Mike Campbell: The Man Behind Tom Petty
Mike Campbell: The Man Behind Tom Petty  
Podcast: Really? no, Really?
Published On: Tue Apr 15 2025
Description: Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Tom Petty died in 2017, but his music continues to live on thanks to hits like "Refugee", "Here Comes My Girl", and "Runnin' Down a Dream." But recently Jason and Peter were stunned to learn that Petty didn’t write those songs alone. Really, no Really! Mike Campbell was an original member of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and co-wrote many of the band's legendary hits and was considered by Petty to be the Heartbreakers’ co-captain. Campbell himself, continues to have an impressive career, now fronting the band The Dirty Knobs and playing and writing music with legendary rockers like Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, George Harrison and more. But that got the guys wondering, what it’s like being the “unrecognized talent” regularly standing just behind and co-writing with iconic names? While much of Mike’s career was alongside Petty, he notably gave Don Henley the music for his 1984 hit "The Boys of Summer" and he worked closely with Stevie Nicks, Aretha Franklin and too many others to name. Campbell just released his first book: Heartbreaker: A Memoir *** ON THIS EPISODE: Where Heartbreaker guitar lines came from. What gives guitarists their “sound”? Mike stores his guitars in a dry-cleaning rack? They say Bob Dylan is “enigmatic” – What does that mean? Tiny clubs vs. stadiums – Which is better to play? On-stage and having to pee. What do you do? How has the music business changed during Mike’s career? Jason has an insane pneumatic couch. ??? Googleheim: Dylan Fans… We gotchu! *** FOLLOW MIKE: Website (tour dates & tickets) - www.thedirtyknobs.com Book - Heartbreaker: A Memoir Instagram: @mikecampbellofficial YouTube - @mikecampbellofficial X - @MikeCampbellHQ Facebook – MikeCampbellOfficial *** FOLLOW ROBERT TILDEN: Spotify: Boyo *** FOLLOW REALLY NO REALLY: www.reallynoreally.com Instagram YouTube TikTok Facebook Threads XSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.