Iconic Rocker Tom Petty Dead at 66 (UPDATED: Petty’s Death Confirmed)

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Iconic rocker, Tom Petty, is dead at age 66. From Rolling Stone

Tom Petty, the dynamic and iconoclastic frontman who led the band the Heartbreakers, died Monday. He was found unconscious, not breathing and in full cardiac arrest at his Malibu home Sunday night, according to TMZ, and rushed to the hospital and placed on life support. EMTs were able to find a pulse when they found him, but TMZ reported that the hospital found no brain activity when he arrived. A decision was made to pull life support. CBS confirmed Petty’s death. He was 66.

“It’s shocking, crushing news,” Petty’s friend and Traveling Wilburys bandmate Bob Dylan tells Rolling Stone in a statement. “I thought the world of Tom. He was great performer, full of the light, a friend, and I’ll never forget him.”

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers recently completed a summer tour last Monday with three nights at the Hollywood Bowl. The trek marked the band’s 40th anniversary and found him playing rarely played deep cuts like their first album’s opener, “Rockin’ Around (With You),” and a selection of Wildflowers cuts. It was intended to be his “last trip around the country.” He told Rolling Stone, though, that it wasn’t his intention to quit playing. “I need something to do, or I tend to be a nuisance around the house,” he said.

RIP Tom Petty.

Here’s Petty singing Free Fallin’ in 2008 at the Super Bowl Halftime show

UPDATED: The LAPD has walked back their info. Petty is reportedly “clinging to life” after being taken off life support.

UPDATE: Petty’s manager has confirmed the singer’s death:

Petty’s daughter ripped Rolling Stone magazine a new one. I don’t blame her for being upset. But RS wasn’t the publication that initially reported the news. The publication who had it right all along? TMZ.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BZwuOLpBTpr/?taken-by=dadlivesmatteronelove

Here’s my favorite Tom Petty song, “The Waiting.” The thing that drew me to The Heartbreakers early on: Petty, especially early on, was hugely influenced by the 60’s folk rock band, The Byrds. And Dylan and The Beatles too, of course.

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Founder and editor of mjsbigblog.com, home of the awesomest fan community on the net. I love cheesy singing shows of all kinds, whether reality or scripted. I adore American Idol, but also love The Voice, Glee, X Factor and more!