Tom Petty wrote most of the Heartbreakers’ songs, but guitarist Mike Campbell’s role in the band over the years should not be overlooked.
Campbell didn’t write “Breakdown” — that was Petty’s own doing late one night in the studio in between working on other songs.
Dwight Twilley gave valuable advice on the song, suggesting that the riff played by Campbell should be more prominent.
Campbell experimented with a slide for the riff, using a pill bottle with a ridge on it, but ultimately played it without the bottleneck.
“Breakdown” went on to become a staple of the Heartbreakers’ live shows and gave Campbell a confidence boost in his guitar playing.
