Tom Petty: The Life & Music -- Gillian G. Gaar, Hardcover

Experience the extraordinary career of beloved rocker Tom Petty with this richly illustrated slipcase edition.

Twenty-eight Billboard Top-10 singles, induction in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and a string of best-selling studio albums...nearly a decade after his passing, Tom Petty remains one of rock's most beloved figures. In Tom Petty: The Life & Music, veteran rock journalist Gillian G. Gaar reveals this rock icon through 75 career releases, performances, and accolades. This luxuriously produced collectible edition features:

• A slipcased hardcover format
• Stunning concert and candid offstage photography
• Images of memorabilia, including gig posters, vinyl record sleeves, ticket stubs, period ads, and more

Through the decades, Gaar covers it all:

• Petty's childhood in Florida and early band, Mudcrutch
• All 13 studio albums, including those with The Heartbreakers and as a solo artist such as the breakouts Damn the Torpedoes and Wildflowers
• A selection of his greatest singles, like the rock standards "Don't Do Me Like That" and "Free Fallin'"
• Relationships with notable rock figures such as Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Johnny Cash, and Stevie Nicks
• Legendary gigs, from his first SNL appearance to his 2004 performance with Prince and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and his Super Bowl halftime performance
• and much more

Beginning with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers' 1976 self-titled debut LP and continuing right through the band's final release, Hypnotic Eye in 2014, Tom Petty is one of the most beloved performers and musicians in rock 'n' roll history, influencing countless acts for decades.

This book is your unprecedented retrospective of Petty's life and art, from teenage Florida rock 'n' roll enthusiast to international star and celebrity.

Author: Gillian G. Gaar
Publisher: Motorbooks International
Published: 11/04/2025
Pages: 200
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 2.50lbs
Size: 10.88h x 9.50w x 0.75d
ISBN: 9780760392614

About the Author

Gillian G. Gaar has written for numerous publications, including Mojo, Rolling Stone, and Goldmine. Previous books include She's a Rebel: The History of Women in Rock & Roll; Entertain Us: The Rise of Nirvana; Return of the King: Elvis Presley's Great Comeback; Elton John at 75; and Bruce Springsteen at 75. She lives in Seattle.