Editing Tom Petty (section)

===1976–1987: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers===
{{main|Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers}}
[[File:Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers 1977.jpg|thumb|Petty (center) with the Heartbreakers in 1977]]
Shortly after embracing his musical aspirations, Petty started a band known as the Epics, which later evolved into [[Mudcrutch]]. The band included future Heartbreakers [[Mike Campbell (musician)|Mike Campbell]] and [[Benmont Tench]] and was popular in Gainesville, but their recordings went unnoticed by a mainstream audience. They recorded at [[The Church Studio]] in [[Tulsa, Oklahoma]]. Their only single, "Depot Street", released in 1975 by [[Shelter Records]], failed to chart.<ref name="mudcrutch1">{{cite news|last1=Greenberg|first1=Rudi|title=Tom Petty Turned Back the Clock with Mudcrutch at the 9:30 Club in D.C. on June 6|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/express/wp/2016/06/07/tom-petty-turned-back-the-clock-with-mudcrutch-at-the-930-club-in-d-c-on-june-6|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=October 3, 2017|date=June 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171004040807/https://www.washingtonpost.com/express/wp/2016/06/07/tom-petty-turned-back-the-clock-with-mudcrutch-at-the-930-club-in-d-c-on-june-6/|archive-date=October 4, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

After Mudcrutch split up, Petty reluctantly agreed to pursue a solo career. Tench decided to form his own group, whose sound Petty appreciated. Eventually, Petty and Campbell collaborated with Tench, [[Ron Blair]] and [[Stan Lynch]], forming the first lineup of the Heartbreakers. Their [[Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers (album)|eponymous debut album]] gained little popularity among American audiences, achieving greater success in Britain{{citation needed|date=May 2023}}. The singles "[[American Girl (Tom Petty song)|American Girl]]" and "[[Breakdown (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers song)|Breakdown]]" (re-released in 1977) peaked at {{Numero|40}} after the band toured in the United Kingdom in support of [[Nils Lofgren]]. The debut album was released by Shelter Records, which at that time was distributed by [[ABC Records]].<ref name="all music">{{cite web|last=Erlewine|first=Stephen Thomas|title=Tom Petty: Biography|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/p5137/biography|website=AllMusic|year=2006|access-date=April 12, 2008|archive-date=October 18, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221018133527/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/tom-petty-mn0000612716|url-status=live}}</ref>

Their second album, ''[[You're Gonna Get It!]]'', was the band's first [[Top 40]] album,<ref name="all music" /> featuring the singles "[[I Need to Know (Tom Petty song)|I Need to Know]]" and "[[Listen to Her Heart]]". Their third album, ''[[Damn the Torpedoes (album)|Damn the Torpedoes]]'', quickly went [[RIAA certification|platinum]], selling nearly two million copies; it includes their breakthrough singles "[[Don't Do Me Like That]]", "[[Here Comes My Girl]]", "[[Even the Losers]]" and "[[Refugee (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers song)|Refugee]]".<ref>{{cite web|title=Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: History of the Band|url=http://www.mudcrutch.com/index.php?pageid=heartbreakers_history|work=Mudcrutch Farm|access-date=April 12, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080415150228/http://www.mudcrutch.com/index.php?pageid=heartbreakers_history|archive-date=April 15, 2008}}</ref>

In September 1979, [[Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers]] performed at a [[Musicians United for Safe Energy]] concert at [[Madison Square Garden]] in [[Manhattan]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Finn|first=Natalie|title=Raitt, Browne & Nash Rerock Against Nukes|url=http://www.eonline.com/news/article/index.jsp?uuid=08ca35ba-fcf8-4e5d-89a3-db9ecaf79907|publisher=E!|date=October 23, 2007|access-date=April 12, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080530083723/http://www.eonline.com/news/article/index.jsp?uuid=08ca35ba-fcf8-4e5d-89a3-db9ecaf79907|archive-date=May 30, 2008}}</ref> Their rendition of "[[Cry to Me]]" was featured on the resulting album, ''[[No Nukes]]''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Erlewine|first=Stephen Thomas|title=''No Nukes'': Overview|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/r315362|website=AllMusic|access-date=April 12, 2008|archive-date=October 18, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221018133606/https://www.allmusic.com/album/no-nukes-mw0000024631|url-status=live}}</ref>

Their fourth album, ''[[Hard Promises]]'', released in 1981, became a top-ten hit, going platinum and spawning the hit single "[[The Waiting (song)|The Waiting]]". The album also featured Petty's first duet, "Insider" with [[Stevie Nicks]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Beviglia|first1=Jim|title=Behind The Song: Stevie Nicks with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers|url=http://americansongwriter.com/2016/02/behind-the-song-stevie-nicks-with-tom-petty-and-the-heartbreakers/|website=American Songwriter|access-date=October 3, 2017|date=February 10, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171003125217/http://americansongwriter.com/2016/02/behind-the-song-stevie-nicks-with-tom-petty-and-the-heartbreakers/|archive-date=October 3, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Bass player Ron Blair quit the group and was replaced on the fifth album, ''[[Long After Dark]]'' (1982), by [[Howie Epstein]]; the resulting lineup lasted until 1994. The album contained the hit "[[You Got Lucky]]".

In 1985, the band participated in [[Live Aid]], playing four songs at [[John F. Kennedy Stadium (Philadelphia)|John F. Kennedy Stadium]], in [[Philadelphia]] before a crowd of 89,484 people.

The band's album, ''[[Southern Accents]]'', was also released in 1985. It included the hit single "[[Don't Come Around Here No More]]", produced by [[Dave Stewart (Eurythmics)|Dave Stewart]]. The song's video featured Petty dressed as the [[Hatter (Alice's Adventures in Wonderland)|Mad Hatter]], mocking and chasing Alice from the book ''[[Alice's Adventures in Wonderland]]'', then cutting and eating her as if she were a cake. The ensuing tour led to the live album ''[[Pack Up the Plantation: Live!]]'' and an invitation from [[Bob Dylan]] to join Dylan on his 60-date [[True Confessions Tour]] through Asia, Oceania, and North America.

In 1986 and 1987, they played some dates with the [[Grateful Dead]]. Also in 1987, the group released ''[[Let Me Up (I've Had Enough)]]'' which includes "[[Jammin' Me]]" which Petty wrote with Dylan.<ref>{{cite web |title=Jammin' Me: Review |url=https://www.allmusic.com/song/t2462926 |website=AllMusic |access-date=April 19, 2009 |archive-date=October 25, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101025064205/http://www.allmusic.com/song/t2462926 |url-status=live }}</ref>