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“It’s good to be king, if just for a while…”
Tom Petty “It’s Good to Be King”
For me, it was good to meet Tom Petty. If only for an awkward moment.
Another rock n’ roll legend has passed. After being found unresponsive in his Malibu home on Sunday night, Tom Petty was rushed to the Santa Monica Hospital. News would eventually leak of his health issue and fake news of his passing was reported by news outlets before Tom would take his last proverbial toke of life.
It was the spring of 2017 when I met Tom Petty before he and The Heartbreakers would perform at Chicago’s Charter One Pavilion (now named as the Huntington Bank Pavilion). I was working at radio WLUP-FM which is commonly called “The LOOP” to rock music fans in Chicago.
The mayor of Chicago was Richard M. Daley and weeks before the scheduled concert the day of the show would be declared as “Tom Petty Day”. And the Hall of Fame rocker was about to receive a key to the city of Chicago.
I was given the privilege of making the declaration official before Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers would take the stage. Following the opening act I, along with my radio partner, read the document aloud to the concert attendees.
After being escorted off the stage, we were asked by the Chicago Sun Times newspaper for a photograph with the band. Standing in a semi-circle was me, my radio partner, the newspaper photographer, some promotional people and security help along with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.
Admittedly, the silence and vibe was awkward. I’m not sure Tom or his band put much stock into the ceremony or receiving the key to the city. The smell of reefer was so strong you would have sworn we indoors and in tight corridors. But we were outside. In the great wide open and I tried to break the silence…
“Tom” as I reached out my hand and he shook it, “This is a true honor. I’ve been a fan all of my life.”
Trying to fill the further fill the gap in between the gathering of people and the photographer to get ready, I rambled.
I’m not sure what is was that I shared. It could have been how I listen to his music often when I’m alone riding my motorcycle. Or, how as teenagers, we’d skip school and listen to cassettes of his band while smoking substance that was surely banned at the time. Or, how his albums were soundtracks at the summer cabin that we’d escape and drink for endless hours before we were legally old enough to do so.
It didn’t matter. All the stories were true.
Eventually I did shut up. Tom waited. Then he pointed to his ear and said, “Man. I already have my ear plugs in and didn’t hear one word you just said”
Almost on cue the newspaper photographer told us to get in line and we took the picture.
And it was over. I laughed at the awkward brush with greatness and then rocked the night away to one of the greatest bands in rock and roll history.
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