Page 31 - ARUBA TODAY

A31
PEOPLE/ARTS Wednesday 4 OctOber 2017
Tom Petty a rock classicist from the beginning

By DAVID BAUDER ‘Well, it makes a lot of
NEW YORK (AP) — Given people happy.’ ... It does.
the leather jacket and It makes a lot of people
sneer Tom Petty wore on happy. You can lose sight
the cover of his 1976 debut, of that. People come up
many people assumed he to me on the street and tell
was one of those cheeky me how some song played
punks bent on tearing a role in their life or how it
down the walls of rock ‘n’ got them through a hard
roll. time or this and that and
He wasn’t. It’s not that I just think, ‘Damn, that’s
Petty and his band, the what it is about.’”
Heartbreakers, didn’t have Like everyone’s, Pet-
their share of energy and ty’s path wasn’t always
attitude. But the kid from smooth. Biographer Warren
Gainesville, Florida, was a Zanes’ book revealed that
rock classicist to the core, Petty slipped into heroin
and he built a body of work addiction in the 1990s. He
to stand with his heroes. recently told Rolling Stone
That debut contained that his use of a Confed-
songs that stood the test erate flag as a prop while
of time, the snaky “Break- promoting a 1980s album,
down” and “American In this Sept. 17, 2017, file photo, Tom Petty of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers appears at KAABOO “Southern Accents,” was a
Girl,” which so echoed the 2017 in San Diego, Calif. stupid move he regretted.
Byrds that it confused that Associated Press He was frustrated when the
band’s leader. “When did with Bruce Springsteen’s E career. Working with pro- Pulled together by Harri- passage of time took him
I record that?” Roger Mc- Street Band as one of the ducer Jeff Lynne, Petty son to record a B-side to a out of the spotlight when
Guinn recalled thinking all-time great rock back- fashioned a cleaner sound single, “Handle With Care,” he actually deserved it:
when he first heard it. up bands. Petty wouldn’t and created the classics they soon realized that the the 2014 album “Hypnotic
Only a week before his give ground: he added “Runnin’ Down a Dream,” song, and their sound, was Eye” was excellent, but the
death Monday night after an expletive to his decla- ‘’I Won’t Back Down” and, too good to bury. pop world had moved on.
suffering cardiac arrest, ration on that night that most indelibly, “Free Fal- It felt like a night at a Hol- Last December, as he was
Petty and the Heartbreak- the Heartbreakers weren’t lin’.” lywood party, a bunch of about to embark on the
ers finished a triumphant just one of America’s best He sings about “a good girl, rock legends break out the anniversary tour, Petty told
40th anniversary tour in his bands, they were THE best. crazy ‘bout Elvis, loves hors- guitars, pour a few drinks, Rolling Stone that it would
adopted Southern Califor- Being able to stand on- es and her boyfriend, too.” and maybe a few more, likely be his last big jaunt
nia home. His sturdy com- stage next to guitarist Mike And the narrator admits, and trade lines with each with the Heartbreakers. He
positions built a discogra- Campbell and keyboard “I’m a bad boy, ‘cause I other. had a granddaughter he
phy so strong he couldn’t player Benmont Tench don’t even miss her. I’m a It’s a good life. wanted to spend time with.
get to all of his hits. “The made Petty the envy of bad boy for breakin’ her “It was a gift I was given It was easy to dismiss it
Waiting,” ‘’Listen to Her many bandleaders. heart.” and what it means I don’t then. Heck, they were too
Heart,” ‘’Here Comes My Still, two key periods of his He had his own problems. know,” Petty said in a 2009 good and not that old, not
Girl,” ‘’Refugee,” ‘’You Got career came without the Petty was also a member of interview with The Associ- really. His old buddy Dylan
Lucky,” ‘’Don’t Do Me Like Heartbreakers. the temporary supergroup, ated Press. “Johnny Cash is 76 and constantly on the
That,” ‘’Even the Losers,” “Full Moon Fever,” Petty’s the Traveling Wilburys, with once told me, he said, ‘it road.
‘’Don’t Come Around Here first solo album in 1989, George Harrison, Roy Orbi- was a noble job.’ And I Sadly, it turned out to be
No More.” And so on. All stands as the apex of his son, Bob Dylan and Lynne. said, ‘Really?’ And he said, true.q
are fist-pumping favorites. Vergara says new lingerie line also assists businesswomen
It was melodic rock ‘n’ roll
built with the solid structures By JOHN CARUCCI own struggles before her the Seven Bar Founda- loans for business ventures,
of his favorites from the Associated Press financial circumstances tion, which disperses funds large and small, as low as
1960s. Petty had an imp- NEW YORK (AP) — Sofia changed for the better. through microfinance $100. q
ish grin and playful drawl, Vergara is debuting a new “I was a single mother, and
and in concert he raised lingerie line, but she says it’s a very young single moth-
his arms to direct both his about more than sexy un- er. I moved from Colom-
band and the thousands derwear — it’s also about bia to the United States.
of fans singing along from empowering women in One of the most impor-
the audience. business. tant things for me was to
“’Rock and roll star’ is The “Modern Family” star be able to provide for my
probably the purest mani- promoted her EBY line in son, Manolo,” Vergara said
festation of the American New York. It’s a subscrip- Tuesday. “I had dreams for
dream,” Petty said upon tion-based service that him. I wanted to give him a
his 2002 induction into the also sets aside a portion of great college education. I
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. the profits to woman entre- wanted to give him great
“It’s a blessing beyond be- preneurs via small loans. health care. I wanted to be
lief.” “It’s a fun mission, you there for him. I wanted also
As Petty and his band per- know. It’s very exciting to to help my family in Colom-
formed “Mary Jane’s Last be able to find something bia, and for that, you need
Dance” and “American so interesting for me,” Ver- money no matter what.”
Girl” to the well-heeled gara said of EBY, an acro- The idea came from her
audience, his daughters nym for Empowerment By partner in the project, Re- Actress Sofia Vergara participates in the BUILD Speaker Series
to discuss her new subscription underwear line “EBY”, at AOL
stood up and danced. You. nata Black. Ten percent Studios on Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2017, in New York.
The Heartbreakers stood Vergara went through her of the net profit will go to Associated Press