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The Tom Petty Project

The Tom Petty Project

By: Kevin Brown
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About this listen

This is the weekly podcast that digs into the entire Tom Petty catalog song by song, album by album and includes conversations with musicians, fans, and people connected with Tom along the way.


Follow me on social media:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TomPettyProject

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thetompettyproject

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetompettyproject/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thetompettyproject

Threads: https://www.threads.net/@thetompettyproject


(This podcast is in no way affiliated with the Tom Petty estate.)

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-tom-petty-project.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kevin Brown
Music
Episodes
  • I Don't Wanna Fight
    Jun 18 2025

    It’s interesting that Mike has never dusted this one off with the Dirty Knobs and I think this goes back to him talking about how difficult a period this was and given the circumstances around its conception you can see why it might be ground he wouldn’t want to revisit. The song was a mainstay on the Echo tour however and in "Spotlight on a Heartbreaker" series, which appeared on the official website many years ago and saw fans email questions in for one of the band to answer, Mike was asked “What is your favourite song to perform live and why”, His response? “This tour I liked "I Don't Wanna Fight" 'cause I got to be king!”


    Song : https://youtu.be/_Lf7eM9qCTc


    Don't forget to follow me on social media, like, subscribe, and please, leave a rating if you like the show.


    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thetompettyproject

    Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tompettyproject.bsky.social

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetompettyproject

    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thetompettyproject

    Threads: https://www.threads.net/@thetompettyproject


    All music, including the theme song, provided by my very best friend Randy Woods. Check him out at https://www.randywoodsband.com


    The Tom Petty Project is not affiliated with the Tom Petty estate in any way and when you’re looking for Tom’s music, please visit the official YouTube channel first and go to tompetty.com for official merchandise.


    A last very special thanks to Paul Zollo. Without his book, "Conversations with Tom Petty", this podcast wouldn't be nearly as much fun to research. And further thanks to Warren Zanes for his outstanding book "Petty, the Biography".


    Producer: Kevin Brown

    Executive Producer: Paul Roberts

    Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-tom-petty-project.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Show More Show Less
    23 mins
  • Billy the Kid
    Jun 11 2025

    OK, let’s get into the song! In Conversations with Tom Petty, Tom tells author Paul Zollo “I wrote that on the drive to the studio in Bugs’ truck. My trusty roadie Bugs was driving me to work—and I got this idea for this song, “Billy The Kid.” I pulled out a pad as we were going over Topanga Canyon with all those curves, so I was really writing on the edge of the paper, and back and forth in the truck. And I wrote it all out on the way to work, and I had the tune in my head.” Any songwriter will tell you that it’s massively exciting when that thunderbolt of inspiration hits and words or music come at you all at once. In this case, Tom had the words flowing and the tune only in his head, rather than it coming from sitting around noodling on the guitar and then framing in lyrics later. It’s especially gratifying to hear for me because that’s almost always how I write; a specific line or chorus and then some basic melody.


    Song : https://youtu.be/WHVywrWjjrQ

    Live from the Fonda - 2013: https://tinyurl.com/26yv2c2f


    Don't forget to follow me on social media, like, subscribe, and please, leave a rating if you like the show.


    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thetompettyproject

    Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tompettyproject.bsky.social

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetompettyproject

    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thetompettyproject

    Threads: https://www.threads.net/@thetompettyproject


    All music, including the theme song, provided by my very best friend Randy Woods. Check him out at https://www.randywoodsband.com


    The Tom Petty Project is not affiliated with the Tom Petty estate in any way and when you’re looking for Tom’s music, please visit the official YouTube channel first and go to tompetty.com for official merchandise.


    A last very special thanks to Paul Zollo. Without his book, "Conversations with Tom Petty", this podcast wouldn't be nearly as much fun to research. And further thanks to Warren Zanes for his outstanding book "Petty, the Biography".


    Producer: Kevin Brown

    Executive Producer: Paul Roberts

    Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-tom-petty-project.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Show More Show Less
    25 mins
  • Nic Apostoleris talks Echo
    May 28 2025

    Today’s episode is a very focused conversation I had with my pal and previous guest Nic Apostoleries. When we chatted way back in 2022, Nic told me that when I reached Echo, that he’d love to come onto the show and talk about it. We dive specifically into the lyrics on this season’s album and speculate on possible meanings to specific songs and overall moods and intent that album may hold. As a professional in the mental health field, Nic is always very careful to present his opinions as just that, but they’re very thoughtful, very well considered and articulated opinions and it was an absolute joy to spend a couple of hours in Nic’s company again! Even though he didn’t want to focus on his music, do go check out the links in the episode notes if you do want to check out Nic’s music. It’s personal, passionate, and I love it, so maybe you’ll love it too!


    NOTE: There is one curse-word in the episode, when I quote the poet, Phillip Larkin.


    Nic's latest release can be found here, please do go support him! https://nicapostoleris.bandcamp.com/album/loved-ones


    Don't forget to follow me on social media, like, subscribe, and please, leave a rating if you like the show.


    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thetompettyproject

    Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tompettyproject.bsky.social

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetompettyproject

    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thetompettyproject

    Threads: https://www.threads.net/@thetompettyproject


    All music, including the theme song, provided by my very best friend Randy Woods. Check him out at https://www.randywoodsband.com


    The Tom Petty Project is not affiliated with the Tom Petty estate in any way and when you’re looking for Tom’s music, please visit the official YouTube channel first and go to tompetty.com for official merchandise.


    A last very special thanks to Paul Zollo. Without his book, "Conversations with Tom Petty", this podcast wouldn't be nearly as much fun to research. And further thanks to Warren Zanes for his outstanding book "Petty, the Biography".


    Producer: Kevin Brown

    Executive Producer: Paul Roberts

    Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-tom-petty-project.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 45 mins
All stars
Most relevant  
Interesting and informed podcast. Promises a song by song analysis of Petty’s catalogue, presumably in the same spirit as Revolution in the Head did for The Beatles. I’ve been obsessed with TP&THBs since 1978 - the band I’ve seen most times live. Will listen with interest to how this develops. Excellent start. By the way, how did the narrator end up in Canada?

Excellent opening episode

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