NASHVILLE |FROM: MITCH SCHNEIDER/LATHUM NELSON
TOM PETTY AND THE HEARTBREAKERS
TO MARK THE SUMMER OF 2003 WITH NATIONAL TOUR,
TWO PBS SPECIALS AND LIVE DVDS
This summer, fans of TOM PETTY and THE HEARTBREAKERS will be able to experience one of rock’s best live acts on the road and in their homes via a major tour, two PBS in-concert programs and live DVDs.
The tour, to be marked by two special co-headlining concerts with Bob Dylan August 9 and 10 in New Jersey, got underway June 26 at the Arena in Sioux Falls, South Dakota in front of 6,100 fans. As noted by the Argus Leader newspaper (6/27/03) PETTY and the HEARTBREAKERS’ performance was the venue’s highest grossing concert ever, breaking the record for a 1998 Aerosmith show. “Amped up by the appreciation,” wrote Robert Morast in the Argus Leader, “PETTY smiled, danced and shimmied his way through classic rock tunes while actually looking like he was having fun – not a trait exhibited by all musicians when they hit Sioux Falls. Because of Petty’s excitement, the symbiosis was less parasitic than most concerts and felt more spiritual.”
On Thursday, July 3, PBS will relaunch their revered “Soundstage” series, which last aired in 1985, with two back-to-back shows by TOM PETTY and the HEARTBREAKERS. The shows–the second one will air Thursday, July 10–were recorded in Chicago just a couple of days after the end of the band’s historic run at the Vic Theater (April 13, 14, 16, 17, 19). Greg Kot, writing in the Chicago Tribune (4/15/03), noted that the opening night show was “…a fascinating glimpse into the mind, soul and inspiration of one of the rock ‘n’ roll greats,” while the Chicago Tribune’s Jim DeRogatis hailed the evening as “…an inspired, energetic, revealing and consistently thrilling performance—a gift from one of rock’s greats” (4/15/03).
Although only one “Soundstage” show was intended, the cameras kept rolling as TOM and the band–MIKE CAMPBELL (guitars), BENMONT TENCH (keyboards), RON BLAIR (bass), SCOTT THURSTON (guitars, harmonica, backing vocals) and STEVE FERRONE (drums)–played way into the night. Their set included, blues, classic covers, some country, some hits, some rarely played songs from deep into their catalog and three new songs. The show’s producers, who had expected only one show, asked for and got permission to run two. The resulting two-part series will air on over 300 stations. Check local listings for airings, but on most stations the shows will run at 9pm Central and 10pm Eastern, Mountain and Pacific time.
Viewers will have the opportunity to support the network by purchasing the TOM PETTY and the HEARTBREAKERS’ “Soundstage” performances on DVD directly through PBS by calling an 800 number which will be given out during the shows.
One of the highlights of the group’s 2003 summer tour will be August 9 and 10 at New Jersey’s PNC Bank Center when they co-headline with Bob Dylan and his band. The concert was organized as a result of the cancellation of Bonnaroo, NE, where both artists were scheduled to perform. The artists last played together at the Bob Dylan “The 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration” at Madison Square Garden in 1992. TOM PETTY and the HEARTBREAKERS also teamed up with Dylan—one of PETTY’s Traveling Wilbury bandmates—for a historic world tour in 1986 and 1987.
To accommodate the August 9 and 10 Holmdel shows, changes were made in TOM PETTY and the HEARTBREAKERS’ summer concert itinerary. The Portsmouth, VA show originally scheduled for August 9 will now take place Tuesday, August 12. This alteration in the routing unfortunately resulted in the cancellation of the August 12 Knoxville, TN show, for which tickets are being refunded. At the same time, a new show has been added August 29 in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
Mavis Staples and Bo Diddley will alternate the support slot on TOM PETTY and the HEARTBREAKERS’ summer tour. Each of these legends have recently shared bills with the band.
For more info, visit www.tompetty.com.
Here are the TOM PETTY and the HEARTBREAKERS concert dates:
DATE CITY VENUE
Thu 6/26 Sioux Falls, SD Sioux Falls Arena
Sat 6/28 Milwaukee, WI Summerfest – Marcus Amp
Mon 6/30 Cedar Rapids, IA US Cellular Center
Tue 7/1 Council Bluffs, IA Mid America Center
Thu 7/3 Rapid City, SD Rushmore Plaza
Sat 7/5 Bozeman, MT Brick Breeden Fieldhouse
Tue 7/8 Bismarck, ND Bismarck Civic Center
Fri 7/11 Mankato, MN Mid West Arena
Sun 7/13 Peoria, IL Civic Center
Sat 8/9 Holmdel, NJ PNC Bank Center
Sun 8/10 Holmdel, NJ PNC Bank Center
Tue 8/12 Portsmouth, VA Harbor Amphitheatre
Wed 8/13 Atlanta, GA Arena at Gwinett Center
Fri 8/15 Charleston, SC Charleston Coliseum
Sat 8/16 Nashville, TN AM South Amphitheatre
Mon 8/18 Memphis, TN Orpheum
Tue 8/19 Memphis, TN Orpheum
Thu 8/21 Daytona Beach, FL Ocean Center
Fri 8/22 Ft. Meyers, FL Teco Arena
Sun 8/24 Birmingham, AL Oak Mountain Amphitheatre
Tue 8/26 New Orleans, LA UNO Arena
Fri 8/29 Jackson Hole, WY TBA
Sat 8/30 Aspen, CO JAS Festival
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