Tom Petty plays bass?

Discussion in 'Bassists [BG]' started by Howlin' Hanson, Jun 29, 2008.

  1. Howlin' Hanson

    Howlin' Hanson Lighter cabs, please.

    Sep 3, 2007
    Austin TX
    I just saw a video on VH1 Classics (labeled Classic Currents) of a group named Mudcrutch featuring a bearded Tom Petty playing a red Ric. Looks like a reunion of his original band.

    This was news to me, but TBers in the know, please reveal what you know of Petty's bass history! Please?
     
  2. Sneckumhaw

    Sneckumhaw

    Apr 26, 2006
    Earth
    He did mime the bass in the Wilburys videos, but it was actually Jeff Lynne on the records.

    Mudcrutch is pretty cool.
     
  3. JimmyM

    JimmyM Supporting Member

    Apr 11, 2005
    Apopka, FL
    Endorsing: Yamaha, Ampeg, Line 6, EMG
    Yep, Tom started as the bassist in Mudcrutch. They used to play in my home town a few times and were fairly popular on the club circuit in Fla. Then Tom decided he had to be supreme leader and moved to LA and the rest is history.
     
  4. Sneckumhaw

    Sneckumhaw

    Apr 26, 2006
    Earth
    I also think he played bass on a tune with Johnny Cash on one of the American Recordings albums.
     
  5. corinpills

    corinpills

    Nov 19, 2000
    Boston, MA
    Tom plays bass on a few Heartbreakers songs as well (it's a little early to go digging through album credits, you'll just have to believe me). He has a Hofner violin bass that he uses a lot.
     
  6. ReeveBob

    ReeveBob

    Nov 11, 2018
    Played bass and drums (and guitars) on one of his solo albums. Tom Petty could do whatever the shag he wanted.
     
  7. Michedelic

    Michedelic MId-Century Modern

    Tom Petty appeared as a bassist with Shelter labelmate Dwight Twilley on a lip-synched TV shot. Some might remember Twilley's modest mid-70's hit, "I'm On Fire" before he was on MTV with "Girls" in the early 80's. Since TP's first album hadn't really taken off yet, I'm sure he was doing any kind of side gig for cash flow. He might have actually done some real gigs with Twilley, who did some backing vocals on that first album, but I'm not up on deep TP trivia, so I don't know for sure...



    If you're not familiar with "Fire", it's one of the great overlooked power pop rockers of the 70's...
     
    deernaes likes this.
  8. IamGroot

    IamGroot

    Jan 18, 2018
    Thanks for posting this. I didnt know Tom played bass. Very solid musicianship.