Mike Campbell's Turbulent Journey with Tom Petty: Love and Respect Endured

In his latest memoir titled "Heartbreaker," Mike Campbell recounts an incident from the early '70s when Tom Petty—his bandmate in Gainesville, Florida-based cover group Mudcrutch—played one of his compositions. While Petty was playing the chords for what would become the hit single "Don’t Do Me Like That" on FM radio, Campbell remarked to him, "If only I had the talent to pen something as great as this; I'd gladly sacrifice my right arm."

At the time, Campbell was an exceptionally talented guitarist brought up by his mother alone, striving fervently to escape poverty through professional music. Meeting Petty coincided with him taking menial low-paying jobs and contemplating enlistment in the armed forces. "My aim was always to play guitar just so I could dodge regular employment or signing up for the Air Force," states Campbell. "If someone offered me money to perform, then playing guitars was exactly what I intended to pursue." Besides performing, Campbell composed tunes—decent but not exceptional ones. Conversely, Petty had a knack for writing swiftly and effectively. Before both found their breakthrough with the Heartbreakers, Campbell resolved to put effort into being efficient and strategic alongside Petty who stood out as a remarkable talent; thus, Campbell committed to staying aligned with him.

Campbell emerged as one of rock's top sidemen—the figure consistently positioned to Petty's left throughout the band's more than four-decade-long tenure with the Heartbreakers. This culminated in their last performance at the Hollywood Bowl on September 25, 2017, just days before Petty's passing. Petty’s death At 66, it was a part he had been nurturing for many years.

Heartbreaker" narrates a story of perseverance and patience paying off. Soon enough, Petty transformed into the iconic figure we recognize—Tom Petty—and Campbell emerged as a legendary guitarist. Renowned for crafting impeccable guitar parts, Campbell’s resonant solos remain etched in our minds just like Petty’s characteristic mischievous vocal delivery. Their collaboration was so seamless that whenever Petty embarked on solo projects separate from their group, he called upon Campbell to contribute, both musically and behind the scenes.
From his residence in Woodland Hills, Campbell reflects, "When you encounter someone and choose one path over another, it could shape your entire existence." He contemplates how different his journey might have been without crossing paths with Tom or continuing through tough times: "I wonder where my life would be now if not for meeting Tom or if I’d stepped away during those challenging moments.

For many years, things remained challenging for Mudcrutch as members came and went, and the band tirelessly toured countless bars throughout the Southern states, seeking the perfect formula that set them apart from numerous top-notch cover bands in Florida. One notable venue was Dub’s, a large establishment in Gainesville where they performed regularly night after night over extended periods, sometimes including Tom Petty’s melodic tunes inspired by The Byrds. As Benmont Campbell notes, "At that time, everyone aimed to emulate the Allman Brothers' style. No one focused on crafting concise tracks featuring delicate harmonies and grand choruses."

The group performed for rowdy, intoxicated motorcyclists who were also watching wet T-shirt competitions. There were heated arguments with profit-driven venue managers as well. Frustration led some disheartened musicians to leave the band; however, Campbell understood what he needed. He realized that having Petty onboard was crucial. "In our youth, we harbored aspirations," states Campbell. "While success seemed unlikely at times, those dreams kept us going."

As per Campbell, Petty, just 19 years old at the time, emerged as a complete package. Boisterous, assured, and brimming with concepts, Petty consistently outthought every member of the group. "He possessed both the aspiration and determination to achieve greatness without getting distracted or settling for mediocrity," states Campbell. "Yet, in numerous aspects, we shared similarities, particularly regarding our musical preferences." It was Petty who persistently approached record labels armed with a demo tape until he caught the attention of Shelter Records' president, Denny Cordell, leading to their formation as a band. "Competing with him for leadership wasn’t my intention," remarks Campbell, "rather, I aimed to fill in where needed. I would push him forward and help elevate his game."

More than anything else, "Heartbreaker" serves as a guide on functioning within a group led by a dominant individual. Campbell discovered the importance of becoming a peacemaker and arbitrator—how to allow minor complaints to fade away, mend fences for the collective benefit, and prevent selfish desires from obstructing the broader vision. Despite being volatile and unpredictable—with his clear understanding of his pivotal role in the band-Petty consistently motivated Campbell to compose music.

"Tom displayed remarkable confidence," according to Campbell. "Since I also had my own compositions, I decided to follow him and put in my best effort." Instead of imposing his music onto the band, Campbell preferred to subtly guide Petty by sharing cassettes containing basic chord structures or just a catchy phrase or hook, hoping Petty could develop these ideas into full-fledged songs. This collaborative approach led to masterpieces, though it did come with some hesitation from Campbell.

“I initially had doubts about my writing,” states Camb Campbell. “Before sharing anything, I prefer refining it—even with my spouse. Sometimes Tom took quite some time to review what I’d written, yet his feedback would often be remarkable. This approach suits me better than having an immediate critique session.”

In 1976, Petty and the Heartbreakers rose to fame with their self-titled debut album, which included hits like "American Girl" and "Breakdown." However, as the pressure intensified both internally and externally, Campbell worked tirelessly to keep tensions at bay and prevent the group from crumbling beneath the mounting expectations.

In 1979, " Damn the Torpedoes" marked the beginning of their series of highly successful albums, though it nearly led to the group's dissolution. According to guitarist Mike Campbell's autobiography, producer Jimmy Iovine and engineer Shelly Yakus subjected the entire team to intense pressure in the recording studio, making them feel as if they were enduring mental combat. Drummer Stan Lynch became particularly affected by this grueling process; he frequently walked out of sessions multiple times before returning because nobody could match his work ethic (Lynch ultimately departed from the band in 1994).

Campbell remembers recording "Refugee" at least 70 times. The track started out as a riff from Campbell but gained approval from Iovine, Yakus, and Petty. He explains, "It wasn’t an easy process since Tom was quite straightforward and intolerant of incompetence; he generally spoke the truth." There was immense pressure to deliver an outstanding performance.

The matter of finances was also significant. Initially, the Heartbreakers’ first manager, Elliot Roberts, made things clear: Petty would get 50% of the earnings, and the rest would be divided among the band members. According to Campbell, this setup caused tension for many years, particularly upsetting Heartbreaker’s keyboard player, Benmont Tench. During the "Tompetty" sessions, tensions flared again when Campbell voiced his desire for a bigger share due to his contributions; however, upon hearing Petty say those famous three words—“I’m Tom Petty”—the argument ceased immediately.

To be honest, Tom offered me a significant contribution on 'Full Moon Fever,'" states Campbell regarding Petty’s platinum-selling 1989 solo album. "He also had a very giving nature.

Most significantly, Petty and Campbell collaborated on writing tracks that have become familiar to countless listeners: "You Got Lucky," "Refugee," and "Here Comes My Girl." With Petty increasingly including Campbell’s compositions, Campbell's skill as a lyricist flourished, leading him to venture outside their group. He teamed up with Don Henley to pen blockbuster hits like "The Boys of Summer" and "The Heart of the Matter." According to Campbell, "Tom helped me trust my own abilities." They maintained strong communication and mutual appreciation throughout their partnership, which explains why they remained such close collaborators for years.

This tale initially surfaced in Los Angeles Times .