Tom Petty's first performance of "Angel Dream" & Gershwin Award acceptance speech at UCLA (1996)

On 24 April 1996, just a few months before the soundtrack to the 'She's the One' film was released, Tom Petty was honored with the George and Ira Gershwin Award for Lifetime Musical Achievement. After giving a speech about his love of music, and discussing his recent recording sessions with Johnny Cash and Carl Perkins, Petty used a student's electric guitar and amp (which the student brought from his dorm room) to play a new song for the crowd: "Angel Dream" (which begins at about 6:45).
Unfortunately, the video cuts out in the last minute or so, but it's a great spontaneous performance of one of Petty's best songs, written for his future wife Dana York Petty. Enjoy!
Transcript of TP's speech in a fan club newsletter about the event can be found here: www.thepettyarchives.com/arch...
I OWN NOTHING. NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT INTENDED. FAIR USE. ALL RIGHTS TO SONGWRITER AND PERFORMER (TOM PETTY).
Special thanks to L.P. for sending this video to me!

[@benmeltzer]

Song starts at 6:48.

[@oceanview5545]

What a beautiful man,.what a beautiful soul, such a beautiful song/voice. So funny , so sweet, so very very missed.💟

[@andrewstorrie3707]

very well said!

[@mikemichaels9467]

as time passes others will know what all Petty fans have known for decades - he's the best of all time.

[@CourtReporter7]

My husband and I danced to this song at our wedding in 1998. Best. Song. Ever.

[@chrissett4245]

Still surely missed by millions world wide.

[@mikemichaels9467]

Since his passing the world's a little dimmer for me - but when I hear his music it brightens my day.

[@mariavergien8792]

Although I never met you Tom Petty, I will never forget you. See you on the other side.

[@kimjohnson344]

Thomas Earl Petty, class act. Gone, but never, ever forgotten. I listen to your music and/or you daily. His wife Dana is an amazing person just like he was.

[@leotibennett6671]

I feel such joy and such pain when I see him. I quit going to concerts when I got divorced, and I didn't see him for the last many years of his life. I didn't realize how much he meant to me until he passed. In 2004, I was taking a depth psychology class at the Jung Center in Houston, TX. We were reading some of the Upanishads, and one talked about dreaming of the beloved. A few nights later, I saw TPATH on American Masters, and he sang this song. The imagery was exactly like the one in the Upanishad! Tom was a great artist, and he was connected to the collective unconscious. I think his dream was archetypal, and he captured it in a song. Such an beautiful man. I'll always miss him.

[@carolfidler5505]

I am so amazed by Tom in everything I see and hear of him. He was very very special. 🎸🎼❤️💔

[@viviave8]

HE IS SO BEAUTIFUL I CAN'T HANDLE IT

[@Glutenfreemichele]

A beautiful soul , very spiritual. He was right. He was one of the chosen to be a channel. Like George, John and Dylan, MJ, Elvis, Bowie. So good looking and he captured my spirit with "Wildflowers". Too bad we never got to meet....

[@ryhaze]

Such an amazing speech by such a humble and enlightening person. One of his best songs ever. So jealous of those who were there that day to hear it for the very first time.

[@billmay7364]

Beautiful Man. Beautiful Song . George Harrison knew what had when Tom was chosen to be a Wilbury . Now there 's 3 up Top. George, Roy, and Tom. R.l.P. Angel Dream 😇

[@lindabentley6019]

I miss his creativity, sweetness and handsome face. ❤

[@leannewolf-webber3075]

Oh Tom...I still miss you sooo much! Every new video I see of you reminds me of what a wonderful person, father, husband, songwriter, musician you were-still are! I love you, your fans love you, the music world loves you❤💘🎩🎸💘❤

[@Tritoneipelicus]

Tom misses you very much and with her your music full of feelings, I hope the angels take care of you as a messenger of goodness in heaven

[@carolynwilson2206]

What a gracious man. After watching some of Tom's other videos, I like to end the evening watching this video where he talks about God writing the music and he receives it. We are so lucky to still have him with us through these videos and his God given talents. RIP our truly dear Tom Petty.

[@christinaford1801]

Tom was cool personified ❤❤ Miss him and his 🎵 talent.

[@tinanoel452]

Tears to my eyes

[@joetine5]

Wow. I love this man. ❤️. His words, his music. Everything.

[@PickleBeeDing]

What an incredible Soul!

[@moecool1157]

It dont get any better

[@MicheleJane]

Love and miss Tom Petty.

[@brendastdenis4332]

Even though he was only here for a little while he gifted the world a legacy of songs from his heart & soul and will never be forgotten. God bless YOU Tom Petty

[@donnacollins6683]

Soo very appreciated, gone too soon, that big beautiful music brain, I hope to see him in heaven one day.

[@mariagood9121]

Yes, so beautiful.

[@twoblacklabs904]

Great find, Mike. Very important Petty clip with a great message.

[@traciea5130]

This man was a gift to us all!!! I could not love him more!!! 💕

[@paulabaker8403]

Your heart was sooooo beautiful. We were truly blessed to have you. Love you

[@frankdulks4941]

Fantástico. Thank you Tom, Thank you Heartbreakers.🎩

[@gailremp8389]

This is phenomenal and so beautiful.

[@NevadaBoss]

Like so many other legendary artists, I honestly don't think TP knew the magnitude of his talents--with the sole exception of that Dylan guy, I see Tom as the greatest American songwriter of the last 50yrs. He left a void so big, it could crush this town.

[@paulabaker8403]

I'll see you up there Tom singing with all of you for the God that gave us this beautiful talent.love you!

[@mr.smithgnrsmith7808]

Best rock n roll has ever had

[@bobwowk8440]

Thank you for this gift tonight. Wow!!

[@williamfinamore4623]

We miss you Tom.. God keep you !

[@Momsgnrunning1]

Written for sweet Dana. 💕. His soulmate.

[@queentatonka]

Miss him so much!

[@kathrynmansfield4134]

24 karat Rock’n’roller!

[@miladaklimes2875]

This is a great site 👌

[@alanhawk6755]

Loved it so true to Tom one of a kind

[@iwazzabadboy1982]

Awesome Mike😎😎😎

[@ckuiper7332]

Excellent. Thank you *sooo very much* for sharing this!😎

[@freeamerica4760]

Thank you 🥰

[@catmom6830]

Thank you

[@susanlawrence8401]

Wow - where did you get this?!?? Thank you for posting! Can’t get enough of TP- he is SO truly missed 💕 What a lovely human being he was - I hope he has his spot in heaven.

[@susanmurrell635]

#susan Lawrence Oh, he does.....he has a beautiful spot in heaven......for a beautiful soul. ❤️

[@AyakiKay-kj8gm]

thank you!!!🎉

[@tammyjokomo3671]

❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@Harps66]

A great find, thanks so much for sharing! ❤🙏

[@carolynwilson2206]

I really believe he's an angel now.

[@carlosbockor5798]

Gracias Tom desde Argentina por tanto!!!

[@michaelcoates534]

He helped us in learning to fly 🥰

[@elizabethlatorre5360]

We miss you Tom

[@suerichardson1785]

He is such a great songwriter. I miss him so much!!! 😢

[@mdog2435]

All you need to know about Tom was that all of his music idols simply just loved him. The Real Deal. ❤🌅🙏

[@DAPPERDANMEMEO]

Thank you for sharing that.

[@TheMooserolls]

I sure hope Carl and God delivered that guitar. Actually, I'm confident they did.🎩💔🙏🎸

[@viviave8]

God absolutely created Tom Petty to create art so whatever realm he dwells in now he's definitely still doing that

[@TheMooserolls]

@@viviave8 🙏🎩🎸

[@Artes_Mundo6376]

💕🫂🦋 MISS O KZbin Francia GRACIAS POR TU ARTE PURO

[@raymondlebreton4239]

🙏🙏🙏😇

[@elainemarks7845]

I’ve read this song was written about Dana, however he thanked his first wife Jane. So I’m confused. Either way, I love this beautiful song. ✌️

[@kunstelidor]

he thanks his then wife, his divorce was later this year and yes the song is for Dana

[@susanmurrell635]

He thanked Jane for the good times that they once had...and his 2 daughters. It is not that they never loved eachother. They were married for 22yrs. But this song was for his present friend, love, and future wife. He was doing heroin around this time and after the divorce he was living alone in Pacific Palisades in a cabin that was literally falling down. Stevie Nicks came to see him often and to sing while he played some guitar. His friends were very worried about him at that time because he was severely depressed. Dana stood by him and he credited her for helping him get off heroin. He knew her well enough that she wouldn't put up with drugs. He also said that she was also responsible for helping him reconnect with his daughters. RIP TP ❤️. Miss you so much.

[@marimbadearco]

@@susanmurrell635 Yes, Susan, you have it right. Also, apparently Jane was there in the audience so he wanted to be the gentleman and respectful person he was by giving her credit for putting up with a true obsession, his music, which included gobs of time touring when they had little children.

[@RyanRoof]

​@@susanmurrell635 He was indeed suffering after his divorce as he obviously had been if you read how difficult his life has become living with a wife who was suffering obviously from a very serious mental health issue as she was threatening suicide and was very much struggling in her personal health I would say it's pretty safe to assume Jane had borderline personality disorder and thus by the Tom had the courage to move on he had given her all he had as the bpd is much like a parasite who sucks fhe life of their victims

[@MikeMonosRareTomPettyMedia]

@@RyanRoof let’s avoid diagnosing people! All we know is their marriage was on the rocks and his thanking his first wife who he was still married to at that time for public appearance’s sake makes sense.

[@colleenmccloskey4538]

Love You Tom❤‍🩹

[@Sbannmarie]

Oh he passed… RIP Tom. We ❤ love you. I’m a Trojan ✌️, but give props to the Bruins for honoring him.

[@brianbiggs3484]

✌️👍🇨🇦🧀👍🇨🇦✌️👍🇨🇦✌️👍

[@lindaengstrom2861]

😃😂😀😊

[@Artes_Mundo6376]

KZbin FRANCIA💕 MISS O Antonia,Santos Mondo Artes🫂🦋

[@sandradarrough5677]

I thought that song was written for Dana

[@MikeMonosRareTomPettyMedia]

It was! Doesn’t mean he didn’t want to air his dirty laundry to the public at that moment.