MUSIC LEGEND TOM PETTY DEAD AT 66

ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAMER SUFFERS CARDIAC ARREST

Veteran US rocker Tom Petty, whose vibrant guitar riffs, distinctly raw, nasal vocals and slick song lyrics graced such hits as Refugee, Free Fallin’ and American Girl, has died following a heart attack. He was 66.

Petty suffered cardiac arrest and was found unconscious at his home in Malibu early on Monday morning and was taken to UCLA Medical Centre but could not be revived, his longtime manager Tony Dimitriades said in a statement.

“We are devastated to announce the untimely death of our father, husband, brother, leader and friend Tom Petty,” Dimitriades said on behalf of the family. He died peacefully at 8:40pm local time surrounded by family, bandmates and friends.

Bob Dylan told Rolling Stone magazine his death was “shocking, crushing news”.

Petty, best known for his roots-infused rock music, carved a career as a solo artist as well as with his band The Heartbreakers and as part of supergroup The Traveling Wilburys.

Petty and The Heartbreakers embarked on a 40th anniversary tour of the US this year and last played three dates in late Sep- tember at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles.

The band was scheduled to perform two dates in New York in November.

Petty and his band were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002, when they were described as “the quintessential American individualists”, capturing the voice of the American everyman.

Petty also co-founded the 1980s supergroup The Traveling Wilburys with Dylan, Roy Orbison, George Harrison and Jeff Lynne, penning hits such as End of the Line and She’s My Baby.

Dylan said in his statement that Petty was “a great performer, full of the light, a friend, and I’ll never forget him.”

Ex-Beatle Ringo Starr wrote on Twitter: “God bless Tom Petty peace and love to his family I’m sure going to miss you Tom.”