Next: The Stories Behind the 36 Covers from Tom Petty's 'Fillmore' Box, 40 Years Ago: ELO Prompts Tom Pettys Change of Heart, Win a Signed Tom Petty Live at the Fillmore 1997 Vinyl Set, Watch New Unseen Clips of Tom Pettys Fillmore Residency, Win a Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers Fillmore Vinyl Box Set, The Stories Behind the 36 Songs Tom Petty Covers on Fillmore LP, Hear Tom Petty Cover Call Me the Breeze at 1997 Fillmore Show, Watch Never-Before-Seen Clip of Tom Petty at the Fillmore in 1997, Original Tom Petty Drummer Nearly Refused Mike Campbells Reunion Offer. Guitarist Mike Campbell has admitted to feeling reluctant about reuniting under the Heartbreakers banner, but says it might happen someday under the right circumstances. "Without Tom, it's like, are the Rolling Stones going to play without Keith [Richards]? It is straight-up true music from a straight-up true guy, he says of Wildflowers and its depiction in the film. He even formed his own radio channel, Tom Petty Radio, and wrote Runnin' Down a Dream, a retrospective look at his own personal recollections. Graduated from Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Ore. with degrees in English and Communications. Benmont is doing better! Afterwards, he sat in with the band on several different sessions, then went back to school. X. He had also played at the Super Bowl, went solo for a bit, joined up with other famous musicians to form the Traveling Wilburys, and resurrected Mudcrutch. Eddie Vedder has unveiled a new single The Long Way - the first to be taken from his forthcoming solo album, Earthling. He went on to describe life after the Heartbreakers as an "alternate universe." "You don't want to shake my hand today," he told others. Today's Highlight in History: On Sept. 7, 1977, the Panama Canal treaties, calling for the U.S. to . Tom Petty's decision was a huge gamble Billboardindicatesthat 637,671 tickets were sold, grossing $61 million for the tour. In addition, Tench is a skilled session musician and collaborated with numerous artists. [12] Genre. Heartbreakers keyboardist Benmont Tench was expecting a call about the next tour in early-October of 2017 when his phone rang with much worse news. [13][14], In March 2019, Tench played three shows with Phil Lesh & Friends at the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, New York. And I think some people who see the film will get an insight from it, too., The story Wharton and her team wove together felt true when Tench watched the film, which includes such classic songs as Its Good to Be King, You Wreck Me, and You Dont Know How It Feels.. Member Of. ", The extensiveTom Petty and the Heartbreakers Live at the Fillmore (1997) box set arrived last month. To Stevie Nicks especially, Petty's MusiCares award was well-deserved. Benmont Tench was a Florida-born boy who never forgot his southern roots, even while playing keyboards in one of the hottest bands of the 1980s, The Heartbreakers. So its like the maiden voyage of the Titanic, and the goal is not to hit the iceberg. But as a founding member of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Tenchs keyboards are indelibly etched on a slew of hits, from Refugee and Jammin Me to the Heartbreakers-backed hit for Stevie Nicks, Stop Draggin My Heart Around. Johnny Cash, Elvis Costello, Green Day: theyve all tapped Tench to lend his sublime keyboard sorcery to their songs. These would be Steve Nieve, of Elvis Costello & the Attractions. X. You had to cut bits of tape, throw it up in the air, and see how it came back together. No rock critic could ever deign to critique the significance of Tom Petty any better than Benmont Tench, whose objectivity about the late superstar's creative prowess and personal appeal is not. [16], In 1991, Tench married Canadian model Courtney Taylor. His first recital was at age six. With The Beatles, its like the first time someone saw an electric light or a motion picture. As the band began rehearsals for the 40th Anniversary Tour, Tom Petty received a nice surprise: In February 2017, he received the MusiCares Person of the Year award. I figured. In addition, Tench worked as a session musician for artists like Bonnie Raitt, Neil Diamond, and Bob Dylan. Members Team for Big Star Tribute Concert", "Tom Petty's Original Band MUDCRUTCH Is Coming Back", "The Who Announce Their New Album 'Who' Plus UK Tour Dates", "Benmont & Alice Carbone married yesterday", "Catherine Gabriella Winter Tench, born 8:09 pm December 16th, 2017. Listen to the interview above and then check out the video below. 19990000. [1], Tench played piano from an early age. Nothing on this record went anywhere near digital until it was readied for CD. Jeff Lynne and Dave Ste. I dont know. To this day, people say to me, Why dont you get another singer? Catherine came in December, Tom died in October, Tench said. Speaking with Rolling Stone, Tench juxtaposed the agony of Tom's death with the joy that came a few weeks later when his daughter was born. And here you are full circle, living out that childhood dream. Petty's death, the family said, was simply "an unfortunate accident," adding that "we recognize this report may spark a further discussion on the opioid crisis." "Many of these albums have been out of print on vinyl for years," explainedTom Petty's website. In October, American Songwriterannounceda mega-40th-anniversary, remastered vinyl box set that would include all 16 albums by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, as well as Petty's three solo albums (Full Moon Fever, Wildflowers, and Highway Companion). And to have one of the greatest songwriters in rock n roll history admit that hed never thought he was any good is jaw-dropping. In 2002, Tom and the Heartbreakers were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Its a lovely way to record. He'd attended school with Petty and spent. This was also recorded by Carlene Carter in the early 1990s. Petty was left "covered in raised welts." He was the very last person. His songwriting has popped out on two albums from Mudcrutch, a band he played in with fellow Heartbreakers Petty and Mike Campbell in the early 1970s then reunited in 2008, and his outstanding solo record, You Should Be So Lucky Later, singer Shania Twain showed up, according toRolling Stone, and told Nicks, "I'm going to be greedy right now. Based on your location, we've changed your settings: By clicking Subscribe, I agree to receive exclusive offers & promotions, news & reviews, and personalized tips for buying and selling on Reverb. The . TMZ maintained that there was no brain activity and that Petty's family had decided to pull life support. Baby Health & Safety Shop All . "I'm not gonna get to make that sound. Sometimes he played bass. In November 2016, he regrouped with the Heartbreakers (pictured in 1977) at their rehearsal space near Los Angeles to contemplate their upcoming 40th Anniversary Tour. He also wrote songs for Kimmie Rhodes ("Play Me A Memory") and Lone Justice ("Sweet, Sweet Baby (I'm Falling)"). (Photo by Martyn Atkins, courtesy of Warner Music & Petty Legacy, LLC. What is Benmont Tenchs net worth? It felt very, very real. ), Tom Petty and producer Rick Rubin as seen in the new documentary Tom Petty, Somewhere You Feel Free: The Making of Wildflowers, which debuts on YouTube on Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021. Willman observed that Petty's bandmates "scoffed" at the idea of the show being the last tour ever. Benmont Tench's Live Rig Keyboard - November 2009 "Benmont's had the same Hammond C-3 organ for 35 years," longtime keyboard tech Kevin Brown tells me. It would last several months. About This Deal. Its changed to kind of an alternate universe. My dad, who was a judge, played guitar and piano. Stat News physician writer Lipi Royverified that surgery would have put Petty down for two months or more. Born on September 7, 1953, in Gainesville, Florida, Tench took up piano at an early age, playing recitals at the age of six. Best known as the longtime pianist and keyboard player for Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, Benmont Tench is one of rock's most respected instrumentalists, as he's guested on countless recordings other artists. I have one in my house, but this was the first Hammond I ever owned and its been on every Heartbreakers record but the first two, and on every tour weve ever done since 78. When nothing came of it at the time, he forgot all about it until he was shown what had been captured on the beautiful black and white film. News; Watch Live; Local News; Traffic; National; World; Entertainment But it was an extraordinary experience. At age 11, Tench met Tom Petty for the first time at a Gainesville music store. Tench would drop out of college a few years later to join Petty in the group Mudcrutch. His first recital was at age six. After the MusiCares gala, according toPeople,Nicks said Petty was " talking to me about how important it was to him. When the band started, everyone was together day and night, Tench says. It brought a vital center to my life., Tench said he was now nearing completion of a solo album featuring a tiny, compact band as a result of the pandemic. Benmont is doing better! Benmont played piano from an early age, and his first recital was at age 6. Several minutes later, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers took the stage once more. I love playing with the Heartbreakers but with them, I can just play piano and hide behind it. ), Tom Petty as seen in the new documentary Tom Petty, Somewhere You Feel Free: The Making of Wildflowers, which debuts on YouTube Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021. ), Tom Petty, Somewhere You Feel Free: The Making of Wildflowers, is a new documentary from director Mary Wharton. By. My world world is fallen apart. Tom was the last person in the band that I expected ever to go. Nicks also later expressed her concern about Petty that night. It just isn't the Heartbreakers," Tench says in a new Kyle Meredith With interview, which you can listen to in full below. At age 11, Tench met Tom Petty for the first time at a Gainesville music store. We heard Slim Harpo, the Rolling Stones, Frank Sinatra, The Beatles, Ray Charles and Louis Armstrong, all back to back: Thats 40 minutes on the radio in Gainesville, Fla. in 1965. He had a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame and had been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame. This record is the real thing.. "I mean, you can't imagine someone hitting a child like that," he said. Submit Corrections. That band eventually became Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, in which Tench was a member until Pettys 2017 death. (Photo by Eva Mueller), Tom Petty with guitarist Mike Campbell and bassist Howie Epstein in the new documentary Tom Petty, Somewhere You Feel Free: The Making of Wildflowers, which debuts on YouTube on Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021. Some were for pain, while others served as anti-depression drugs and sleep aides. Shop all Home & Garden. And the film, really, really brings that to light.. So saying, Twain joined Nicks at the side of the stage and watched Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers perform, and the two sang along "at the top of [their] lungs." Most importantly, Petty died "beautifully exhausted after doing what he loved the most, for one last time, performing live with his unmatchable rock band for his loyal fans." The band embarked on their American tour on May 26, 2016. sherlyholmes @ www.instagram.com/p/Bc20QBMlxPI/", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Benmont_Tench&oldid=1116239232, Works Progress Administration (band) members, Articles with dead external links from February 2021, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, Short description is different from Wikidata, Pages using infobox musical artist with associated acts, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 15 October 2022, at 15:15. It really wasnt. [3] They divorced in late 1999. Benmont Tench talks with Kyle Meredith about Live at The Fillmore 1997, the new Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers box set that collects highlights from the band's famed 20-night sold out run. (hoped he had more 'spare change' after such a full rock career) But "the crowd definitely didn't mind as it rocked along with glee to such big numbers as 'Refugee' and 'Runnin' Down a Dream.' The set came in two volumes, each featuring seven albums on a dozen vinyl records, and was released between November and December. ", What The Final 12 Months Of Tom Petty's Life Was Like. 1.3mil was just the house he sold to Mike Campbell. (Photo by Robert Sebree, courtesy of Warner Music & Petty Legacy, LLC. "He was also someone I looked up to enormously.". In 1991, Benmont Tench married Courtney Taylor, a Canadian-born fashion model. 89.3 WFPL News | 90.5 WUOL Classical He was the very last person. But because I had a daughter coming. Fans would be touched to know that even during his final year, Tom Petty had plans lots of them. Benmont Tench 03.08.14 13 12 Wks 03.08.14 2 View full chart history Sign Up. Steve Winwood is a wild musical story. Who is Benmont Tenchs wife? Tom Petty had been nominated for 18 Grammy awards, scoring three wins (perGrammy.com). So you have a relationship with somebody, but there were a lot of sides to him that I didnt know, and I saw him so much.. Keyboardist Benmont Tench also uses his time to work with other classic rock artists. Later, this group became Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers., In 2014, Tench released his debut solo album, titled You Should Be So Lucky.. Theres not a false thing on the record, on the whole thing, Tench says. I cant do that now. Born on September 7, 1953, in Gainesville, Florida, Tench took up piano at an early age, playing recitals at the age of six. Previous image. I played with him since I was 18 or 19. We followed what felt good, and what made sense, she says. But retirement, according to Lewis, was not in the man's vocabulary. Negative. Nowadays the Heartbreakers play live in a rehearsal space with floor monitors, and Tom turns his mic around to face the band. View wiki rock singer-songwriter soft rock thrilling adventure hour usa Add tags View all tags "It isn't the Heartbreakers without hell, our rhythm guitar player and occasional lead guitar player. Petty and Tench played together as members of The Sundowners in 1964. The only other person I ever wanted to make a record with was [Heartbreakers bassist] Howie Epstein, and he passed away in 2003. He has also appeared at the Largo and at the Fillmore in San Francisco as a special guest with Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, and accompanied the Dave Rawlings Machine on part of their west coast tour in spring 2010. Winwood and Tench combined for an exciting interplay on keys, and Campell's guitar soared - as did Winwood's voice; he sang far better and reached harder than he did on his own set.