The voice of an artist
The voice of an artist “There goes the last DJ Who plays what he wants to play and says what he wants to say, hey hey, hey There goes your freedom of choice There goes the last human voice There goes the last DJ” — Tom Petty
The world of rock and roll lost an iconoclastic voice recently when Tom Petty died of a heart attack at the young age of 66. Petty’s 40-year career was among the best and he was inducted into the rock Hall of Fame 15 years ago. He had several outstanding albums and singles, but may have been better known, not for individual songs, but for consistent production of outstanding work over a long period of time.
One thing he insisted on was in the rights of artists to control their own work and destiny. In 1979, upon finding himself in debt despite two bestselling albums, he filed for bankruptcy in order to get out of an onerous recording contract that had been transferred without his permission as his label was acquired by another company. The label caved and the album became his bestselling yet. But, Petty’s fights weren’t over; he next went to bat for his fans. When the label planned to charge a dollar more than standard for the next album, capitalizing on his success, he threatened to withhold the album until the price came back down, which it did.
It wouldn’t be the first or last time Petty stood up for his fans and their right to hear his music on the terms he believed were right.
On his “The Last DJ” album, quoted above, he criticized the homogenized music industry that selects artists and songs through computer software or formula with little real artistry involved. In the song “Joe,” he imagines the character of a music CEO who selects artists by sex appeal and theatrics. “Bring me a girl, they’re always the best You put ’em on stage and have ’em undress Some angel whore who can learn a guitar lick Hey! that’s what I call music” Petty’s infamous CEO doesn’t know music, but also doesn’t care. He tells his fictional artist openly “You get to be famous, I get to be rich.”
In another song on the album, “Money Becomes King,” Petty tells the story of an artist whose work speaks “right to my soul” but who, over a period of time, devolved into someone unrecognizable through the influence of those who place more value on making money than on artistry. By the time the song ends, both artist and listener are left sad and empty, craving only the light beer the artist’s latest song has been used to endorse.
The right of artists to control their music was a dear one to Petty. When Michele Bachman used his song “American Girl” at her appearances, he sent a cease and desist order. She ignored the order and continued to use his song.
Years earlier, the George W. Bush campaign had been more respectful. They stopped using Petty’s song, “I Won’t Back Down” after he complained. Though he wasn’t especially political or partisan, he played the song for the Gore campaign, with Tipper Gore on drums. Whether Petty knew of Tipper Gore’s own unfortunate history working against artists’ creative freedom, I don’t know.
When it came to other artists, Petty was more forgiving. Several, often unconsciously, used his work in their songs, coming close or crossing the line of violating his copyrights. Petty typically came to agreements with them or simply let things be. He understood the artistic process enough to realize that some things are simply mistakes with no nefarious intent.
When it came to commercialism, he was less compromising. When BF Goodrich, the tire company, sought to use one of his songs in a commercial, Petty refused. The company then used a song strikingly similar and Petty sued, obtaining a restraining order. The case was eventually settled out of court.
Petty’s humility was displayed in the diversity of the work in which he was involved. While he is best known as a solo artist and for his work with his band, the Heartbreakers, he also worked with groups like Mudcrutch and the supergroup the Travelling Wilburys.
Humility and artistic integrity are a good combination for anyone working in a creative field. For these and many other traits, Tom Petty will be missed.