Tom Petty: His life in photos

  • <p>From left: Mike Campbell, Tom Petty, Tom Leadon, and Randall Marsh of Mudcrutch in December 1974 in Los Angeles. (Photo: Jim McCrary/Getty Images) </p>
    1/27

    Mudcrutch in 1974

    From left: Mike Campbell, Tom Petty, Tom Leadon, and Randall Marsh of Mudcrutch in December 1974 in Los Angeles. (Photo: Jim McCrary/Getty Images)

  • <p>Tom Petty ca. 1976. (Photo: Richard E. Aaron/Getty Images) </p>
    2/27

    Tom Petty in 1976

    Tom Petty ca. 1976. (Photo: Richard E. Aaron/Getty Images)

  • <p>Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers on July 15, 1976, in Los Angeles. (Photo: Ed Caraeff/Getty Images) </p>
    3/27

    Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers in 1976

    Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers on July 15, 1976, in Los Angeles. (Photo: Ed Caraeff/Getty Images)

  • <p>Tom Petty in 1977 in New York City. (Photo: Michael Putland/Getty Images) </p>
    4/27

    Tom Petty in 1977

    Tom Petty in 1977 in New York City. (Photo: Michael Putland/Getty Images)

  • <p>Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, ca. late 1970s. (Photo: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) </p>
    5/27

    Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers in the late ’70s

    Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, ca. late 1970s. (Photo: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

  • <p>Tom Petty, ca. late 1970s. (Photo: GAB Archive/Getty Images) </p>
    6/27

    Tom Petty in the late ’70s

    Tom Petty, ca. late 1970s. (Photo: GAB Archive/Getty Images)

  • <p>Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, November 1979, in Philadelphia. (Photo: AP) </p>
    7/27

    Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers in 1979

    Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, November 1979, in Philadelphia. (Photo: AP)

  • <p>Tom Petty promoting <i>Damn the Torpedoes </i>in the WYSP studios in Philadelphia, 1979. (Photo: AP) </p>
    8/27

    Tom Petty in 1979

    Tom Petty promoting Damn the Torpedoes in the WYSP studios in Philadelphia, 1979. (Photo: AP)

  • <p>Tom Petty performs in 1980 in Santa Cruz, Calif. (Photo: George Rose/Getty Images) </p>
    9/27

    Tom Petty performing in 1980

    Tom Petty performs in 1980 in Santa Cruz, Calif. (Photo: George Rose/Getty Images)

  • <p>Stevie Nicks and Tom Petty perform in 1981. (Photo: Larry Hulst/Getty Images) </p>
    10/27

    Tom Petty and Stevie Nicks

    Stevie Nicks and Tom Petty perform in 1981. (Photo: Larry Hulst/Getty Images)

  • <p>Tom Petty on his tour bus in 1981 in Chicago. (Photo: George Rose/Getty Images) </p>
    11/27

    Tom Petty in 1981

    Tom Petty on his tour bus in 1981 in Chicago. (Photo: George Rose/Getty Images)

  • <p>Tom Petty grins with his guitar in 1982 in Los Angeles. (Photo: Chris Walter/Getty Images) </p>
    12/27

    Tom Petty in 1982

    Tom Petty grins with his guitar in 1982 in Los Angeles. (Photo: Chris Walter/Getty Images)

  • <p>From left: Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, Roy Orbison, George Harrison, and Jeff Lynne perform as the groundbreaking supergroup Traveling Wilburys in 1988. (Photo: @OfficialWilburyVEVO via YouTube) </p>
    13/27

    Tom Petty with the Traveling Wilburys

    From left: Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, Roy Orbison, George Harrison, and Jeff Lynne perform as the groundbreaking supergroup Traveling Wilburys in 1988. (Photo: @OfficialWilburyVEVO via YouTube)

  • <p>Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers perform on <i>Saturday Night Live,</i> May 20, 1989, in New York City. (Photo: Raymond Bonar/NBC/Getty Images) </p>
    14/27

    Tom Petty on ‘SNL’

    Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers perform on Saturday Night Live, May 20, 1989, in New York City. (Photo: Raymond Bonar/NBC/Getty Images)

  • <p>From left: Howie Epstein, Benmont Tench, Stan Lynch, Mike Campbell, and Tom Petty backstage at Nassau Coliseum in 1990 in Uniondale, N.Y. (Photo: Ebet Roberts/Redferns) </p>
    15/27

    Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers in 1990

    From left: Howie Epstein, Benmont Tench, Stan Lynch, Mike Campbell, and Tom Petty backstage at Nassau Coliseum in 1990 in Uniondale, N.Y. (Photo: Ebet Roberts/Redferns)

  • <p>Tom Petty and fellow Traveling Wilbury George Harrison are captured together at the Billboard Music Awards in Los Angeles, Dec. 9, 1992. (Photo: Reed Saxon/AP) </p>
    16/27

    Tom Petty and George Harrison

    Tom Petty and fellow Traveling Wilbury George Harrison are captured together at the Billboard Music Awards in Los Angeles, Dec. 9, 1992. (Photo: Reed Saxon/AP)

  • <p>Tom Petty at the VMAs in 1996. (Photo: The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images) </p>
    17/27

    Tom Petty at the MTV Video Music Awards

    Tom Petty at the VMAs in 1996. (Photo: The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images)

  • <p>Tom Petty and Jay Leno during an interview on <i>The Tonight Show</i> in Burbank, Calif., Aug. 5, 1996. (Photo: Margaret Norton/NBC/Getty Images) </p>
    18/27

    Tom Petty on ‘The Tonight Show’

    Tom Petty and Jay Leno during an interview on The Tonight Show in Burbank, Calif., Aug. 5, 1996. (Photo: Margaret Norton/NBC/Getty Images)

  • <p>From left: Rick Rubin, Tom Petty, and Johnny Cash during a recording for Johnny Cash’s <i>Unchained</i> at Sound City Studios in Van Nuys, Calif., Jan. 26, 1996. (Photo: Kevin Estrada/AP) </p>
    19/27

    Tom Petty with Johnny Cash

    From left: Rick Rubin, Tom Petty, and Johnny Cash during a recording for Johnny Cash’s Unchained at Sound City Studios in Van Nuys, Calif., Jan. 26, 1996. (Photo: Kevin Estrada/AP)

  • <p>Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers are honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on April 28, 1999, in Hollywood. (Photo: S. Granitz/Getty Images) </p>
    20/27

    Tom Petty’s Hollywood Walk of Fame star

    Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers are honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on April 28, 1999, in Hollywood. (Photo: S. Granitz/Getty Images)

  • <p>Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers at the 17th Annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City, March 18, 2002. (Photo: Frank Micelotta/Getty Images) </p>
    21/27

    Tom Petty inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

    Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers at the 17th Annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City, March 18, 2002. (Photo: Frank Micelotta/Getty Images)

  • <p>A cartoon Petty makes a cameo on the “How I Spent My Strummer Vacation” episode, 2002. (Photo: Fox) </p>
    22/27

    Tom Petty on ‘The Simpsons’

    A cartoon Petty makes a cameo on the “How I Spent My Strummer Vacation” episode, 2002. (Photo: Fox)

  • <p>Tom Petty and fellow Traveling Wilbury Jeff Lynne at the Waldorf Astoria during George Harrison’s induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in New York City, March 15, 2004. (Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images) </p>
    23/27

    Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne

    Tom Petty and fellow Traveling Wilbury Jeff Lynne at the Waldorf Astoria during George Harrison’s induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in New York City, March 15, 2004. (Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images)

  • <p>Tom Petty performs at halftime during Super Bowl XLII in Glendale, Ariz., Feb. 3, 2008. (Photo: Julie Jacobson/AP) </p>
    24/27

    Tom Petty at the Super Bowl

    Tom Petty performs at halftime during Super Bowl XLII in Glendale, Ariz., Feb. 3, 2008. (Photo: Julie Jacobson/AP)

  • <p>Tom Petty, with daughter Adria Petty, left, and wife Dana Petty, arrives at the 2012 MTV Video Awards in Los Angeles, Sept. 6, 2012. (Photo: Gregg DeGuire/Getty Images) </p>
    25/27

    Tom Petty and family

    Tom Petty, with daughter Adria Petty, left, and wife Dana Petty, arrives at the 2012 MTV Video Awards in Los Angeles, Sept. 6, 2012. (Photo: Gregg DeGuire/Getty Images)

  • <p>Tom Petty performs in Del Mar, Calif., on Sept. 17, 2017. (Photo: Gary Miller/Getty Images) </p>
    26/27

    Tom Petty on the Heartbreakers’ 40th-anniversary tour

    Tom Petty performs in Del Mar, Calif., on Sept. 17, 2017. (Photo: Gary Miller/Getty Images)

  • <p>Tom Petty plays his final shows at the Hollywood Bowl, Sept. 21-25, 2017. (Photo: TomPetty.com) </p>
    27/27

    Tom Petty’s last concert

    Tom Petty plays his final shows at the Hollywood Bowl, Sept. 21-25, 2017. (Photo: TomPetty.com)

<p>From left: Mike Campbell, Tom Petty, Tom Leadon, and Randall Marsh of Mudcrutch in December 1974 in Los Angeles. (Photo: Jim McCrary/Getty Images) </p>
<p>Tom Petty ca. 1976. (Photo: Richard E. Aaron/Getty Images) </p>
<p>Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers on July 15, 1976, in Los Angeles. (Photo: Ed Caraeff/Getty Images) </p>
<p>Tom Petty in 1977 in New York City. (Photo: Michael Putland/Getty Images) </p>
<p>Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, ca. late 1970s. (Photo: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) </p>
<p>Tom Petty, ca. late 1970s. (Photo: GAB Archive/Getty Images) </p>
<p>Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, November 1979, in Philadelphia. (Photo: AP) </p>
<p>Tom Petty promoting <i>Damn the Torpedoes </i>in the WYSP studios in Philadelphia, 1979. (Photo: AP) </p>
<p>Tom Petty performs in 1980 in Santa Cruz, Calif. (Photo: George Rose/Getty Images) </p>
<p>Stevie Nicks and Tom Petty perform in 1981. (Photo: Larry Hulst/Getty Images) </p>
<p>Tom Petty on his tour bus in 1981 in Chicago. (Photo: George Rose/Getty Images) </p>
<p>Tom Petty grins with his guitar in 1982 in Los Angeles. (Photo: Chris Walter/Getty Images) </p>
<p>From left: Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, Roy Orbison, George Harrison, and Jeff Lynne perform as the groundbreaking supergroup Traveling Wilburys in 1988. (Photo: @OfficialWilburyVEVO via YouTube) </p>
<p>Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers perform on <i>Saturday Night Live,</i> May 20, 1989, in New York City. (Photo: Raymond Bonar/NBC/Getty Images) </p>
<p>From left: Howie Epstein, Benmont Tench, Stan Lynch, Mike Campbell, and Tom Petty backstage at Nassau Coliseum in 1990 in Uniondale, N.Y. (Photo: Ebet Roberts/Redferns) </p>
<p>Tom Petty and fellow Traveling Wilbury George Harrison are captured together at the Billboard Music Awards in Los Angeles, Dec. 9, 1992. (Photo: Reed Saxon/AP) </p>
<p>Tom Petty at the VMAs in 1996. (Photo: The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images) </p>
<p>Tom Petty and Jay Leno during an interview on <i>The Tonight Show</i> in Burbank, Calif., Aug. 5, 1996. (Photo: Margaret Norton/NBC/Getty Images) </p>
<p>From left: Rick Rubin, Tom Petty, and Johnny Cash during a recording for Johnny Cash’s <i>Unchained</i> at Sound City Studios in Van Nuys, Calif., Jan. 26, 1996. (Photo: Kevin Estrada/AP) </p>
<p>Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers are honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on April 28, 1999, in Hollywood. (Photo: S. Granitz/Getty Images) </p>
<p>Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers at the 17th Annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City, March 18, 2002. (Photo: Frank Micelotta/Getty Images) </p>
<p>A cartoon Petty makes a cameo on the “How I Spent My Strummer Vacation” episode, 2002. (Photo: Fox) </p>
<p>Tom Petty and fellow Traveling Wilbury Jeff Lynne at the Waldorf Astoria during George Harrison’s induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in New York City, March 15, 2004. (Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images) </p>
<p>Tom Petty performs at halftime during Super Bowl XLII in Glendale, Ariz., Feb. 3, 2008. (Photo: Julie Jacobson/AP) </p>
<p>Tom Petty, with daughter Adria Petty, left, and wife Dana Petty, arrives at the 2012 MTV Video Awards in Los Angeles, Sept. 6, 2012. (Photo: Gregg DeGuire/Getty Images) </p>
<p>Tom Petty performs in Del Mar, Calif., on Sept. 17, 2017. (Photo: Gary Miller/Getty Images) </p>
<p>Tom Petty plays his final shows at the Hollywood Bowl, Sept. 21-25, 2017. (Photo: TomPetty.com) </p>
Yahoo Music Staff

On Monday, Oct. 2, the legendary Tom Petty passed away at age 66 after suffering a cardiac arrest. He leaves behind a legacy as one of our great national rock ’n’ roll treasures. Here, we take a look at the Mudcrutch, Heartbreakers, and Traveling Wilburys member’s life and legacy.

Recommended Stories