Tom Petty’s Right-Hand Man: Mike Campbell on ‘Free Fallin’, ‘Refugee’ & ‘Boys of Summer

Coming up a special full-length uncut interview with one of the great unheralded guitar heroes of rock history. One of my favorites, but not only that, he’s a legendary producer, songwriter and the right-hand man of the late great Tom Petty. Mike Campbell. Mike produced and co-wrote many of the Heartbreakers' classics as well as several big hits for Don Henley, including Boys of Summer. A song that has one of the most incredible stories of the rock era. Mike thought he had written one of his best songs, but when he brought it to Tom Petty, Tom rejected it as it didn’t fit the album they were creating, so producer Jimmy Iovine told Mike to take it to Don Henley for his second Solo Album. So Don came to Mike’s house.So when he played it for Don, Henley’s reaction made Mike feel like he thought it was a dud too. Henley left without a word, but then he called back about an hour later and told Mike he’d just written the best song of his career. Putting lyrics to Mike’s Music. There’s even more to it with the Track almost getting erased forever and thenTom Petty’s reaction after it became a hit. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg; there’s the story of all of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers hits on here, and Mike does it while smoking a bowl. It was such an amazing interview, I felt like Tom was there in spirit. Discussing the greatest hits from Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers including Free Fallin' , Mary Jane's Last Dance, Refugee, American Girl, I Won't Back Down, Running Down a Dream and many more. Ya know, the more time that goes by in my life, the more Tom Petty moves up in my top artists list. He’s probably top 5 for me! 

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