Runnin' Down A Dream (2007)

If you have about four hours to kill, I would recommend watching the Rockumentary Runnin' Down A Dream: Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers.  It was first released in 2007 and directed by Peter Bogdanovich (best known for The Last Picture Show and also as Dr. Elliot Kupferberg on The Sopranos)  The band may possibly be the greatest American Rock Band.  Their story doesn't make for wonderful drama, but for the music lover it is a wonderful story of Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers.  From their early start as Mudcrutch in Gainesville, Florida.  The band left to Los Angeles and signed with Shelter Records.  But the band was just not ready for the big-time.  And ended in 1975.  Petty, Mike Campbell(guitar), and Benmont Trench(piano) went on to form To Petty And The Heartbreakers along with Ron Blair(bass) and Stan Lynch(drums).  They released their self-titled debut album in 1976 and had hits right away with "Breakdown" and "American Girl".  It was the beginning of a great music journey.

The band celebrated their 30th Anniversary in 2006, and amazingly the group is still almost together.  Blair left the band in 1982 and was replaced by Howie Epstein.  An interesting story in the movie is how he came to the band.  Petty was producing Del Shannon's Drop Down And Get Me.  Epstein was the bassist for Del's band.  Tom liked his look and sound and asked him to join the band.  Del was pissed, but Epstein joined the Heartbreakers.  Epstein died in 2003 from drug use unfortunately.  And Blair who reunited with the band for their 2002 induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame re-joined the band.  Lynch was the drummer until 1994 when he left the band when he did not like the direction Petty was going.  He was replaced by Steve Ferrone who worked up a nice resume playing with the Average White Band, Duran Duran, and Eric Clapton.  He met Campbell at a George Harrison show in London.  

The rockumentary is filled with the facts that you may have missed that could keep a rock conversation going including Petty calling up Dave Grohl in September 1994 to drum with the band on Saturday Night Live after Lynch left the band.  In a shown interview with Grohl, he explains how it was the first time he really wanted to drum since Nirvana ended.  And then there are the stories of being invited to open up and be the backing band for Bob Dylan at Farm Aid which turned into tours around the world.  And then having the chance to be invited to be the backing band for Johnny Cash's Unchained in 1996.  The album included one Petty song, "Southern Accents".  On Cash's next album American III: Solitary Man in 2000, the band was invited again to play, and he covered "I Won't Back Down"

It is a great music story as Tom Petty, who grew up on the Beatles, who first wanted to play guitar after seeing them on the Ed Sullivan Show, much like many other musicians.  But, the explanation of how the Traveling Wilburys came about was interesting.  A bunch of coincidences brought together Petty, with Harrison, Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison, and Jeff Lynne.  The supergroup made great music together.  The movie touches upon that as well as Petty's solo albums which weren't really solo at all as he had the Heartbreakers perform tracks.  

The band shows their passion for music, but also a passion for the history of the music with the music connections they have made.  With new and archived interviews with the band along with Stevie Nicks, Rick Rubin, Jimmy Iovine, Jackson Browne, George Harrison, Eddie Vedder, and even Johnny Depp who has his own connection with the band.

Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers started rocking in the 70's, became one of the poster Rock bands for MTV in the 80's, continued rocking in the 90's with 4 #1's on the U.S. Rock chart, and became Hall of Famer rockers in the new millenium.  They continue to tour today and still sound great.  Watch the rockumentary, and better yet, see them live.

Here's the Trailer