On This Day 08/05/1977 Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

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On this day, 8 May 1977 American rocker Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers played Cardiff’s Capitol Theatre, supporting Nils Lofgren on the opening night of his UK tour.

The band returned to Cardiff a month later headlining at Cardiff University on the 17 June, where they were supported by the Boomtown Rats.

Petty was born October 20, 1950, in Gainesville, Florida, His interest in rock and roll music began at age ten when he met Elvis Presley.

In the summer of 1961, his uncle was working on the set of Presley's film Follow That Dream, in nearby Ocala, and invited Petty to watch the shoot.

He instantly became a Presley fan, and when he returned that Saturday, he was greeted by his friend Keith Harben, and soon traded his Wham-O slingshot for a collection of Elvis 45s. Of that meeting with Presley, Petty said, "Elvis glowed."


Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers

  • Tom Petty (guitar & vocals)

  • Mike Campbell (guitar)

  • Benmont Tench (keyboards)

  • Ron Blair (bass)

  • Stan Lynch (drums)