American Girl - Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers | The Midnight Special

[@Barrelsmoke]

Breaks my heart knowing he is gone. Such timeless music! Everyone loved Tom Petty! Thumbs up people!

[@tonyhoodlass1846]

Rayneubauer3009 Me Too Buddy

[@abelincoln3287]

I grew up with Tom Petty, lived in the same city (Gainesville) went to the same high school (he was 10 years older than me). Even though I never knew him personally, I got to know him very well through his music. He was never a showboat, never a big shot, just a nice guy and down to earth. RIP

[@MMMarvelous]

Grew up with him?? You said you didn't even know him & was 10 yrs younger! By that standard, I grew up with him also & I didn't pass through Gainesville until '84.

[@LoveMaskedBandits]

I lived in Gainesville in the last half of the 1980s! RIP Tom.

[@LoveMaskedBandits]

​@@MMMarvelousHe attended the same high school and grew up listening to his music. He stated he didn't know him personally.

[@MMMarvelous]

@@LoveMaskedBandits When a person says "I grew with Tom Petty", 99.99% of Americans would infer that to mean they were friends as kids & grew up together as friends. The statement he made is actually paradoxical as it's like he's saying they were old friends from the time they were kids, but he doesn't know him. Just because you don't get the implication doesn't mean he's correct in his statement.

[@LoveMaskedBandits]

@@MMMarvelous I do get it. I'm part of that .01%.

[@oneanddone7992]

After Tom passed, a tribute was given for him. The all-star band - with changing band members - played all of his hits. His catalog is remarkable. His ability to create one hit (and deservedly so) after the other, is on par with very few in all of modern music. One of the most remarkable things Tom ever said in an interview about his superstardom and brilliance, was "Man, I just wanted to make enough money to buy a decent car."

[@IMEMINE.]

Mike just turned 75 yesterday 31 January 25 you guys are in the fabric of our lives. Thank you.

[@devastaterx]

It's hard to get Tom's voice out of your head once you hear him. So special.

[@KittyGrizGriz]

So true! His “intonation” on certain lyrics is phenomenal. I Love Tom. 💖

[@jtf2dan]

The 70s was such an amazing time period for music, and Tom caught the end of it and carried it on.....RIP

[@Teleman73]

Tom was great. Mike Campbell still a character and playing and sounding like Tom when he sings!

[@Lance37a]

He sounds like Tom when he talks.

[@KittyGrizGriz]

Mike Campbell is Jimmy Pages doppelgänger, I always see him in old footage etc

[@trumpingtonfanhurst694]

This song is one that takes me right back to a time when things were better

[@rodewerk5034]

Absolutely incredible video. Tom Petty at his best. Thanks a lot, The Midnight Special, you rock. . .literally.

[@steveresa2342]

I've always loved the bass line throughout this song. This song has been with me for most of my 61 years. The finest live band I ever witnessed.

[@Cap683]

Ron Blair is an excellent bass player with a great sense of melody.

[@KittyGrizGriz]

Ron Blair the “snake man” as Petty liked to call him. I love the bass - my favorite instrument & he’s a fabulous player 🎸!!!

[@aboutagirlnamedjessie]

Tom Petty forever! Freaking love this guy! I'm so lucky I got to see him live on his last tour. What a kick *ss performance for this rebel genius!

[@MarkWoodChannel]

The sheer beauty of Mike Campbell's guitar carried this band and I'll die on that hill.

[@jimmycoleman5853]

The synchronicity between Tench & Campbell at the end of guitar solo is another example of what a great band this was.

[@macjam9090]

I first heard this in 1977 while still at school and it blew my mind. I bought the record. In England Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers were classed as a new wave band. After all these years the song still sounds amazing and it still blows my mind. It is still my Favourite Tom petty song. I bought the album too( as well as many other albums by Tom Petty) . Those were different times and great music.

[@KittyGrizGriz]

Saw Tom in ‘79 on “Damn the Torpedoes” tour, the Fabulous Poodles band opened. I’ll never forget it! Tom has said the ‘powerhouse’ of the band was the drummer Stan Lynch, & I agree Stan’s phenomenal !!!

[@wheelgunner1970]

Stan is an amazing drummer!

[@Santaheckler]

Nobody could replace him imo…he came up with the most awesome rhythms and fills.

[@hklinker]

@Kitty I saw the same tour - Dec. of ‘79 in Vancouver. The opening act was The Fabulous Poodles. That was peak Tom Petty.

[@KittyGrizGriz]

@@hklinker That’s so weird you said that! I kept all of my concert stubs forever & ended up throwing them away, like a dummy. For the longest time I thought the bands name was the Fabulous Poodles or Psychedelic Poodles. By golly I was wrong and you are right it was the Fabulous Poodles who opened for Petty on that tour. Thanks for setting the record straight! I feel like the “village idiot” now haha. Thank you! I’ll edit my original post 😉

[@hklinker]

The Fabulous Poodles’ hit at the time was Think Pink. I can see how you might confuse them with the Psychedelic Furs and even wondered as I read your original post whether you actually saw the Fab Poodles.

[@michiganman5341]

This is the first time I saw them. Have loved Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers ever since. RIP Tom.

[@blujay9191]

I still remember the year the stupid Super Bowl half time show's "wardrobe malfunction." The next year Tom Petty came out at halftime and with no frills just completely rocked the shit out of the place.

[@stevejones18]

June 1978 - Right before my high school graduation. I mean I had listened to his stuff in the two years prior, but at this point in my life, getting out of high school and getting ready to go off to college, I was really starting to get into him. And by fall 1978, he was a staple of my whole time in college, but really in particular, the first two years I was in college especially, his stuff was being played EVERYWHERE. Great time in my life, and now every time I hear his stuff, I think of this time, and frankly, I tear up. Man, was this ever a great time in life! I really, really, really miss those days!!!! And he was a big, big part of life right about then. Really hard to believe he's gone now. That also makes me tear up. Sometimes I love hearing this music, because it was such a great time. And on the other hand, it's hard to hear this music, because it WAS such a great time, and now it's gone and it will never come back. We never knew we had it so good then!!!

[@gregkraus-lt7nv]

I would try to stay up awake to watch midnight special!!!

[@retirednavy8720]

I grew up in the 70s. We never knew how good we had it back then.

[@LoveMaskedBandits]

We know now! I miss the 60s and 70s myself.

[@louiegomez3466]

Digging the VOX guitar TP is playing....

[@SummerofKittyLove]

Tom is supposed to be homely with an odd singing voice but his looks and voice and everything just works. And I love that his favorite coffee was Folger’s!

[@KittyGrizGriz]

He doesn’t look homely to me, plus his confidence if off the charts, confidence on it’s own is very very sexy

[@theseeingeye454]

Beaky nose .The key to his success . Gave him that McGuinn nasal quality

[@jimhere1]

I thought his looks and his voice were the perfect rock 'n roll sneer.

[@theseeingeye454]

@@jimhere1 Spot on. Give a listen to " She don't need you" on the Your gonna get it album

[@KittyGrizGriz]

His singing voice is great too!

[@bonzotalonzo9072]

Oh how I wish I could go back in time....

[@Piggy-Oink-Oink]

TP was a stand up guy. He told The record co not to charge 9.99 for his album and to cap it at 8.99 which he said was the 'right' price. He was almost knocked off for saying this to the criminals who run the 'music business".

[@hollygolightly7475]

I still can’t believe he’s not here

[@andyinoregon]

No other guitarist ever complemented a lead singer better than Mike Campbell did Tom Petty. And it was sheer genius to have Ron Blair's epic bass guitar notes make their dramatic entrance 15 seconds into "American Girl."

[@10000jims]

Mike Campbell is the best. I want to go back in time and slap the director of this episode for taking the shot away from Mike right when he starts his iconic solo.

[@KittyGrizGriz]

Somebody mentioned before on another vid that Mike Campbell was studying Jimmy Page, now I can’t unsee the resemblance, wild.

[@catherinewilliams9680]

Why Mike Campbell doesn't get more love and respect as a songwriter/guitarist is criminal.

[@MostlyBrenda]

Thanks. Played the heck out of the album. Tom was true to Rock'n Roll's roots.

[@andrewjacobsen1976]

Tom was one of a kind, took on the music moguls twice and won. Stood his ground. Try to put his music in a category. He was everything all at once. There will always be (hopefully) guys like him that stood entirely on their own

[@catherinewilliams9680]

Their live album is one of the best ever. Their "breakdown" performance tells you all you need to know about their fans.

[@BaconTomatoCheese]

I still get chills just THINKING about it… I have it on vinyl👍❤️🎸🇺🇸

[@tracevicente]

Breakdown is my 5pm on a Friday song for decades.

[@KittyGrizGriz]

“Breakdown” is my favorite song of theirs, it’s soooo good!

[@fredzeppelin5508]

I approve of this performance.

[@cliffkidby1578]

11 54 Thailand cannot agree more brilliant

[@KittyGrizGriz]

Mike Campbell-lead guitarist reminds me SO MUCH of Jimmy Page. Same mannerisms-moves etc… his doppelgänger for sure! ❤❤❤

[@KittyGrizGriz]

Thank goodness Tulsa’s Leon Russell gave Tom Petty his start in the biz by recording him @ Shelter Records, love both artists! My TTown roots

[@louiebee6745]

And Tulsa's own Dwight Twilley (RIP)

[@christineanderson8864]

His face was plastered all over my bedroom wall. ❤

[@DrummingMan1]

Rock on girl!

[@KittyGrizGriz]

The whole band is 🥵!! 😅

[@Heavyd103]

So proud of Tom, American classic artist

[@ireneparks7392]

The greatest ❤

[@jackiehite5099]

So awesome

[@rebeccawagner4167]

I loved the Midnight Special, cause it showed all of my favorite bands and their music 🎶 🎵. I lived for the Midnight Special to come on. I knew that I would get to hear all the best that rock and roll had to offer. It was live. That is what makes it so freaking amazing. Those days of awesome shows are long gone.

[@Sidley1960]

Saw their first tour at Cleveland Agora.i was amazed Mike Campbell’s guitar playing, truly underrated.

[@tomphillips8739]

What a great song writer and performer. I sometimes watch the postman to see him, being humble in film as in real life. Pearl Jam did a tribute to him in Ft Worth a couple weeks ago. Eddie misses him too.

[@GaryTimms-p5j]

Yep we all miss him

[@dwaynejessome1728]

here we go!!! the big daddy of live performances on the Midnight Special The Dukes of Rock Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers

[@hauntedmilk8540]

Awwww yeah!

[@Ibrian8888]

Amazing!

[@TheHuckster100]

Wow! Goosebumps! Chills! Tears! Absolutely fantastic performance!

[@Jeffrey.Seelman]

Thanks Midnight. Another spectacular performance we can now watch.

[@timothym.johnson3485]

That was the Friday night before my high school graduation. Which was the following Tuesday. June 6, 1978. Waukegan east high school.

[@leelejnieks1234]

oh yeah, all right.

[@josemiguelcarrizo7373]

Tom Petty was great. And the Heartbreakers too. All of them.

[@gregoryduncan3067]

Just gotta upload "Listen to Her Heart" as well.

[@KittyGrizGriz]

That’s my 2nd favorite song of theirs, after #1 - “Breakdown”

[@OttoByOgraffey]

Right on, 'The Midnight Special'! Thank you, Burt Sugarman! Say hi to Mary for us!

[@steveresa2342]

They're usually seen front row, behind the plate at Dodgers games. I only fairly recently realized that was Burt Sugarman.

[@mindriot69]

I totally remember watching this the night it premiered. I was 14 (two months from turning 15). That was the Friday night that I decided to kick my almost 2 year old heroin habit (I started right after my 13th birthday). I was a young guitar player and I knew that heroin was keeping me from getting better. Watching Tom Petty that night (it was actually now Saturday the 3rd of June) convinced me that I needed to start a different path. It was a struggle but it worked out (although it was a rough month plus because I did it cold turkey). Seeing this again gives me an incredible feeling. I havent seen this since then. I’m so happy that there’s a Midnight Special channel on KZbin. And I really, really miss Tom Petty. ✌🏽❤️🎸🍄

[@joannmartinez8295]

Wow what a blast from the past! I remember this show and this performance I was all of 13 years old and completely in love with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers😊❤❤ I still am today❤

[@tonyhoodlass1846]

Awesome Guy rank's among the Best

[@iamtheoceanr]

The best.

[@KimbaRoars]

Great loss, incredible authentic talent that will live on forever. Rock In Peace.🙌🏽

[@tomshappyland2741]

Tom Petty was a rare talent who blessed us with marvelous new material all the way up to his misfortunate passing. There was no resting on laurels for him. We can only imagine the great things to come if he had lived longer.

[@johnshields6852]

I clearly remember this one, I was 18 and back then you couldn't see your favorite bands unless you went to a concert, they didn't have the bands I liked on very much, but Tom was one of shows I couldn't wait to see. Thanks for ride back in time.

[@bendigiorgio2830]

Love Tom Petty. RIP

[@gogoyubari366]

One of my favorite TP songs!

[@sandib4234]

Love this!!

[@davidcaraballoriballo2966]

Temazo impresionante, ojalá saliera un tema así hoy en día , se demuestra una vez más la puta mediocridad de la música del 2024 es acojonante la involución del arte alucinante es una cosa de locos es como en los siglos 17 o 16 y hoy en día no me puedo creer . Por dios que alguien diga allllllgoooooo señores . Puto reguetón

[@bennyteen8792]

The best video music channel on Utube!! I think!

[@popsrock6622]

Gorgeous video!

[@jaidanmckeich6883]

Hell good

[@wandson5410]

Oh great guitar riff

[@mr.roaddogwade7107]

Oh wow, thanks Midnight special. These are gold. Tom is one of the greats. I grew up in Ocala Fla. and he was from next door Gainesville. Saw him in local clubs around Florida in his early career. Fan every since. 👌🏼👏🏼

[@beckyc.2401]

Love Tom Petty ❤️ American Girl is my all time favorite song!

[@louiebee6745]

TP & Co with great songs, great singing and a super tight band. That NEVER gets old!✌✌

[@skipsmith8121]

The greatest American rocker of all time.

[@Riffmaster227]

Bruce Springsteen would like a word!

[@markstevenson6635]

Their first album is simply great, especially this song. A sign of things to come.

[@MCW1955]

Damn. Sure is missed.

[@metalbubba666]

Outstanding.

[@Matt_Kraczon]

The nuance and interplay between the musicians her and throughout the entire career of the band is something to be respected and celebrated. Never a band to have anyone that would show out, but rather all use their impressive skills to make the song as good as they could. It all sounds so simple , but in reality it is far from it. The joy of their catalogue is that you can always hear something new and interesting every time you give one of their albums a spin, you just have to listen close enough. I always felt they did it all for the music and hang the rest of the industry BS, and that’s something we should all strive for.

[@that70sgirl90]

The 70s... Great Music and Good Times ! Happy Wednesday... thank you for sharing! 💖

[@bryanjacobsen5005]

It is unbelievable (yet true) that American Girl bombed when released as a single. Such a great song, but didn't even chart in the top 100! Hit #68 when re-released in '94.

[@alienwolf2]

the great tom petty loved his music since i was a young man what a great musican and the heartbreakers were an essenital part of the success. god bless

[@TuckerSP2011]

Fantastic! I think this was about the time I saw him at the Beacon Theater in New York. He was just breaking into the big time. We knew he was going all the way.

[@joannmartinez8295]

Tom Petty and Stan Lynch the two voices I always heard first whenever I played as a Tom Petty record.... yes I'm old we actually had these things we called records that were played on something called a turntable.😂 Now they just refer to them as vinyl which is now coming back they're just massively expensive to buy or afford 😢 You can get a turntable for a reasonable price.

[@louiebee6745]

Hey I still have my old TP records to this day! (And the turntable too!)😎

[@mattthrun-nowicki8641]

Agreed- Stan was Tom’s double vocally in the best way

[@dwayneard5997]

Way back when...Mr Dilly's first music book was by The Fabulous Mr Tom Petty !! Taught me a Lot....A True American Rock and Roll Hero.... Thank You Tom..You will live in our Hearts.. Forever !! 🙏❤️🎸😎

[@resetsurvivor]

man, what a great performance

[@P51]

EPIC performance of a great tune

[@cohutta_pines]

I saw tom petty 4 times...great memories

[@paulhubrich3655]

I miss Tom Petty

[@ethanjpetch]

Oh yeah, Tom

[@swampfizz]

glad I got to see these guys....nuff said

[@tommcgeethree]

Damn. That was fun. Gotta love Mike Campbell on guitar. 🎸 Oh yeah. 😎👍🍺🇺🇸

[@crlaw75]

Tom has said that the amps he used were Thomas Organ (U.S. VOX) Super Beatles because they were "handsome and cheap". Rest in peace, Tom.

[@dwaynejessome1728]

Editor / producer man!!! you had the prime opportunity to have a clear veiw of Mike Campbell's amazing lead & you blew it.Thanks for sharing though

[@tabithatotten]

Good times. Sure miss Tom

[@pejaguilar30]

Great video. Thank you very much The Midnight Special.

[@peterzang]

A star from the start

[@wandson5410]

I like that live performance

[@wandson5410]

Great live

[@luke83rj]

Such an amazing performance!

[@26101976bdm]

Our little Billy must already be searching for that next special lady...

[@StephanieJeanne]

I loved Tom Petty's music and style so much! This is a great song and performance! Would love to see Refugee or Here Comes My Girl if you have them, anything of his really.

[@gregoryduncan3067]

They were on an August 1978 episode too but it might have been the same footage as the June episode. American Girl, Listen to her Heart and I need to know were played on both shows. I don't think they did the show after that.

[@StephanieJeanne]

@@gregoryduncan3067Oh, okay. Well, those would be good, too!

[@gregoryduncan3067]

Certainly, "Listen to her Heart". That would be peachy if they put that on.

[@wandson5410]

Oh cool sound

[@MikeB-1965]

One of the best rock songs of all time by one of the best bands of all time. RIP Tom