Benmont Tench - Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers 40th Anniversary Touring Rig

Benmont Tench from Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers gives KEYBOARD MAGAZINE an exclusive look at his gear for the band's 40th Anniversary Tour.

[@JimWhitakerMusic]

Benmont, Mike, and Tom have/had to be the nicest, most laid-back guys you’ll ever meet. The only thing missing from this video was an invitation to pull up a chair and have some sweet tea.

[@suereaney7097]

What a hugely talented gentleman Benmont is. As are all the Heartbreakers. Enjoyed that very much, thank-you for sharing. And Benmont?, if you ever read the comments, that most definitely was not boring! Thank-you for taking the time to show us all those wonderful instruments. - Sue xx

[@razzberry5698]

Well that was cool. Not often you get to see behind the piano. Enjoyed it immensely.

[@fattytca1]

Thank you, Benmont. I remember every second of when you came to Detroit in January. Thank you for sharing your gifts with the world. When Tom walked away from the mic to say goodbye and to thank the crowd, it was the first time I felt like the artist was not responding to the cheers, but he was truly THANKING us for giving HIM the opportunity to connect with us. We are blessed to have had the opportunity to witness his and your gifts in real time. Thank you for being the soundtrack to my life. My thoughts are with the band and Tom's family. I hope you find peace in the realization of having made the world a more connected, beautiful, musical place and I hope Tom knew he had done that too.

[@Leel3ones89]

What a great description of a Heartbreakers show. I'm so grateful to have existed at the same time and place as these dudes

[@kimberlybellefontaine1215]

Wow....loooove Benmont! He is one HUGELY talented musician. I'm in total awe.

[@richwong6421]

INCREDIBLE! You can just feel his joy talking about music. I miss the Heartbreakers so da** much. I could listen to Benmont Tench all day long. He's been involved with so much amazing music. He should do a show and just play for 2 hours solo with all his toys. I'd be there every night.

[@waytoomanyguitars]

An amazing player and he seems like such a genuinely nice man. So humble and down to earth. What a band!

[@sup393]

not Boring at all. Thank you for your gift you share with the world. You guys killed in Pittsburgh Friday night. Thank you Heartbreakers.

[@buildtalibanbackbetter5923]

Favorite member to the unbelievably talented heartbreakers!!!!

[@sacpilot]

This was setting up for the show at the Frank Erwin Center in Austin. May 2, 2017. I can attest, it was a fantastic show!

[@JustinHaglerMusic]

See you in St. Louis May 12th Benmont. It will be my 14th straight tour(since 1999). I am hoping to meet you. You guys have inspired and helped my life in so many ways. If the music is constant, it becomes a part of you! Thank you for all your contributions, and see you soon.

[@joannmartinez8295]

This man is a hugely talented musical genius! And he's so absolutely sweet and genuine, I hope someday to hear him play although it will not be with my Heartbreakers and Tom! ( sadly!) His music rocks my world and touches my soul!

[@bikeluversusie2522]

I am so sad over the loss of their great friend and I miss him too. Tears everyday since 10/2

[@jeremythornton433]

Awesome! Love this kind of stuff! Have a great tour!

[@janetlovell-cdphe8017]

Love the Deep Cuts!!! Thanks for the behind the keyboards tour!!! See you from the 3rd row at Red Rocks!!

[@michelle88960]

Genius keyboard maestro. Love Benmont. I used to love playing the piano, I've lost the knack now.

[@RichSad45]

Not boring at all Benmont. That you sir for all the great playing, great concerts with Tom Petty and the Heartbreaks and the amazing Mudcrutch show at House of Blues in Boston. I only recently realized you had played on several amazing tracks on Jagged Little Pill. What a great album that was! But I guess "you oughta know" ;-) I'm a guitarist and watched this again our of my great respect for you and the band. So sorry about the loss of Tom. He was one of a kind. Looking forward to what is next for you.

[@jamescassidy3995]

Gotta love Benmont 🖤

[@BlakeHavardMusic]

Wish he played more...master class keyboardist. My idol!

[@pwb0511]

Thanks Benmont, what a wonderful demonstration of your instruments and expertise. Super talented guy!

[@keaveny63021]

outstanding rundown

[@robertgianchino3954]

I have to say it astounds me that that these great musicians, with all the new tech stuff around, they opt for the real deal including retro effects pedals. These guys can hear the difference in a digital sample to the authentic sounds of the real instrument. I have even seen the use of the roland echo. Truly inspirational people.

[@chicagowsox212]

Benmont is a piano genius. I’m gonna miss this band forever. I still can’t watch their final performance and it’s 30+ months ago. 😢

[@Synthiman2600]

Excellent! Thank you maestro Benmont...

[@joannmartinez8295]

how genuinely kind of Benmont to I allow himself to be filmed and show the world how he does what he does especially on the last big tour.

[@hanksneed4602]

You haven't board me, Benmont!!!!! You are the greatest!!!

[@mr.smithgnrsmith7808]

LEGEND

[@anders671]

Wish I could see a Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers concert 🥺

[@rafaelp993]

Thank you for this! Benmont is such an awesome guy!

[@SoulWaveLa1]

Thx for this so good "I got a whole bunch of stuff". Damn The torpedoes ST of my youth, and when he hits that sound from you got lucky WOW...

[@julief2737]

Benmont words fail me! You're beyond Genius!

[@ksockit2me]

Thanks Benmont!! You're a treasure.

[@danwentz]

Sounds amazing, saw the tour in Champaign IL, I concur.... Go Analog Whenever You Can!

[@GenXstacker]

How cool is it to see his actual setup? Used to love listening to The Benmont Tench Show on Sirius XM along with all the other stuff on Tom Petty Radio.

[@Shred_The_Weapon]

Benmont had that WurliTzer and the C3 since Damn the Torpedoes. That grand piano is easily similar to the one he played earlier. Back in 1999 during Echo, he played a Roland JX8p mounted on the earlier Steinway. What I would love someone to tell me is, what was the little, white synthesizer he mounted atop the WurliTzer and C3 back then? He SHOULD tour with the Fab Faux.

[@aedrianum]

Qué buen video, estas cosas realmente valen oro. ¡Benmont es un verdadero genio!

[@shannonkringen]

cool!

[@RonaldFigura]

Of all the things to use as a controller he chooses a DX7? Isn't it pretty limited as far as MIDI goes? It was one of the first MIDI keyboards. And Oberheim vs Nord? Oberheim is analog and Nord is a romper (sample based) correct? Best thing about Benmont with the Heartbreakers live is they let him stretch out. Whenever I want to learn keyboard parts for a Petty song I look to well-recorded live versions for inspiration. Great interview. I never realized he had a southern accent, but then he is from the south!

[@GrumIsMe]

The velocity range was limited , sure - but if he's just triggering Mellotron samples (an instrument that wasn't velocity-sensitive) from it, it shouldn't be an issue. Similarly, I can't see a bank of extra CC-assignable knobs being of much use for that either, so the DX7 seems a good fit - a sturdy build with a nice keybed, and replacement parts readily available.

[@paulgeorgia8013]

He’s the Mike Campbell of the keyboard

[@beatletoons6645]

every keyboard has its own personality

[@PattiStirk]

Yay JB!

[@jerryRp90x]

Awesome

[@tommymandel]

Thanks, Benmont. What a funhouse tour of an amazing but somehow down home rig. DX7/+/Mellotron, Vox Continental, Tube Screamer, and that Wurly and Hammond...most memorable keyboards for a most memorable player! And I hope you do go back to the OB-6 too. :) PS. is the Steinway midi'ed? If they set up some audience chairs near your rig, there'll be an endless stream of keyboard students filling them. Starting with this one!

[@VincentBrick]

Great video. So I'm guessing he used Oberheim for the horn sounds on It Aint Nothin To Me? They sure don't sound like real horns but maybe I'm wrong.

[@sammmy4495]

I wish I was a master of something... especially the piano.

[@patrickcarroll1754]

The absolute secret weapon of The Heartbreakers

[@minder4u1]

Bored!!!!!!!!!!! Benmont you could do hours of this stuff and I would watch it again and again, thank you for your time

[@alexkx8599]

Do you mean, "Bored?????", with a question mark?

[@PastTime777]

What's the Neo Ventilator 2 plugged into? Explanation of each box would have been cool. I have a Ventilator 2 and a Hammond Xk2, best Leslie simulator out there.

[@dylandefeo6502]

I'm GUESSING it's for the Vox Continental. I know he used the Vox on Don't Do Me Like That, but you can definitely hear a Leslie on the original record.

[@HenryHollow]

Probably his Hammond. It has an effects loop, and the Leslie is solid-state so it wouldn't get the tube breakup otherwise.

[@brooklynboy1000]

awesome

[@MrJunkmaster22]

Thx Ben!

[@sesa1076]

[@The2010golakers]

That crazy moment when Benmont kinda sounds like Jim keltner.

[@inversemedia]

1:20 "Having a lot of fun and going deaf" ;)

[@jfn467]

What is running the Mellotron samples??

[@raystevens2900]

Whoa! $125 for a professional keyboard like a Vox!

[@jbluesb3southside]

words of wisdom “ yeh we have a nord incase the rig goes down “ well honestly I feel the same would love to throw mine in the dumpster but- the rig might go down 👍👍👍👍👍

[@bloomingaccents]

Wow

[@miguelorellano360]

Hey man, change now that DX7 for a KORG Kronos, that reads original banks of sounds for DX7 with your exclusive sound engine "MOD7" onboard .... Besides, this synth (the Kronos) is amazing!!!

[@AnthonyBurrito1313]

Neo Ventilator

[@AnthonyBurrito1313]

VooDoo Labs Tremolo is killer

[@TheFossie12]

Yep that trem is the death. Well I wonder what’s gonna happen now the mans gone? Some things are irreplaceable and Tom is one. It’s the weirdest thing. So much of the foundation has gone in the last 2-3 yrs. you don’t rally get til it’s gone... life is the strangest thing.....

[@gsoundish]

U

[@mitchellhughes5180]

Terrible, terrible, terrible camera work.😣

[@PaulyStax]

Camera guy was no good. He didn't know what to shoot or where to stand. He only showed your face and no intuition. You were pointing and showing gear and he stared at your face. What's funny is i wanted to see the rig close up and you were close up and we still don't see anything. Didn't get any depth or information from it really, but thanks for trying to make a video. Better luck on your next one. Just use an iphone and a teenager for better results.