Backroads Politics
Southwest Florida
“US 41”
Tom Petty — Cracker Florida Politics
((( tamiami trail )))
“Trailer”
Tom Petty
Mudcrutch
1971 — “Living in a trailer for two, and dancing to Lynyrd Skynyrd. I gave it all up for you, babe.”
((( rural love song)))
Just out of high school, Tom, Mike Campbell, and Bentmont Tench called themselves Mudcrutch, and they were making a good, local name for themselves. Downtown at Lillian’s (Music Store), out on NW 13th Street at Dub’s Lounge, on UF’s fraternity row, and at parties on Crescent, or whatever North Florida beach, or anywhere in the backwoods — next to a spring, under a stand of tall pines, or on the bank of a crystal clear, cool-running river. The sort of natural venues, familiar to locals, but mostly overlooked by tourists, transplanted residents, or casual visitors.
Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers
Damn the Torpedoes
Hard Promises
1971 — Tom Petty’s band was the hottest in Gainesville, and among the best in all of North Florida and Georgia. Before moving to Los Angeles, a significant, driving force in the emerging musical movement called Southern Rock.
Tom Petty and his band Mudcrutch, headlined the Second Annual Halloween Ball in 1971. The band took the stage at Midnight, and under a near full Moon, played throughout the night, and until the sun rose the next day. The show was so good that it set the bar for which all future Balls strived.
“Heartbreaker’s Beach Party”
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
Playback
1983 —
((( florida summer)))
((( “beach party” )))
“Get In Get Out”
((( sea level ))) Randall Bramblett’s tells of being “On the (North Florida) Road To Jacksonville.
sunday
month 11, 1980
vol 11 no. 111
Original Headline
by author
((( “beach party” )))
