Petty: The Biography

By: Warren Zanes

Narrated by: Warren Zanes

Length: 13 hrs and 57 mins

Publisher's summary

An exhilarating and intimate account of the life of music legend Tom Petty by an accomplished writer and musician who toured with Petty.

No one other than Warren Zanes, rocker and writer and friend, could author a book about Tom Petty that is as honest and evocative of Petty's music and the remarkable rock and roll history he and his band helped to write.

Born in Gainesville, Florida, with more than a little hillbilly in his blood, Tom Petty was a Southern shit kicker, a kid without a whole lot of promise. Rock and roll made it otherwise. From meeting Elvis to seeing the Beatles on Ed Sullivan to producing Del Shannon; backing Bob Dylan; putting together a band with George Harrison, Dylan, Roy Orbison and Jeff Lynne; making records with Johnny Cash; and sending well more than a dozen of his own celebrated recordings high onto the charts, Tom Petty's story has all the drama of a rock and roll epic.

Now in his mid-60s, still making records and still touring, Petty, known for his reclusive style, has shared with Warren Zanes his insights and arguments, his regrets and lasting ambitions, and the details of his life on and off the stage.

This is an audiobook for those who know and love the songs, from "American Girl" and "Refugee" to "Free Fallin'" and "Mary Jane's Last Dance", and for those who want to see the classic rock and roll era embodied in one man's remarkable story. Dark and mysterious, Petty manages to come back again and again, showing us what the music can do and where it can take us.

BONUS AUDIO: In an exclusive Audible interview, author and narrator Warren Zanes discusses the cultural significance behind rock biographies, how great records continue to reveal new things over time, and the enduring and "authentic rock-and-roll cool" that is Tom Petty.

©2015 Warren Zanes (P)2015 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Petty and Zanes have decided to tell the unvarnished truth, and the result is not only the definitive account of Petty's life, but one of the best rock biographies in recent memory." ( Rolling Stone)
"Imagine a long ride on the tour bus with Tom and the Heartbreakers where everyone was feeling loose enough to tell all their stories. What a historic night that would be. This book is that." (Eddie Vedder)
"This amazing book is a Tom Petty biography (and it's great on that account) but it's far more than that. It's an X-ray of the most fragile, most volatile, and most sublime social unit ever invented: the rock-and-roll band. The alliances, the distortions, the deep bruises and the absurd elations that can never be explained to an outsider. Sure, Petty is a book about a rock band but it's really a book about being human - how we meet and collaborate, break up and make up, learn to trust (or not) and, once in a lucky while, sing as loud as we can. It's a masterpiece." (Stephen Dubner, co-author of Freakonomics)

Great book about my musical hero .. fantastic read

Warren wrote a fantastic bio. The book kept my attention all the way thru I laughed, got choked up and learned so many things about the man and his BAND ... Excellent!

A biography that's up to the man & his music

I listened to this book every evening as I went for a walk after work. Every day I looked forward to that time, as it completely transported me into the life and times of Tom Petty.

After a brief intro that I found a little confusing because it was more like a summary, I settled into Ch. 1 and the transportation began. i knew from that chapter that Zanes is a gifted writer and at that point, didn't know he was a musician, former member of a band and holds a PhD. When I found those things out, it made sense -- he has the background, skill with words and talent to organize content that makes this such a great book.

Through it all, I couldn't help but wish that Tom was still with us. It brought to the fore the fact that we lost someone special in 2017, and I still remember where I was when I heard the news. Thank you, Warren, for putting this all together so giftedly, and thanks to Tom and his family and friends for being willing to share.

So, so good.

I've always considered myself a Petty fan, but the first album of his was "Greatest Hits". I basically listened to "Greatest Hits" and Full Moon Fever only for a decade. Recently I switched to Anthology and Live Anthology. Not only was this a fantastic, riveting book, but the performance was great to listen to. I am pumped to explore the full Petty catalog now, finally listening to full albums and checking out the more recent stuff.

What a well written book!

Like the author, I've had Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers in my life since I was an early teen (I'm pushing 50 now) and hose albums in many ways are the soundtrack to many of my life events. The book is insightful,well written and well read. I can't say enough great things about it.

great book exceptional narrative

loved hearing about the life and times of the late musician Tom Petty.
thou this book was written long before his passing, one gets an idea of what his life was before his success.
Sad, it took his first marriage to claim that success, but often things have to change in ingress own life for things to get better.
if asked I'd have to say my favorite Petty song would be, "Runnin Down a Dream"
I'll always hold Tom in high regards as one of those musicians who genuinely cared.
Great book

Great book

Honestly, the only bad thing I can really say about this audiobook is that you can't listen to Tom Petty albums while listening to it. Zanes does a great job painting the picture of such a legend and has a great voice to read the story.

Loved this book.

Zanes has crafted a masterpiece, in researching, writing and narrating this biopic. This is from 2015. I would be interested in knowing if there is an update to the book since Petty’s passing. Adria, his daughter, emerges as a true hero.

interesting

quite a life - didnt know much about tom petty - admire he was the real deal. devoted his life to playing rock n roll

So good!!!

This is simply one of my all time favorite biographies I’ve ever read/listened to.

It’s American history.

Audible requires me to right 15 word review for my star review to be counted. But 5 stars sats enough in my mind. I found it well worth the time. Even if you only slightly know his music, jump in Petty deserves more acknowledgement.