Mike Campbell: An Appreciation

A friend of mind told me a great story. His son is a guitarist living in the Boston area. Not too long ago his son was at a club sitting in the bar area listening to some live music.

He struck up a conversation with the older guy next to him and said something along the lines of that the guy playing was really good and that he — my friend’s son — ought to know good playing because he was a guitar player himself. To which the older man agreed with the assessment and added that he too also played guitar. At which point, my friend’s son asked about the name of the older guy’s band and that guy replied: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. My friend’s son had been hanging — unknowingly — with Mike Campbell.

So how is that for under appreciated? You are easily one of the top 5 guitarists in Rock working steady as of 2017 and a fellow musician has no idea who you are. For so many reasons, now seems to be a good time to pay tribute to one of the truly best guitarists to ever plug in.

Rock music has been blessed with so many great partnerships over it’s history: Lennon/McCarthy, Jagger/Richards, Page/Plant… Most are temporary and a small handful endure. Tom Petty and Mike Campbell fall into the later category. In fact, you could say Tom and Mike were partners literally from the beginning of Tom Petty’s career through its penultimate end. He was even there when Tom went solo.

For all you odd makers out there, think about this: what are the chances you are a budding hall of fame songwriter and you are kicking around a small Florida city that don’t look too kindly at “long-hairs” in the early 1970’s and you just happen to hook up with the perfect hall of fame guitarist who will accompany your best material for the next 40 years? Really, what are the odds? Did the stars align that day or what?

And I can up the ante by mentioning Ben Tench, who was also present at the creation but whose contribution has become more subtle in recent years. And so long as we are at it, why not mention that original Heartbreakers bassist Ron Blair took a 20 year leave of absence from the band and managed to insert himself seamless back into it.

This of course speaks volumes about the caliber of musicians we are talking about and — above all — Tom Petty as a band leader and person. But let’s keep the focus on Mike and his contribution:

1) Breakdown — Debut: A master steps out. Mike’s lead fills assert themselves before Tom even starts singing. Where Tom takes the drama of this one vocally, Mike follows to echo it with perfect moody guitar bits.

2) Between Two Worlds — Long After Dark: This would stand as Tom Petty’s hardest rocking guitar-centric album for more then a decade. Assuming Mike didn’t overdub himself here, the arrangement is centered around Tom and Mike exchanging snarling lead guitar parts. Burning.

3) Running Down A Dream — Full Moon Fever: If you ever heard this song and you must have if you are reading this, then there is nothing more that needs to be said. A classic Rock guitar riff is born.

4) You Wreck Me — Wildflowers: Mike fairly consistently shared at least one song writing credit per Tom Petty album. Wildflowers was no exception. Nor is it surprising that his credit is usually to be found on the hardest rocking number on those albums as is the case here and on Full Moon Fever. Wow does this one rock!

5) Climb That Hill — She’s The One: This is the most hard hitting Tom Petty album since Long After Dark. Unsurprisingly, it is also aggressively guitar-centric. This track is the Mike Campbell co-credit so rest assured it rocks. Why Tom was somewhat indifferent to this album is a puzzle. It does contain two of only three studio covers he ever released up until that point I think. Maybe that explains his coolness.

6) Free Girl Now — Echo: This is a mature and somewhat somber album for a lot of different reasons, including Tom’s divorce. But somber doesn’t mean laid back. This is an angry and aggressive track and Mike gives it an appropriate guitar break.

7) Red River — Hypnotic Eye: Sort of a throwback track. This sounds like classic Petty and all the Heartbreakers rise to the occasion here. But that classic sound came 40 years into their musical partnership. Could you imagine being still so on top of your game after so much time together?

I just have to assume the relationship between Mike Campbell and Tom Petty was closer then any musical partnership you could care to name. Their work together is just that in sync and any other conclusion is damn hard to reach. After all, Tom even had Mike co-produce his solo albums even though he was already employing a name producer.

I am aware that Mike has had some side projects over the years but I can’t say I have ever listened to any. I may just do that now.

One of the fallout effects of Tom Petty’s untimely passing is that it denies Mike Campbell an outlet for his simply stunning guitar abilities. On a more personal level it probably ended his closest friendship. I wish Mike Campbell blessings and grace at this time of loss.

I hope to hear from Mike again done the road, either on his own or in collaboration with someone else. And I hope whatever the project is, that it breaks big. He deserves it and rest assured Mike if I run into you in a bar somewhere I will recognize you and I will offer you my thanks for 40 plus years of stellar Rock and Roll!