Tom Petty - Interview - 1994 09 09

Brief chat anticipating the next Heartbreakers CD "Wildflowers".

[@oceanview5545]

Tom passed 5yr ago today, he lives on through his incredible music. Such a down to earth talented, sweet , funny man, the world is just not the same without him.

[@chazbonkers]

I miss him alot. I loved his music got me thru hard times

[@marthaashley2211]

Love his music 2 great legend here gone never forgotten rip Mr tom petty

[@mvwoon]

If you haven't gotten their Live at Fillmore 1997 recent album, get it. 2 disc or 4 disc, it doesn't matter.

[@psychedelicfright85]

It's still weird to me.

[@kenwood9382]

I listen to his music daily, i miss him so much, Rest in peace, brother. ❤

[@thingmaker67]

dang I am bummed. He's one of those souls you're just glad is out there, adding positive vibes to the cosmic fabric.

[@designerlarry]

thingmaker67 describing
Tom Petty.s music in 1 word: sooothing!
Oh my my, oh hell yes!
RIP, man!

[@bevmin7398]

Larry Fulmer ~ ...Honey put on that party dress...
I'd have given anything to have seen him in concert this last summer. Been listening to lots of Petty on here lately.
I've always loved that he never changed his name. Thomas Earl Petty. A huge loss for us all 😢

[@kmustacal]

Yes, we lost a good soul in Tom Petty.

[@oceanview5545]

Beautiful sweet talented soul passed 5yr ago today. So beloved so very very missed. Tom lives on through his 🎶 🎵 music.

[@user-ju7ze9to4k]

Gotta love this humble, talented soul.

[@joshuatrees797]

He was darling. So full of a totally innocent mirth.

[@petersonlafollette3521]

kept his cool, even with zany stupid interview, remained a southern gentleman...

[@seurynck]

Full of heroin around this time and it ultimately killed him on October 2nd 2017. Sad ~ great rock band!

[@1ManNamedDan]

He exhibits signs of being on the autistic spectrum which is probably what made him such a great and prolific writer. Dude just drips sincerity and an honest genuineness that you don't often come across with modern starge artists.

[@joshuatrees797]

@@1ManNamedDan Hmm. That's an interesting observation. I always thought of him as just somewhat shy. And haunted by his vicious father's cruelty towards Tom. Autistic spectrum, though...I'll watch the interview again and look closely.

[@NevadaBoss]

Words cant do justice to the amount of joy TP's music has brought into my life & the world, nor can they do justice to how sad & heartbroken I've been since he left us. Godspeed Charlie T...

[@kidsworldstorytime4885]

"Elvis must be spinning like a rotisserie chicken... " LMAO!!!😂

[@joshb20101]

Guitar Tube Elvis is eating the rotisserie

[@ocan1033]

Damn, I remembered this comment from a long while back and came on here to point it out after TP's untimely demise .. but you beat me to it. And of course it was his childhood experience with Elvis that pointed Tom down the long track of rock n roll. Great comment here with Letterman.

[@cubnation]

Guitar Tube Tom was so honest! 😁

[@sherryjohnston1084]

What a sense of humour. Lol

[@alpenmusicmontana]

Just made me bust out loud!! haha

[@MIZORAM_mafaka_hnamte]

*Rest in Peace, Tom*
*You will truly be missed*

[@juliakopecka2030]

Tom Petty is the boss!

[@pennilessjester211]

He is such a good soul goddamn I'm sad he is gone. RIP tom you had so many hits and your music and voice will live on for eternity

[@user-iy9je1ff8h]

You just had to say Gd.

[@cucknorris6497]

Legendary!! Miss and love you Tom. Thank you RIP.

[@newspapertaxis1]

Not "Learning to fly" "Is flying"!!!! Smack years. You did what you had to do...You enriched all our
lives!!! RIP The "Great" Tom Petty.

[@ravensbrood3544]

one of the greatest rockers..🖖

[@pch2004sf]

I was fortunate enough to meet Tom and the Heartbreakers backstage at the Capitol Theatre in Passaic, NJ many moons ago. They were gracious and funny and I’ve cherished that moment ever since. ❤️

[@hannaj4032]

Tom was so shy back then. Might have been a little high too but he was a cutie!

[@Demonizer5134]

He doesn't seem shy to me.

[@Demonizer5134]

@@TELE6220 I didn't see him as being nervous.

[@alexisbuchanan2028]

He wasn't nervous...he was toasted. Comfortably numb.

[@karenwoo9068]

Yeah, I think he was high on something. This could be when he was going through his divorce, and it must have been painful for him. And this is how he coped. He is/was an awesome musician and seems like a very nice person.

[@matthewjdouglas6471]

From the way his award mouth movements I'd say he'd had some whiskey and some coke. Maybe. Didn't look stoned. But could be. Hard to tell with some people what they have taken. Any way who cares. Many of us dabble and Tom's a great musician

[@denny8093]

he is very quitly funny, dam really hate losing him RIP

[@joannmartinez8295]

I remember seeing this interview I stayed up late to watch it,, Tom was so sweet and funny and even today this interview makes me smile

[@davsaltego]

Your music lives on forever

[@adamwilson6103]

Of course now we know he was battling a herion problem during this period...god love him and may he rest in peace

[@alexkx8599]

I thought that that was something he was battling in the late 1980's, yes?

[@adamwilson6103]

AlexKx, i read online the other day that it was mostly the 90s that he was addicted to it... he thanked his wife for helping him get clean...look up his autobiography

[@ocan1033]

Yeah but it was around the time of "Echo" which was '99 and this interview was about five years prior just before "Wildflowers" came out. I don't think he was using for five years. He's fidgety here but making perfect sense. More likely he's just stoned or simply weirded out by being on Letterman and the whole fame thing. He casts some great looks during this brief interview .. and Letterman is fairly respectful, with none of his typical wiseass remarks.

[@cindybradley3543]

ocan1033 & Sebastian Dangerfield - Does it really matter if he was or was not using or abusing drugs? He was, and still is in my opinion, 1 of the Greatest Rock & Roll stars of all times. That is of course, including "The Heartbreakers" too.

[@crungefactory]

No he wasn't battling heroin in 1994

[@daveandlouise123]

Tom is SUPER HIGH. Good man 😎

[@green323turbo]

He's kind of shy but still smiles and was funny. Good job Tom

[@SuperJasonGold]

Tom is super high up in heaven now.

[@DumpTrump4TRE45ON]

No, he isn't he is always like that. He was always hilarious.

[@lacesoutchris]

1994, yea, he was high as a fucking kite.

[@bubbathebulldog]

Sebastian Dangerfield doubt it

[@EvelynBaron]

He was masterful at evading intrusive questions until he was ready through his biographer to release a reasoned picture of his life. I did see him in concert with my husband it was remarkable. And just to complete the picture my Dad loved his music and yesterday feeling a sort of despair about the world watched how he rescued LiveAid in 1985 with American Girl.

[@cnoelad83]

He is so sweet and humble. Miss him. 😢

[@bobthebear1246]

Tom Petty: The Man. The Myth. The Fucking Legend. R.I.P. T.P.
Hope you're smoking a nice fat blunt up there. 🌿

[@MS-xm6ku]

Tom was such an ordinary person, like a guy you could be right next to working on an average job with

[@Gatorgirl89]

Legend!!

[@RllingStne]

I can tell he’s so humble to the point where it’s stressful. So sad he passed so soon

[@danny355]

Tom looks like he's just woken up. There's a great still of him and Letterman around 1:38 of them both gazing away into the distance. Letterman had great taste in music, you can tell he really like Toms stuff by the way he's being so unusally nice. Nice clip of two legends that made the world a nicer place

[@cheekobandit5237]

Heroin was his downfall at this point, hence the tired look but he was a great fucking guy

[@erickh6587]

@cHeeKo BandiT damn idk he was into that
, no wonder he looks a bit off Here

[@bdsingr]

Stan Lynch still on drums there, the Bridge School benefit Tom mentions that's coming up, in less than a month, will be Stan's last gig with the band.

[@jasonlee8497]

Never saw him so nervous.....a true rocker....would just rather play! RIP Tom!

[@plnester]

I think this was when he was "using". Never seen him like this, either, but in going back to some of the footage of him from 1994, this isn't a one-off. I recently found out (it was in his authorized biography) that he became addicted to heroin in the '90's. Putting two and two together, I'd say this is videographic evidence of this rough patch in his life.

[@drtmuir]

J'Mac ! But still very quick and funny.

[@kandeebennett4629]

He was not a public kind of guy, except for his music, as he did not like to do interviews, etc.. Stuff like this usually made him jittery.

[@thomasbusy3632]

@@kandeebennett4629 wrong: there are many interviews where he is calm and normal...Tom was on another planet for this one!

[@bgoc1263]

Stoned!!

[@pamalaevans563]

2017 yr. That is the real Tom Petty!

[@goodteacup]

Two of the most influential guys to me for many years now! Want more!

[@leapsplashafrog]

He’s an anxious man that’s all. One great singer songwriter love to his family

[@rpb02333]

Heroin period of life. No judgement. He's just human. Love his music way back since 76 & the paradise in Boston.

[@jsmith2861]

He's off into the great wide open now. RIP Mr. Petty

[@jmillerdesign]

Miss the man. Was so lucky to have seen them half a dozen times.

[@fartzerelli1385]

He was 40 years old here, looking like a kid fresh out of high school!

[@jshepard152]

?!?

[@haywoodalanhayhorr8052]

Actually 44 years old.

[@breahsaldana3901]

❤❤❤he is Great!!! Missing you

[@seanc12]

Tom Petty. Legend.

[@rongermanjr]

tom was more than a little twitchy here

[@derrickpowell5531]

Tom Petty look like he was feeling kinda groovy

[@FYMASMD]

Derrick Powell at this time unfortunately he was doing heroin at this time.

[@ImJoeTheCeo]

333 999 no he started doing heroin in 1999, not 1994

[@FYMASMD]

@@ImJoeTheCeo wrong. He was on it then.

[@tomlalonde1249]

Derrick Powell definitely got a buzz on something .

[@zakschaffer3398]

@@ImJoeTheCeo Wrong. We was on heroin during the making of Echo. Also, he was always super druggy. Always.

[@shanebowers7902]

We miss you Tom

[@tomlalonde1249]

Tom is definitely buzzing on something 🍺💊💉 imagine that a rockstar with a buzz . ....Love the guy 👍🏾

[@simonsmith2642]

Damn it man, I miss Tom Petty 😢

[@rsohlich1]

One day before my 10th B-day.....RIP Tom Petty. This was right around the time I remember seeing him on TV for the first time or 2

[@jendagesse4524]

I loved his music

[@bobross5580]

He is so relaxed in this interview. Love yah, Tom!

[@paulkevinkoehler9490]

Was he?

[@drherb280]

great songwriter, great bandleader & even better person (so I hear from sources deemed reliable). I first saw him 7.11.80 at The Mosque, a great 3,000 seat concert hall in Richmond Va, 8th row center with the sister of the woman I eventually married LOL. Wish I could see him once more RIP

[@mithilamarufa]

You look good, Tom! 💚😍🤖👈

[@upallnightwithyabois3553]

Tom was and is the man

[@cameronmcmenemy9856]

0:29 love Tom's answer to that question

[@mariasoleada2337]

Notice how natural an interview is when the host isn't always grinning ("Dave's show is about FUNNY"). Like, get down to earth instead of playing the salesman selling This Show Is Fantastically funny! Even things that are not funny do not stop him from his PERPETUAL SMILE. Check this interview with another host interviewing Tom Petty, he is letting Tom Petty be himself.
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - interview - 2002 10 08

[@evansinger1205]

6 years later still here!❤❤

[@marthaashley2211]

I'm here 2023

[@Skelloween]

I know those feels! High af. Tom is boss!

[@barbararomaine6952]

❤love him soo much😂❤miss you Tom Petty

[@rtfirefly0]

I haven't seen this interview before. Thanks for posting!
You don't happen to have an interview where Tom said his boots were given to him by a stranger who was a fan and he talked about Johnny and June Cash, do you? It was on an episode of an American late night talk show I saw years ago, but I can't remember which one or who the host was. I think it was probably either Letterman or the Tonight Show.

[@steelygray]

I'll check. But i don't remember that story.

[@laurafarrell8713]

It was Conan, 1999..it's on youtube

[@jasonunsell2778]

Really miss Tom Petty such a great sense of humor.

[@mithilamarufa]

Congrats Tom! we are waiting for you guys in Hawai'i

[@TheFratHouse69]

Ol’ boys tweeken’ pretty hard there...

[@Lokh66]

Rip

[@jamiechen4233]

Love Tom I was getting a little stressed watching him. He for sure wasnt himself. He was able to keep himself together

[@betpow]

thanks sg....appreciative, though still looking for that one I mentioned where he answers Dave's question about "breaking hearts", because it truly was a funny, on the spot response...I think it was later, wish I could help you more there on what year, what song they played, etc.

[@steelygray]

I know, i'll add more interviews. I got a few from this show

[@wernerhuehn674]

Yuck is right.

[@Thomasgene]

A Real Man!

[@jshepard152]

He'd been a huge star for years at this point, and he'd already released his greatest hits album. Tom really never stopped being an awkward kid from Gainesville.

[@haywoodalanhayhorr8052]

I believe he's from Gainesville, FL.

[@jshepard152]

@@haywoodalanhayhorr8052 You're absolutely correct. I'll edit that, thanks.

[@kateludlam3105]

Hard to watch this knowing he was in the throws of heroin addition but as so very thankful he overcame and could continue making great music. Miss you, Tom

[@kunstelidor]

no, it was after the Wildflowers Tour and after his divorce in 1996....

[@carolfidler5505]

He sang so great and was a kind kind man. That’s all that matters, comments on his personal life really are unnecessary.

[@energyasylum997]

Soo down to earth and chill Tom was. Like if he’s somebody you knew who worked at the Datsun dealership, Tom from the parts department. Average Tom, average successful singer songwriter musician rock n roller Tom. Rip

[@khalgarrison]

Datsun?

[@Mozart1220]

"Yuck". Man I love Tom Petty! They need to realize that everything John Mellencamp writes is about Indiana.

[@youarepredictable]

He was just part of the fabric of American life for may of us Gen Xers. Didn't notice it as much as when he was gone.

[@andreabond3501]

RIP Tom

[@suehill8434]

Miss you xxx

[@marksc1929]

...Tom was bad ass ...still is in my book ....of course Letterman trying to steal the thunder ....again

[@flooberbloob]

it's his talk show, duh and there were three guests that night...duh..

[@marksc1929]

flooberbloob ....talk show ....meaning let the fucking guest talk ....ask a question...and then shut up and listen ....Stern does the same thing ....

[@marksc1929]

Majik0715 ....yes Letterman was awesome...ask him and he'll tell you..

[@javifaden]

What a nice guy.

[@avanti6058]

I believe this is Stan Lynch's last appearance with the band or nearly so.

[@crhmgs7711]

CC ON, 1:57 "What are you guys up to now? are you-are you off on the road? are UTorrent?" Damn, David was ahead of his time in this one

[@evelynbaron2004]

Heh Guitar Tube there are a lot of funny things that could be said about the few interviews Tom did down the years; my favorite was on a beach with an interview lady -- seriously one more abrasive young woman with helmet hair; there she was, and there was Tom and she met her match don't know why she even tried, I commented because on stage with his musical family he was really in the groove; he lost that assurance being interviewed for 2.5 minutes promoting his favorite album of all time Wildflowers, that project. I know. And his last speech for musicares was prepared but his hands were shaking and he was twitchy; he spoke from the heart about how he saw the trajectory of rock and it still hurts.

[@michaelmcdonald8452]

That Bridge School Benefit he mentions was to be the last show with Stan Lynch

[@javanbirdbluerusselling5285]

FUCK! The world gonna miss this man!

[@carolfidler5505]

Tom is such a lovely person. A bit overwhelmed by that guy.

[@johnmills34YT]

man remembering watching this when it was on letterman originally

[@professorjams]

He caught a buzz sometime before the show.

[@tulipbaby3483]

i Miss him.

[@Rigel7WasAlreadyUsed]

Weird to see Stan there so late in the game. I wonder what song they were playing.

[@justinstearns9723]

He left right after they did the Bridge Benefit show Tom mentions in the video. That was the last show he did with the Heartbreakers.

[@Rigel7WasAlreadyUsed]

@@justinstearns9723 ah, thanks man.

[@clucka]

Steelygray, "Wildflowers" is a solo album, NOT a Heart breaker album

[@steelygray]

Heartbreakers all together

[@upallnightwithyabois3553]

Could've been you if you were a girl 😂😂

[@hisroyalhighness8566]

Good ol southern boy

[@sandradarrough5677]

God bless you tp

[@ewoe21]

Tom's looking strung out on the heroine. Extremely talented dude.

[@evanfinch4987]

Probably using uppers to get through the night.

[@777jones]

"Best of luck" ahahahaha miss you Tom. Farewell my friend.

[@pauldiver3992]

god bless tom rip

[@felixthelmocevallosmorales7218]

David Letterman
12/04/47
74 años

[@donlitos]

He’s either really shy or really high. RIP Tom

[@felixthelmocevallosmorales41]

Thomas Earl Petty (Gainesville, Florida; 20 de octubre de 1950−Santa Mónica, California; 2 de octubre de 2017).

[@billjobe218]

as Tom's song says we both know it but somehow we get around it it seems like maybe it's good for another hundred years if this is an indication maybe it is but I don't know. double entender and innuendo isn't necessarily my strong suit though.wait was that just a lie?

[@felixthelmocevallosmorales41]

David Michael Letterman
12 de abril de 1947
76 años.

[@squiddybubbler8688]

hes off his dial

[@misterfrugellhound]

legenD R.I.P

[@santiagorodriguezmendez7046]

great

[@billjobe218]

as they say prop it up where it's leaning I don't think it needs any propping in this area it seems Judy Garland never came by but this must be one of the most comic things that I've seen on this show..

[@SuperJasonGold]

Tom looks a bit high here. he's super high up in heaven now.

[@MalteWilsen]

Can't believe he used heroin those days.

[@mickfunny4185]

Malte Wilsen wait dude he was shooting h?

[@MandownGamer]

Yeah every Rock Star fucked with the H back then, I'm sure he got clean and that's all that matters

[@3tequila]

It's all in the Warren Zanes book. Definitely high in this interview. He did get clean. Wild Flowers is truly his masterpiece

[@tomlalonde1249]

Just watch the clip again ....Yep high as fuck... that a boy 👍🏾