t seen the cash but, however we may really feel that we have been going to achieve success. We have been already taking part in greater locations and the data have been promoting extra. So I assumed, simply sit again and benefit from the journey, don’t get hung up on greed. I feel a number of the different guys bought a bit extra threatened and emotional about it. I noticed that, and I stated: “Strive to take a look at it my manner.” They lastly bought it and all people calmed down.
Did you are feeling equally if you requested him for a increase? If you made Rattling The Torpedoes you have been contributing extra than simply taking part in guitar: co-writing Refugee and Right here Comes My Lady, doing a whole lot of preparations, arising with a whole lot of the hooks and placing ending touches on the tracks. You informed him: “I used to be considering perhaps I may get a bit bit extra of the pie on this one, as a result of I used to be such a much bigger a part of it.” And he simply stared at you and stated: “Yeah, however I’m Tom Petty.”
It was much more comical, as a result of I kinda knew he was going to outfox me, as a result of he all the time did. However the fact is, after that dialog he did flip round and provides me manufacturing factors on the sly; the band didn’t find out about it. So the end result of that dialog of “I’m Tom Petty” was he went house and considered it. “Mike’s in all probability bought a degree. I’ll give him a degree.” On [1989 solo album] Full Moon Fever he gave me an enormous chunk.
When he stated that it was like I can’t actually argue with that. Checkmate. Like: “Yeah, however I’m Mike Campbell.” He can be like: “Nicely no one is aware of who that’s.” You bought me there. You couldn’t pull the wool over his eyes, and he would draw his line and he would persuade you that that’s the place the road needed to be.
Can we speak a bit about working with Jeff Lynne, who did manufacturing on Full Moon Fever? He requested you for those who had something to contribute, and also you stated you didn’t. You stated it was a wake-up name for you. What did you imply by that?
Initially, it was inspiring and thrilling to work with Jeff. When he got here within the room, you actually did wish to strive tougher. However the factor I realized was that you simply needed to come along with your greatest stuff, or he’d do one thing higher.
I all the time felt he was gently pushing me to be the most effective I may very well be, and he all the time appeared to get excited once I would do one thing good, which might encourage me extra. Jeff has this factor – he’s actually dead-on with pitch, particularly with singing. He can inform if it’s a bit sharp or flat. Tom and I used to giggle, as a result of if it was a bit off, he’d peer over his glasses and provides us this glare. We lastly stated to him: “Look, Jeff, no matter you do, simply don’t give us the attention.”
You have been requested to play guitar on the Touring Wilburys observe Deal with With Care.
Jeff stated play one thing like Eric Clapton.
However you determined after you performed it that George Harrison ought to play it as an alternative.
Image the vibe of the tune. It’s a mild little pop tune. It will get to the center and right here comes Eric Clapton. I did my greatest model of attempting to play in that mould, however I knew it wasn’t my greatest stuff. I felt actually unhealthy as a result of Tom was actually attempting to contain me in the entire thing, he and Jeff. I attempted to push it off to George. I needed the warmth off me, like please don’t use that guitar half. It’s not that good. And Jeff was going no, it’s nice. And George goes yeah, it’s nice. I had the sound up in my guitar, so I simply handed it to George and he pulled out a slide… the remaining is historical past. If you hear what George performed, it’s 100 occasions higher than what I performed.
You speak about occasions you spent with George Harrison the place you forgot who he was. And also you say: “Generally it appeared like he did too.” Did you are feeling that being an ex-Beatle was an enormous burden for him?
In fact it was. For all of them. However he handled it fairly effectively. I feel the spirituality aspect of him helped him get by means of all that. However by the point I used to be hanging out with him he was not overly non secular. He simply needed to be the musician, he needed to be within the gang. It was the identical with all these guys. If you first meet them, like Dylan or Johnny Money, it’s like: “Oh my God, this aura is so intense.” After some time it’s like simply two musicians speaking about music. Bob as soon as stated to me: “I can’t speak to common folks. I don’t know what they’ve on their minds, however I can speak to a musician.” There’s an affinity there.
After you play your first session with Bob Dylan, he turns to you and says: “What do you assume?” Quoting from the ebook: “The room fell silent. I froze. I gulped. Then I stated: ‘It’s actually lengthy.’” Do you assume he was stunned that you simply informed him what you actually thought?
I don’t assume he heard the reality that a lot. As quickly as I stated it, I assumed: “Oh, I simply insulted him.” However he began laughing. He stated: “Nicely gee, Mike, would you thoughts taking part in on it anyway?”
At one level, you realise you’re writing extra songs that Tom even had time to take heed to, so that you determined to begin recording a few of them your self with a band you set collectively referred to as the Soiled Knobs. You let Tom hear a few of your solo stuff and he tells you: “It’s higher than Keith Richards’s solo stuff, I’ll offer you that.” Which at first you thought he meant as a praise. Then he stated: “What are you doing? It feels like a foul impression of me!” It’s a very painful a part of the ebook.
Nicely, it tapped into my insecurity. I already was afraid that I shouldn’t put it out. So when Tom stated it, it didn’t shock me that a lot. Plus I had anticipated him to have an adversarial “don’t do that” response, as a result of that was simply his nature.
I feel I even stated: “Nicely, if it sounds such as you that should sound fairly good, proper?” “Yeah, however you don’t wish to do this.” He requested me: “Are these songs nice?” And I stated: “Nicely, I don’t know, they’re fairly good.” “Nicely in the event that they’re actually nice, why don’t we do them?” It’s like checkmate as soon as once more.
As I look again on it now, I’m glad I waited, as a result of now I’m prepared. I used to be barely studying to sing and write alone. And so regardless that he was a bit untactful, he was proper. He did name me again the following day and go: “I’m actually sorry, I used to be in a foul temper, however you actually shouldn’t be doing this proper now. We’re busy, and also you don’t wish to distract from the Heartbreakers.”
How have been you in a position to transfer by means of the grief of Tom’s dying?
I had no inkling he would go so early. I all the time puzzled who would go first. We had plans to do one other document and a follow-up tour to that, simply carry on going. My grief was debilitating at first, and I’m nonetheless grieving. I really feel his presence generally on stage once I do sure songs, and I’ll get a bit choked up. It’s been over seven years now, so it’s a very long time to nonetheless be grieving. However a technique I bought by means of the grieving course of, which I realized from Al-Anon [a support group for people who have been affected by someone else’s drinking], is for those who’re of service to any person else and their points and their dramas, that’s the most effective therapeutic for you too. So I attempted to do this in any manner I may.
In your birthday, February 1, in 2018, Mick Fleetwood referred to as you and requested how you’d really feel about becoming a member of Fleetwood Mac, to switch Lindsay Buckingham. Did that assuage any of the contemporary grief? Tom had simply been gone 4 months.
Yeah, it gave me one thing else to focus my thoughts on. I assumed I used to be going to affix the band, we have been going to make a document, after which I realised, oh, they only need me for the tour. Which is okay. It was the best tour ever! Marcie went too, and it was like a paid trip around the globe. They handled us like royalty. The gigs have been nice. I loved taking part in these songs. It was like a present to me.
Didn’t they need you to do some Heartbreakers songs too?
I didn’t wish to do any, however Stevie [Nicks] needed to do Free Fallin’ and perform a little tribute to Tom within the live performance. Free Fallin’ isn’t certainly one of my favorite songs, though lots of people find it irresistible. Then within the rehearsal they requested me to do Oh Nicely, the Peter Inexperienced tune, which isn’t a lot singing, it’s principally speaking. It’s an important guitar exercise, and in order that was my probability to get my confidence with my voice and being on the mic. That was the start of my genesis into the egomaniac I’m now.
Nevertheless it was a turning level for me. Steve Actual, Stevie’s vocal coach, would come by the dressing room earlier than the present and educate me some respiratory and workouts. I nonetheless take the tape he made me and do it earlier than each Knobs present. I bought my [Dirty Knobs] document deal out of that. We have been in Boston, and somebody from the label got here to see the present and afterwards they stated: “We love the best way you sound. Do you wish to make a document?” So it got here to me once more. These blessings.
I’m undoubtedly grateful. That’s a part of why I wrote the ebook. All people will get some type of blessings; you simply have to have the ability to recognise the blessings after they come your manner and embrace them.
I feel you could have truly found out the important thing to happiness.
Nicely I’m attempting. I keep in mind as soon as we have been in Australia, and Bob Dylan did an interview with some native journalist, and the man goes: “So pay attention, Bob, are you content?” And with out lacking a beat he goes: “Blissful? They’ve tablets for that.” In order that’s my reply.
After Tom died, you rejected the thought of the Heartbreakers persevering with with out him, at the least underneath that title. Do you assume over time you would possibly change your thoughts?
No, we’re not like that. It’s not going to occur. That was Tom’s band, that was our band with Tom. It could really feel awkward and it might really feel unhappy. It’s like that ship sailed. And I feel it’s okay, simply keep in mind it prefer it was.
I like doing the occasional Heartbreakers tune with the Soiled Knobs from time to time, as a result of the folks know the songs and I get to sing them my very own manner, and I wrote it so it’s mine anyway.
There’s so many Heartbreakers tribute bands now. I examine them out solely out of curiosity and go: “Oooh, no, no, no”. So I don’t wish to really feel like a kind of.
They work on a regular basis. This one band, they’ve gigs booked all yr lengthy, golf equipment throughout America doing me and Tom. And the man they get for me by no means seems like me. A few of them have guys that look sorta like Tom, however they all the time get some fats, ugly man to play my half.
I’m utilizing that, by the best way.
That’s okay. Fuck these guys.
Heartbreaker: A Memoir by Mike Campbell is out there now in hardback, eBook and Audio by way of Constable.