October 2, 2017 is a day that will remain in infamy. Not only was it the day that there was a mass shooting at a concert in Las Vegas, killing 58 people. It was also the day Tom Petty unexpectedly died, exactly a week after he finished his 40th anniversary tour, perhaps the biggest tour of his career.
Some fans have speculated that The Heartbreakers, Petty’s longtime backing band, would continue to play without him. While they most likely won’t tour together anymore, that doesn’t mean that they’re going to stop playing music, together or solo. Keyboardist Benmont Tench III has played a few very intimate shows in New York and California since Petty’s passing. Lead guitarist Mike Campbell has also scheduled some shows with his band, The Dirty Knobs, mainly in California.
All the rest of the guys are taking a break to recuperate from both the tour, and the loss of their fearless leader. But the music will never die.
It was announced today that at Stephen Stills’ annual Light Up The Blues autism benefit concert at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles, on April 21 2018, Campbell, Tench, and drummer Steve Ferrone will be the house band. It is unknown if they will actually stop and play together as “Tom Petty’s Heartbreakers,” or simply The Heartbreakers. But either way, it’s satisfying to know that the music that Tom Petty gifted us will be honored by his band, even if it turns out to be a one-off event.
Stephen Stills will reunite with his former partner Neil Young at the show as well. This is bound to be quite the historical event.
Josh Bradley Live 