The Tom Petty Project cover art

The Tom Petty Project

The Tom Petty Project

By: Kevin Brown
Listen for free

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
  • Lost Children
    Nov 26 2025

    The first thing to say about this song is that it features a very special guest musician on bass guitar!


    In a 2006 Rolling Stone interview, Tom credits Ron’s return as being pivotal for the band saying, “The band has a good family atmosphere that wasn't there for a while. It came back about a year or two ago. I think when Ron Blair returned, it really bonded us back together in a weird way. If he hadn't been there, I am sure it would have been the end of the whole thing when Howie died. Ron stepped in and had this huge enthusiasm through the whole thing.” He goes on to say “When he first quit, he didn't quit the band, he quit the whole music thing. He was fed up. But we were all young boys then. When he got interested in music again, he started playing with Mike quite a bit, and so he was just there when we needed a bass player for the last two tracks we did for The Last DJ.”


    Song and links mentioned in the episode:

    Song : https://youtu.be/PtcKlCnC6WM

    Live at the Olympic : https://youtu.be/yLl2_JIlKps?t=1947

    The Blue Stingrays - Surf n Burn : https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kAnAc1Opi44iPchcIFZKjyN5lw_i8rR1g


    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://twitter.com/TomPettyProject

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

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

    Boneless Podcast Network : https://boneless-catalogue-player.lovable.app


    The theme song is 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
    27 mins
  • Dan Spiess - Tom Petty Weekend 2025
    Oct 21 2025

    The incomparable Dan Spiess is back to talk about the upcoming Tom Petty Weekend in Gainesville, from November 7-9! We talk about the lineup for this year's shows including the two brilliant headline acts for Saturday and Sunday. We chat about how organizing for this year has been different from previous years, especially the complications the festival faced last year in the aftermath of two hurricanes! And Dan fills me in on all the bands and artists I don't know about that I'll be enjoying in person (finally!) this year.


    You can find more information on the Tom Petty Weekend here, including schedules and ticket information!

    https://sites.google.com/heartwoodsoundstage.com/tom-petty-weekend/schedule


    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

    Twitter: https://twitter.com/TomPettyProject

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

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

    Boneless Podcast Network : https://boneless-catalogue-player.lovable.app


    The theme song is 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
    33 mins
  • Like a Diamond
    Nov 19 2025

    I’ve always really liked this song as part of the album but never really listened to it closely until sitting down to write this episode. And that has happened a lot over the course of the last four and a bit years of recording this show. Songs you don’t necessarily expect to reveal hidden depths do so with startling regularity. Does this song have a line the equal of “Most things I worry about never happen anyway”? No, probably not. Does it have a dramatic weight to it in the vein of It’s Good to be King”? I wouldn’t necessarily say so. But does it hold it’s own as an imperiously patient, superbly constructed gem hidden in the middle of an album that most people forgot about? Absolutely it does!


    NOTE: There is one instance of profanity in this episode as part of a direct quote.


    Song and links mentioned in the episode:

    Song : https://youtu.be/PtcKlCnC6WM

    Judge Timbers : https://youtu.be/l5IzFDVskL4

    Jon Scott - Tom Petty and Me : https://tompettyandme.com

    School of Hip : https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61579698875642


    Follow me on social media, like, subscribe, and please, leave a rating if you like the show.


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

    Twitter: https://twitter.com/TomPettyProject

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

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

    Boneless Podcast Network : https://boneless-catalogue-player.lovable.app


    The theme song is 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
No reviews yet
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.