Heartbreaker

A Memoir

De: Mike Campbell, Ari Surdoval

Narrado por: Mike Campbell

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

USA TODAY BESTSELLER

A fast-paced, tender-hearted rock ’n’ roll memoir for the ages, Mike Campbell’s Heartbreaker is part rags-to-riches story and part raucous, seat-of-the-pants adventure, recounting Campbell’s life and times as lead guitarist of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.

"An exhilarating account ... an exemplary music memoir." —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Mike Campbell was the lead guitarist for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers from the band’s inception in 1976 to Petty’s tragic death in 2017. His iconic, melodic playing helped form the foundation of the band’s sound.Together, Petty and Campbell wrote countless songs, including some of the band’s biggest hits. From their early days in Florida to their dizzying rise to superstardom to Petty’s acclaimed, platinum-selling solo albums Full Moon Fever and Wildflowers, Petty never made a record without him. Their work together is timeless, as are the career-defining hits Campbell co-wrote with Don Henley.

But few know of the less-than-glamorous background from which Campbell emerged—a hardscrabble childhood on the north side of Jacksonville, often just days ahead of homelessness, raised by a single mother struggling on minimum wage. After months of saving, his mother bought him a $15 pawnshop acoustic guitar for his sixteenth birthday. With a chord book and a transistor radio, Campbell painstakingly taught himself to play.

When a chance encounter with a guidance counselor inspired him to enroll in the University of Florida, Campbell—broke, with nowhere else to go and the Vietnam draft looming—moved into a rundown farmhouse in Gainesville, where he met a 20-year-old Tom Petty. They were soon inseparable. Together they chased their shared dream all the way to Los Angeles, where Campbell would meet his destiny, and the love of his life, Marcie. It was an at-times grueling dream come true that took Campbell from the very bottom to the absolute top, where Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers would remain for decades, creating an astonishing body of work.

Brilliant, soft-spoken and intensely private, Campbell opens up within these pages for the first time, revealing himself to be an astute observer of triumphs, tragedies and absurdities alike, with a songwriter’s eye for the telling detail and a voice as direct and unpretentious as his music.

An instant classic, Heartbreaker is Mike Campbell’s heartfelt portrait of one throwaway kid’s lifesaving love of music and the creative heights he achieved through luck, collaboration, humility and extraordinary talent.

Great to hear Mike’s story from his actual voice too.

Miles life account starts in his early childhood, move to Gainesville FL, start Mudcrutch, move to California, Tom’s star takes off, creation of Heartbreakers, late 70’s, struggles through success, solo works, 90’s resurrection, Tom’s death, and Mike’s current gig as leader of the Dirty Knobs. I enjoyed the stories!

Stories right from mikes mouth

A touching tale of a great American life lived. Mike is so relatable and genuine. True fans of the heartbreakers will fine some great gems in the stories recounted. The ending we all know is coming is emotional, hopeful and navigated with skillful grace and heart.

Mike Campbell gives us the secrets of staying in tune

Mike Campbell’s story swells with the gratitude that clearly sustained him through his amazing life. His love for others, and his mindful appreciation of life come through in the telling. Campbell’s voice, in its similarity to Petty’s, is the perfect vehicle for a book about a man who put so much of his heart into the Heartbreakers. When the book concludes, you remember the terminally silent youth that you met in the beginning, and you realize he has told you his whole story in his own, road-worn voice. You forget that you were listening to the story of a rock legend. You hear an aging representative of the American dream, who is his 70s and still marveling at how far he has come. You hear an incredulous old man who is full of gratitude. And you realize that his favorite part of his story is his wife. So yes, the story has it all. I laughed and I cried multiple times. That memoir is just like so many of Mike’s solos: thoughtful, well executed, and often passionately spare.

Two thumbs up!!!

Great stories and poignant insights from one of the founders and key players in one of my all time favorite bands! Several in depth biographies I've been published on Tom Petty, a couple of which Tom even participated indirectly.

But this is the first from another member of the Heartbreakers, and not just any member, but the band's cofounder and Tom's long-time songwriting partner -- Mike Campbell is arguably the musical engine that made the Heartbreakers go. He contributed platinum hits to the Heartbreakers and other artists, while remaining a humble, reserved, and shy presence throughout his career.

Mike offers a different view of the celebrated Petty, showing how his uncompromising nature could be difficult and damaging to those closest to him. It's also a celebration of Tom, the band, and the music they made together, told from the intimate perspective of the ultimate insider.

Best of all, Mike's narration Makes it feel like an personal conversation between two old friends.

If you're a fan of the Heartbreakers, this a must this is a must read. And if you're a music fan in general, I highly recommend, too.

Mike wears his heart on his sleeve 🤟🏽

The first time I saw Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers was back in 1986 when I was on tour with the Grateful Dead. The first show was up in Buffalo, New York with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers plan on their own and also backing up Bob Dylan then the Grateful Dead came on. It was a wonderful wonderful time And then I saw them again down in Washington DC a few days later. Years later when I move to California and became independent, I saw more shows that I could ever believe especially the 97 Fillmore run which I saw eight of the 20 and in 1999 I saw five of the eight I consider myself very blessed to to have also caught them at Concord pavilion in the early 2000s on the West Coast and all over the East Coast later on with Mudcrutch and with Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, as I listen to this book, you can’t help but hear the heart and the kindness that’s in Mike’s voice and then Mike soul he truly is an Aquarius Recently on one of his book signing tours. I was able to tell him what his music and Tom‘s music meant to me he was so kind and gracious the day after my birthday Benmont Tench did a five night residency at the Cafe Carlisle at the Rosewood Hotel and I caught three of the five nights they truly are heart healers do yourself a favor and listen to this book. You won’t regret it if you’d like some you’ll love Mike story it truly is a journey.