Lead Guitarist For 'Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers' Leaves No Stone Unturned In Band's History

Jeff Walker,  Entertainment Writer

 Eight years after Tom Petty's death, Mike Campbell lead guitarist for the Heartbreakers offers up a brutally honest memoir appropriately titled 'Heartbreaker : A Memoir'. Co-written with Ari Surdoval, 'Heartbreaker' chronicles nearly a 50 year relationship between Campbell and Petty, with Campbell admitting that while their journey together lead to rock n' roll stardom, it was riddled with turbulence. 

Written in three separate parts, covering 446 pages 'Heartbreaker' is not a quick read. However, for diehard fans of 'Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers' as well as Campbell's artistry, his life story provides readers a behind the scenes look at the triumphs and tragedies of playing behind a larger than life front-man. Together the duo would pen many of the band's hits including 'Refugee', 'Here Comes My Girl', 'You Got Lucky', and 'Runnin' Down a Dream'.

Campbell spends the first few chapters recounting his childhood. Born in northern Florida, he bounced around the sunshine state including a short stay in Okinawa, Japan, before he, his siblings and their mom settled in Jacksonville. Raised by a single mother on the brink of poverty, Campbell recalls having the lights turned off and being evicted several times, thankful they had family members to lean on when times were tough.

Coming of age in the 1960's Campbell admits to being drawn to The Beatles, The Beach Boys, blues music, and the rawness of Chuck Berry, which fueled his desire to play guitar. His first was a beat up Harmony acoustic. For a mom whose pocketbook weighed spending money on cigarettes or baloney sandwiches, Campbell's first six string was a godsend, and an instrument he says he's never really put down since turning 16.

Chapter three lays the groundwork for Campbell's obsession, spending his paychecks earned as a janitor at a burger joint on records and books on how to play guitar. He longed to master the instrument like Carl Wilson or Mike Bloomfield (Paul Butterfield Blues Band).

Further influenced by Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page, it was an rare opportunity to attend the University of Florida that would change Campbell's life forever. Whether it was destiny or fate, his roommate ended up being Petty, who just 20 at the time was auditioning new guitarists for his band Mudcrutch.

Over the next 12 chapters Campbell provides a Mudcrutch timeline, profiling the revolving door of would be members in the band, ill-fated recording sessions, as well as the misfortunes and misadventures of touring the southeast, including several brushes with death at the hands of nightclub owners. Campbell leaves no stone unturned in part one of 'Heartbreaker'.

Despite being one of the more popular bands in a college town, Petty yearned for bigger success, with the guys making their way to L.A. in 1974. While Mudcrutch failed to gain attention, the newly formed Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers (1976) began to make an impression in the UK. Over the next 30 or so chapters looking back on the mid 1970's and 80's, Campbell details the high and lows of being in the Heartbreakers. Voice lessons, songs that didn't move the needle, humble beginnings, and less than favorable gigs.

There is a very memorable and poignant exchange between Campbell and Gene Simmons backstage in Columbus, Georgia (circa 1977) when the boys opened for KISS. The legendary fire breathing makeup wearing bass player offered sound geographical and marketing advice to the still unknown band, with Campbell adding Simmons let the music media know, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers were a band to keep on their radar.

Slowly earning notoriety in America by 1978, Campbell admits the band's continued success triggered Petty's autocracy. He was indeed Tom Petty of Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers. Although each regarded their individual roles, Campbell recognized Tom wouldn't be where he was without his creative sidekick. If Campbell had reason to boast, he often checked his ego at the door for the greater good.

Campbell's proficiency as a songwriter, producer, and studio musician did not go un-noticed by his peers during the band's heyday, as he added his guitar expertise and songwriting skills to the countless singles and albums by the likes of Stevie Nicks, Don Henley, Aretha Franklin, and Bob Dylan, as well as countless other top tier artists.

Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers ruled the 1980's. However, success, power, money, touring, recording, shooting videos, and addictions only added tension to the bandmembers. They would close out the the latter half of the decade touring with Dylan, with Campbell having fond memories of meeting George Harrison backstage at Wembley Stadium in London. Thus concludes part two of 'Heartbreaker'.

The Traveling Wilburys (rock n' roll's version of The Highwaymen) featuring Dylan, Harrison, Jeff Lynne, Roy Orbison, and Petty is where part three of Campbell's memoir begins. He follows up with Tom's solo career beginning with 'Full Moon Fever' and 'Wildflowers', the former being mostly recorded in Campbell's garage studio, with Campbell being mesmerized by Lynne's unique producing skills.

Campbell goes full throttle through the 1990's offering up amusing anecdotes from Harrison and Dylan, with band members initially wondering if Tom's new found success would be the end of the road for the band, as Tom was developing strong ties to both Harrison and Lynne. Perhaps the most endearing recollection in 'Heartbreaker' is when Campbell and his mother Helen met Mick Jagger for the first time in Campbell's kitchen. Priceless!

The book's last six chapters, I dub the final encore, touch on some happy and sad moments in Campbell's memoir. There's a very poignant remembrance between an exchange Campbell had with Johnny Cash, with Campbell admitting his dad admired Cash' music because it sounded like the truth. Campbell goes on to say during the recording on Johnny's 'Unchained' (1996) album, he often just sat in awe of the legendary 'man in black', basking in the warmth of his humanity.

Playing endless nights at the famed Fillmore in San Francisco (1997) brought the band exhilaration and cohesiveness. On the flipside of the coin he recalls heroin taking Tom down a dark path, often effecting Tom's abilities, with Campbell having to sing lead on one of the tracks on 'Echo' (1999).

Tragically the world lost Harrison in late 2001. The only upside to his death was Campbell meeting Paul McCartney at the one year anniversary concert held in Harrison's death. While they met on stage with Campbell seeking reassurance on how to play 'Taxman', the two shared a more whimsical moment later in the men's room with Paul saying 'It's the taxman guy'.

Not long after, bassist Howie Epstein, a 20 year veteran of the Heartbreakers passed (2003) due to a heroin overdose. 14 years later their leader would suffer the same fate, as Tom succumb to an overdose of pain meds due to a broken hip. His death coming just a week after the band's final performance at the Hollywood Bowl celebrating their 40th anniversary tour. Always a songwriter, you can feel the heartache expressed on the pages as Campbell says goodbye to his brother of almost 50 years.

'Heartbreaker' finishes up with Campbell getting back on the horse thanks to a call from Mick Fleetwood to fill in for Lindsey Buckingham in Fleetwood Mac. Campbell would follow up revisiting 'The Dirty Knobs', a band he first conceived more than a decade earlier. The very same band Petty told Campbell was a waste of his time. Campbell's band was good enough to open for Roger Daltrey and Pete Townsend. Another milestone interaction with two of rock's most respected songwriting teams.

Campbell approached his memoir as he does his guitar work, giving it his all. He's lived a colorful life, which is perhaps the reason for the exhaustive narrative, with Campbell not willing to leave any particular detail out. Although Tom was the face of Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, it's clear Mike Campbell was the glue that held the band together through their roller coaster ride. 

While Campbell's recollections are vivid and sincere, and primarily focused on his dream to play guitar, along with his musical journey with Petty that earned the band a 2002 induction into the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame, Campbell's life story is seasoned with nods to his wife Marcie, who has been his solid rock for more than 50 years. Only fitting the book is dedicated to her.

'Heartbreaker' is eye opening and an honest account of Campbell's time in one of the most legendary bands in rock n' roll. While Campbell realized his extraordinary talent and understood his overall contributions to the band, despite Petty's ego, Campbell remained humble and loyal to his longtime friend, allowing Tom to bask in the limelight.

For more on Campbells' band The Dirty Knobs visit https://www.thedirtyknobs.com/ Find Campbell's memoir through online booksellers or your favorite local bookstore. For more on the book visit the publishers website at https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/mike-campbell/heartbreaker/9780306833212/