Baby boomers popularized rock & roll in the 1960s and 1970s, after Elvis Presley and The Beatles. Although generation borders are seldom clear, generation X was born between 1964 and 1980. This generation grew up on a more diversified punk rock-influenced music diet. Baby boomer Tom Petty was born in 1950. Petty was familiar with Presley and Roy Orbison as a 1960s adolescent, but The Beatles showed him his destiny. Like many Americans of his time, Petty watched the Fab Four perform live on Ed Sullivan in 1964. “There was escape. There was a way, he thought.
Petty understood then that he wanted to establish a rock band and gain success beyond Florida. “You have friends and are independent. You create music. It seemed enjoyable too. I connected with it, he said. My interest in sports was minimal. I loved Elvis. But the Beatles showed me I could do it. I knew I could. Soon, garage groups formed everywhere.” With early singles like ‘American Girl’ and ‘Don’t Do Me Like That’, Petty grew as The Heartbreakers leader in the 1970s. His 1980s success increased when he joined Traveling Wilburys and delivered his most memorable tune, “Free Fallin’.”
Petty’s reign coincided with the punk and post-punk periods, although his music was more classic rock, frequently laced with country. He appreciated reflecting on his Florida upbringing in a breezy, pastoral southern tone. In the preceding decade, New York Streets influenced The Velvet Underground and the first punk band, Ramones. After founding in Queens in 1974, Ramones had local success before releasing their 1976 first album. Their name was inspired by Paul McCartney’s alias, but their style was different from The Beatles’, with simple chords, brazen lyrics, and a raucous lack of sophistication.
As expected, Petty wasn’t touched by Ramones’ iconic work. In 1977, the singer-songwriter told FFanzeen that he saw Ramones live in Los Angeles while traveling with Blondie. “I saw the Ramones,” he added. I’ve heard some of them since my buddy at Sire albums in New York gives me a lot of albums. Not truly aware.” Petty didn’t mind Ramones’ music despite not having heard much of it. It’s not our goal to join that one. We’re a youthful rock’n’roll band, period, Petty said. Gene Benson was perhaps more punk than the Ramones. So was Elvis.” Petty reportedly defined punk as a mindset rather than a genre. Petty spoke more about Gene Benson and Elvis Presley as revolutionary characters. Petty’s love of baseball and “punk” were shown by the former, one of the most famous Black baseball players from the US’s “Negro Leagues”.
