Could Have Been: A Tribute To Tom Petty

If not for one man leaving this world two years ago today, the last two years of my life could have been much different in terms of music.

I could have travelled to Gainesville to see a Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame band blow up a sold-out 40th anniversary homecoming gig. When the band played the Hollywood Bowl, it had been eleven years since their last gig in Gainesville proper.

I could have been at a release party for a new album of entirely new material. Perhaps it would be in celebration of 40 years of rock and roll. Maybe it could include some tunes written by Benmont Tench and/or Scott Thurston. Instead, I attended a release party for an archives/greatest hits collection. I met so many fans that night, just imagine how much harder we could have partied if it were brand new studio material, rather than a collection of deep cuts and unreleased recordings.

I could have seen Fleetwood Mac in concert, with Lindsey Buckingham. Had a tragedy not occurred some four-or-so months prior, Stevie Nicks could have brushed aside the fact that Lindsey was chuckling behind her at MusiCares. Instead, guitarist Mike Campbell, found himself teaming up with Neil Finn of Crowded House to take Lindsey’s place. Mike could have done a full-scale tour with his side project, The Dirty Knobs, rather than putting it on hold for something bigger, yet again.

I could have experienced a post-Roy and post-George Traveling Wilburys reunion. Maybe a new collaboration between him and Jeff Lynne to celebrate the 30th anniversary in 2018 could have released. Maybe even a one-night only concert could have been staged, probably at the Hollywood Bowl.

I could have finally owned a copy of Wildflowers on vinyl. He probably would have finished Wildflowers: All The Rest by now, and released an affordable reissue of the original album alongside it, because his fans meant as much to him as he meant to us.

I could have finally seen a Mudcrutch concert in Florida, on a second leg of their tour promoting their 2 album from 2016. Talk about returning to his roots.

But what I could, and should, have been doing sometime in the last two years, is preparing for, and evidently attending a show on this man’s promised Wildflowers Tour, coinciding with the release of Wildflowers: All The Rest. He said he’d perform the album all the way through, and then some. Even Norah Jones signed on. Exactly two years ago today, I had $75 saved for my ticket, no matter where the closest show to Tampa would be held.

Instead, this year, I’ll be attending a tribute concert, honoring the late performer.

I’d like to send a huge “screw you” to the medication that killed Tom Petty on this day in 2017.

Petty forever.