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Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
American rock band (1976–2017)
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers were an American rock band formed in Gainesville, Florida, in 1976. The band originally comprised lead singer and rhythm guitarist Tom Petty, lead guitarist Mike Campbell, keyboardist Benmont Tench, drummer Stan Lynch and bassist Ron Blair.
In 1982, Blair, weary of the touring lifestyle, departed the band. His replacement, Howie Epstein, remained with the band for the next two decades.
In 1991, Scott Thurston joined the band as a multi-instrumentalist, primarily on rhythm guitar and secondary keyboard. In 1994, Steve Ferrone replaced Lynch on drums.
members: Tom Petty, Mike Campbell, Benmont Tench, Ron Blair, Scott Thurston, Steve Ferrone, Stan Lynch, Howie Epstein
formed in: Gainesville
labels: Warner Bros. Records, MCA Records, Shelter Records, Backstreet Records, Reprise Records, Sonic Boom
genres: rock music, heartland rock, Southern rock
awards: star on Hollywood Walk of Fame, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Facts from Wikidata and Discogs, free to use.
rockheartland rocksouthern rockpop rockpower popclassic rock
The Elsewhere GazetteExtra
Early years and first two albums (1974–1978)
As a teenager, Tom Petty joined or formed several bands in his hometown of Gainesville, Florida, included the Sundowners and the Epics, with Petty playing guitar and bass and singing as needed. In 1970, he and fellow North Central Florida resident Mike Campbell (lead guitar) formed Mudcrutch, with Benmont Tench (keyboards) joining in 1972. The band was a local success, eventually playing gigs across Florida, enjoying regular residences at popular clubs, and organizing music festivals at "Mudcrutch Farm", a large empty lot adjacent to the small house where most band members lived. In 1974, Mudcrutch relocated to Los Angeles, California in attempt to gain the attention of a major record label. Leon Russell signed them to Shelter Records,...
Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers were an American rock band formed in Gainesville, Florida in 1976.
Inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002 (Performer).
The band was led by Tom Petty until his death in 2017.
Also known as: "The Heartbreakers", Petty, Petty And Co., Petty and the Heartbreakers, T. Petty & The Heartbreakers
From Discogs (free to use). Their entry
Liner notes
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, the records, oldest first
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
1976 album
wanted
You’re Gonna Get It!
1978 album
Damn the Torpedoes
1979 album
Hard Promises
1981 album
Long After Dark
1982 album
Southern Accents
1985 album
Let Me Up (I’ve Had Enough)
1987 album
Into the Great Wide Open
1991 album
The Homecoming Concert
1994 album
Echo
1999 album
The Last DJ
2002 album
Mojo
2010 album
Hypnotic Eye
2014 album
The 1985 Rehearsal Tape
2016 album
2006‐09‐21: PBS Soundstage, Stephan C. O’Connell Center, Gainesville, FL
2025 album
Records from MusicBrainz; covers from the Cover Art Archive.
"American Girl" is a song written by American singer, songwriter, and guitarist Tom Petty and recorded by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers for their eponymous debut album (1976). It was released as a single in February 1977 by Shelter Records and did not chart in the United States, but peaked at No. 40 in the UK for the week ending August 27, 1977.
It was re-released in 1994 as the second single from Petty's Greatest Hits album and peaked at No. 68 on the US Cash Box Top 100.
Composition and recording
"American Girl" was written by Petty around the time he and the Heartbreakers signed their first recording contract. It was recorded on the 4th of July in 1976, the Bicentennial of the United States.
Lyrics and rumors
Due to lyrics about a desperate girl on a balcony hearing "cars roll by out on 441", the song has long been rumored to be about a college student who died by suicide by jumping from the Beaty Towers residence hall at the University of Florida (UF) in Gainesville. The 160 feet (49 m) dormitory is located on the edge of campus alongside U.S. Route 441 and opened in 1967, when Petty was a teenager living across town.
Critical reception
"American Girl" is widely considered one of Petty's greatest works. The song was ranked number one on Billboard's list of Petty's 20 greatest songs and on Rolling Stone's list of Petty's 50 greatest songs. Cash Box said that it "rides along with a nice thump and an unusual, syncopated instrumental section." In June 2026, CBS News included the song in its list of the 250 essential American songs of the past 250 years.
In popular culture
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers performed the song on the BBC2 television show The Old Grey Whistle Test in 1978.
