Legendary Rocker Tom Petty Dead At 66 Of Cardiac Arrest
It just seems every week we are losing musicians, actors and influential people that changed our world in music, movies, TV, and also how we view it.
The lead singer of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers who had a string of hits, including “Free Fallin'” and “American Girl”, died of cardiac arrest Monday night. He was the rocker who fronted one of the country’s longest-running and most successful American bands. Petty also kept busy with solo hits such as “I Won’t Back Down,” as well as performing with the band Mudcrutch and the Traveling Wilburys, a folk-rock supergroup featuring Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Jeff Lynne and Roy Orbison.
Petty suffered a cardiac arrest at his Malibu home early Monday morning “and was taken to UCLA Medical center but could not be revived,” Tony Dimitriades, longtime manager of Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, said in a statement on behalf of the musician’s family. “He died peacefully at 8:40pm PT surrounded by family, his bandmates and friends.”
TMZ had first mistakenly reported his death Monday morning due to the Los Angeles police reporting he had died, when in fact he had been put on life support. “Initial information was inadvertently provided to some media sources,” the police department posted on Twitter. “However, the LAPD has no investigative role in this matter. We apologize for any inconvenience in this reporting.” TMZ followed up with a post around 1:30 p.m. PST that Petty was “still clinging to life.”
A legendary 40 years of rock
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers had just concluded their 40th anniversary tour, which Petty had said would be the band’s last big, country-spanning tour.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers released their self-titled debut in 1976, which included the Top 40 hits “Breakdown.” Over the following decades, the band turned out over a dozen studio albums and a steady string of hits that included “Don’t Do Me Like That,” “Refugee,” “The Waiting” and “American Girl”.
Petty said his meeting with Presley sparked his love for rock and roll but it was The Beatles 1964 appearance on “The Ed Sullivan Show” that convinced him to make his own music.
“This was the great moment in my life, really, that changed everything,” he said.
Bob Dylan, reached by Rolling Stone, described Petty’s death as “shocking, crushing news” and said he would always remember his friend. “I thought the world of Tom,” he told the outlet. “He was great performer, full of the light, a friend, and I’ll never forget him.” Rest In Peace, Our “Heartbreaker” Tom.
Susan Z’s Conclusion:
Since Petty was relatively young to die of cardiac arrest at 66, it may be revealed in later information that he might have had a heart problem. He went quick and that was the blessing in his death that his family did not have to deal with a painful and heartbreaking death vigil.
Five of Pentacles: Inverted (Upside Down)
Low self-esteem and sometimes a less than mentality. Since pulled inverted, it tells me he worked his whole life trying to free himself from his childhood of abuse and poverty. I also feel that because of this imprint, he may not have taken care of his body as well as he should have.
Queen of Cups: Inverted
Feminine energy of being sensitive and psychic abilities. Pulled inverted, this may represent Petty having a deep spiritual side that very few knew about.
Three of Pentacles:
World success with a life situation. I believe music was Petty’s life. He lived, breathed and spent every moment absorbed in it because he loved music so much.
Susan Z Rich is an emotional addiction counselor, spiritual intuitive and holistic therapist. She counsels others to see life in a more positive way and teaches personal accountability for life choices. She is also the author of several children’s books and Soul Windows…Secrets From The Divine.