by Warren Zanes
First published 2015
Warren Zanes opens his biography of Tom Petty in Gainesville, Florida, where a young man with little apparent promise discovers rock and roll will change everything. The author, who toured with Petty and earned his trust, traces the musician's journey from Southern roots through encounters with Elvis and the Beatles on Ed Sullivan that sparked his ambition. Zanes shows how Petty built his career through collaborations with Bob Dylan, formed the supergroup Traveling Wilburys with George Harrison, Roy Orbison, and Jeff Lynne, and created hits like "American Girl," "Refugee," "Free Fallin'," and "Mary Jane's Last Dance." The book reveals Petty's reclusive nature while capturing his insights about music, his regrets, and his enduring drive to create. Zanes presents both the public triumphs and private struggles that shaped this enigmatic artist who repeatedly found ways to reinvent himself and connect with audiences across decades of performing and recording.
Genres: biography, 20th-century, american, music, 21st-century
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: rags-to-riches, reinvention
Setting: Gainesville, Florida
Period: 20th-century, 21st-century
323 pages · Hardcover · Henry Holt and Co.