Description
Kirk McEwen and Marianne Sierk welcome Stan Lynch, the original drummer and founding member of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, for a fascinating conversation about the band's early years, Tom Petty's songwriting, and the music that continues to keep the Heartbreakers' legacy alive.
Lynch talks about Tom Petty: The Origins, a new collection covering music from 1971–1978, and how the recordings capture the evolution of Tom's songwriting—from his earliest days in Gainesville with Mudcrutch through the formation of the Heartbreakers and the development of the band's unmistakable sound.
He also shares what it was like sitting down with the surviving Heartbreakers to listen to these early recordings together. Hearing the songs again brought back memories while also revealing details that even the musicians themselves had forgotten, with each member recognizing parts played by the others that they hadn't fully appreciated at the time
Stan reflects on Tom Petty as a songwriter and bandleader, describing him as someone who naturally brought the musicians together rather than dictating exactly how songs should be played. Lynch recalls a band that was young, broke, hungry and "feral," but deeply committed to one another and confident in their collective musical instincts.
The conversation also touches on Lynch's departure from the Heartbreakers, including his experience working with producer Jimmy Iovine during the Damn the Torpedoes era. Stan explains that he and Iovine weren't hearing the same thing when it came to the drums, ultimately leading to him stepping aside before eventually being asked to return.
Lynch also discusses Steve Ferrone, who eventually took over behind the kit, and gives him tremendous credit for learning and interpreting the drum parts from the Heartbreakers' catalog. He explains why he never viewed himself as a traditional session drummer—he was simply the drummer in the Heartbreakers—and why Ferrone's contribution helped keep those songs alive.
And in a particularly fun moment, Kirk gets the chance to sing a little Tom Petty for the man who originally played drums on the records. Stan even gives Kirk's performance his stamp of approval. The guys then discuss the raw, live-in-the-room recording style of the early Heartbreakers albums and the intense energy that went into making those records.