Tom Petty Quiz: Test Your Knowledge Of A Rock Legend

His first instrument was guitar, but because no one wanted to play bass, he decided to play.

He played himself in AM, a bar character called "Stanky" in Made in Heaven, and "Bridge City Mayor" in The Postman.

This image is from the day of the 1985 performance on the roof of the Don CeSar Hotel in Florida where the public would first learn if he could still play guitar after his broken and then surgically repaired hand had healed.

Tom Petty originally wanted to call his band "Tom Petty and the King Bees". This suggests that the correct answer is the name that the band was initially intended to have.

Tommy Petty's desire to be a musician suggests a fascination with the world of music and performance. The option of being a roadie for Elvis aligns with this interest, as it would allow him to be involved in the music industry and work closely with a renowned musician. However, the option of being a cowboy stands out as a contrasting choice. It implies a longing for adventure, independence, and a connection to the outdoors. This desire to be a cowboy could stem from a romanticized view of the Wild West and a yearning for a rugged, free-spirited lifestyle.

The correct answer is The Sundowners. This is the name of the first band that Tom Petty was in.

Mary Jane Lynch Petty was William "Pulpwood" Petty's first wife. She died from childbirth complications.
They married on 15 Mar 1902 and she died in 1918. He remarried Sallie a few years later who was a widow as well. They, including all of their step-children and biological children (including Earl Petty, Tom's father) moved to from Georgia to northern Florida.

PETTY: We're bored. I've got a home system, and I've gotten real addicted. It frightens me. I feel weird after 30 minutes of smashing electronic rocks. I used to have a Pac-Man game at my house. I played it until my hand got [screwed] up and the skin rubbed off. I finally went, "What have I been doing eating dots for hours?"

The correct answer is "An estranged Groupie." The song "What Are You Doin' in My Life?" from 1979 is about an estranged groupie. This suggests that the song is about a fan or admirer who had a close relationship with the artist but has now become distant or separated from them. The lyrics likely explore the emotions and experiences of this estranged groupie, possibly reflecting on the complexities and challenges of such a relationship.

Tom Petty's marriage with Jane lasted 22 years.

I'm starting to like the other three I wrote better... ;) Haha!

Rick Rubin learned from Tom Petty the importance of attention to detail and ensuring that everything was in tune. This suggests that Tom Petty's meticulous approach to music production and his focus on achieving musical precision had a significant impact on Rick Rubin's own work.

Tom Petty's father, Earl Petty, served in the Air Force. This can be inferred from the fact that the correct answer is Air Force.

Tom Petty broke his left arm while kickboxing. This event occurred approximately ten years after he had broken his left hand during the recording of Southern Accents.

"The Best of Everything" is a tender ballad from the album Southern Accents, which was released in 1985. The song was not played on tour until after the release of the album, so it is unlikely that it was first played in 1976, 1982, or 1980. Therefore, the correct answer is 1979.