Tom Petty, Rock Icon, has passed away suddenly at the age of 66 after experience cardiac arrest. This news is coming in from a lot of different outlets.
Petty was found unconscious yesterday evening at his Malibu home. Authorities told People Magazine that Petty was then rushed to UCLA Santa Monica Hospital where he was put on life support.
TMZ first reported that he was rushed to a hospital in cardiac arrest only about an hour ago and a decision was made to pull life support. CBS also confirmed the death. TMZ is also reporting that he had no brain activity when he arrived to the hospital.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers helped create what we appreciated as rock and roll in more recent time. He had a longstanding career that stood the test of time and he and his band toured as recently as this summer.
Petty hit the ground running with his first albums which helped cement him as a rocker in the late 70s but it was more impressive when he held on and managed to survive the birth of the music video where Petty found a new energy. His ability to adapt in the changing music industry proved to be one his best traits as a musician.
Recent shows at the Hollywood Bowl helped mark the bands 40th anniversary together. At the time, he said it would probably be their last tour. “I’m thinking it may be the last trip around the country,” Petty told Rolling Stone. “We’re all on the backside of our sixties. I have a granddaughter now I’d like to see as much as I can. I don’t want to spend my life on the road.”
Petty’s songs help define what we think of as American Rock and Roll and some of his singles include, “Breakdown,” “American Girl,” “Don’t Do Me Like That,” “Refugee,” “Free Fallin’,” and “Mary Jane’s Last Dance.”
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