Tom Petty is one of the last true West Coast rock 'n' rollers. Inspired by the Byrds' trademark sound of chiming 12-string Rickenbaker guitar as well as Bob Dylan's Singer-Songwriter sensibilities and the Power Pop punch of the British Invasion, Petty was originally dismissed as a New Wave act when he debuted with his band the Heartbreakers in the 1970s. When the single "American Girl" wouldn't leave the AOR charts, it was evident that Petty had the ability to write substantial crossover chart toppers. Throughout his career, Petty's songs have embraced Americana without reverting to complete nostalgia or Springsteen-like blue collar adoration. Rather than approximating or recreating an old sound, Petty integrates rural familiarity with innovative arrangement and production techniques. Any diehard Petty fan will agree that the musical chemistry between Petty and the Heartbreakers is more tangible than that of any other band he has played with (including the Traveling Wilburys, who also featured Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison, Jeff Lynne, and George Harrison).
