I don’t know what my life would have been like without Tom Petty, and now I don’t know what the future holds without him sharing this earth with me. He’s one of those artists for whom my emotional connection has been unshakeable for the vast majority of my life. As with Michael Jackson, Prince, David Bowie, and George Michael, Tom Petty represents my childhood, and the loss of this ingenious artist and extraordinary man is more than just the passing of another celebrity. Some people laugh when we mourn celebrity deaths like they are our family, but when you spent the better part of your life feeling inspired and entertained by somebody, it doesn’t matter whether or not you knew them personally; we do know them through their work, and that’s what makes it so heartbreaking when they die.
The first time I was aware of Tom Petty was when…
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I always loved his music and considered him to be a classy rocker who avoided drama and controversy. His death hit me harder than I would have thought it would, but that could perhaps be due to the fact I grew up with his music. It’s likely also due to the fact it’s a reminder of my own mortality.
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