Since childhood, I've been a Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers fan. MTV played a lot of their videos and concert footage in their heyday, so my sister and I were indoctrinated early on to the brilliant and catchy tunes. In 1995, we finally saw them in concert during the Wildflowers tour, and they were just as great as we hoped they would be. While they only played for an hour (apparently, Tom was in the throes of his heroin addiction), they were phenomenal and treated the audience to all their best songs. We laughed waiting on line for the bathroom during "The Waiting."

Anyway, I was thrilled to receive a copy of Heartbreaker by Mike Campbell, guitarist for the Heartbreakers and Tom's right hand man. He wrote so many wonderful songs, contributed skilled and memorable guitar-playing, and dealt with all the struggles that musicians, both successful and not, face.

The book starts out with Mike describing his hardscrabble upbringing and how he discovered music. You learn how he gained entry into the University of Florida and used to watch Tom play at the Plaza of the Americas on campus and how he became a part of his band. Tom and Mike were like brothers and collaborated on many familiar songs that you can't help but hum like "Refugee" and "American Girl."

Mike was quiet, sincere, and always there for Tom and the other band members. Tom could be prickly and dictatorial, but he was instrumental in giving Mike and the rest of the Heartbreakers the confidence to understand that they were going to make it no matter what. He helped Mike move forward in his songwriting to the point where he was crafting hits like "The Boys of Summer" with Don Henley. Mike wrote songs every day he could, and his prowess just kept developing even when the chips were down.

I found Mike to be such a great guy. He tells the story of his life with the Heartbreakers in such an honest and inspiring way. He never sugarcoats the bad stuff yet doesn't brag about the good stuff. He fondly remembers all the times he had with the band and his career as a musician. You're right with him as he takes the stage for the first time and struggles to make ends meet. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers didn't make a ton of money for quite a while so there were hard times, but they stuck together. Mike's longtime wife Marcie encouraged him every day they were together even when she was by herself with small children while Mike toured. Both marriages stood the test of time.

So many stories with other rock luminaries brought a smile to my face. When Tom rejects what became "The Boys of Summer," Mike was completely down on his luck. He was on the brink of losing his house when a chance encounter with Don Henley, brokered by their some time producer, the famed Jimmy Iovine, saved him. Don wanted an "image maker," and Mike brought the goods. He still lives in the house he almost lost. I still hear that song play even during dark winter days enough that I don't always listen to it. I can even remember where I was when I first heard it!

Mike talks about working with Bob Dylan, which was amusing and eye-opening. He discusses his dealings with Stevie Nicks, Jeff Lynne, Johnny Cash, and one of his idols, George Harrison, with as much wonder as any rock fan could muster. Each story feels so honest and true. He speaks highly of everyone he meets but makes sure that you know that they're as human as everyone else. I relished each encounter.

I must note that this book expertly weaves both the personal and professional through the pages. Also, the flawless pace of this book really works. Each period of his career, the albums and songs produced, and that of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers receives enough time without going overboard, and it flows without a race to the end of the book. That steady pace keeps up from the time that Tom and Mike meet to the days after Tom passes away and Mike must go on without his "brother". It's all very touching without being trite, and I loved reading every word. If you're a fan, you cannot miss this incredible book. I didn't want it to end.

Note: Thank you to NetGalley, Hachette Books, and author Mike Campbell for the advanced reader copy of this book. What follows is my unbiased review of the book.

Mike Campbell was the lead guitar player for Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers for 40 years. He was that and much more. I knew some of the background going in. I was a huge fan of that music, and have a Heartbreakers tattoo on my leg. They are definitely in the bands I would list at the top of my favorites list. I'd heard stories through the years about the band, and Mike tells it all in his memoir, simply titled Heartbreaker. It says it all and more.

For Mike, it was a case of rags to riches. He details just how poor they were growing up. His father was in the military, and it put a strain on the family that eventually fractured. There were also missteps along the way, as is the case in so many families. Mike learned from this, though, and it gave him a great outlook on life. Instead of being angry and resentful over the things he didn't have, he saw the world through the eyes of someone who was grateful for all that he did have. This is probably the reason his partnership with Tom Petty lasted as long as it did.

Mike Campbell taught himself to play guitar, and he never stopped working at it or learning. That's a big part of what made him a great guitarist. Too many decide they are at the top of their game and look down on the rest of the world. Mike seemed to approach every interaction and encounter as a learning experience. There are plenty of those in the book, which reads like a who's who of rock & roll. Mike played with Don Henley, Fleetwood Mac, Bob Dylan, George Harrison, and more.

He doesn't shy away from the controversies in the band or the problems. Drugs were there. He laments the losses caused by it, especially for those who didn't make it. The appreciation he shows for what he achieved speaks volumes, though, especially about how he managed to make it through. California in the 1980s was a hard place to be, especially when you were a star with the people always telling you how great you are and wanting more of it. From reading this, I think that it affected Tom Petty more than it did Mike Campbell. It's Mike's attitude of gratitude above all else that allowed him to stay with Petty in a musical partnership that is up there with Lennon and McCartney. Maybe even more so, since they wrote together for much longer.

I liked seeing Mike come out from under Petty's shadow after Tom Petty's passing in 2017. I remember it distinctly because I was in Las Vegas when it happened, the day after we had been locked down in MGM during the tragic shooting there. Petty was his brother, and he loved him, but his death gave Mike the ability to perform out from under Tom's shadow as well as the possible jealousy Tom had for Mike's talent. At times, it seems like Petty knew he was nothing without Mike and resented it. Whereas, Mike knew he was nothing without Tom and was grateful. I don't think he gave himself enough credit, nor did he have that confidence in his abilities to strike back when Tom would sometimes dismiss his efforts. Whatever it was, though, it worked for them until the end.

It was a pleasure to get to know the quiet man alongside Petty for all those years. He comes across as a quiet, thoughtful man with a great outlook on life. He emphasizes focusing on the present and looking at life with that sense of gratitude. It's something that is missing in our society, as people focus more on what others have that they don't and are always trying to keep up. If more people had a philosophy in life like Mike, the world would be a better place.

I received a copy of this book to read. This book is for any Tom Petty fan. I loved hearing all his stories how the band started. And the troubles with the band and how they were always together over the years up until Tom’s passing. Author told story like he was talking to the reader

Music memoirs usually are an exercise in searching for the truth in between the glory and bombast. There is none of that here as Campbell and co-author Ari Surdoval have crafted a book as understated and humble as Campbell himself seems to be. Campbell focuses most of Heartbreaker on his extremely spare upbringing. He was mostly raised by his mother while his military dad was overseas. You can feel the tension of their poverty palpably, and can see how deeply affected Campbell was by this lonely, destitute life. His mom managed to get him his first guitar, and years later, serendipitously a stoned out hippie handed him another one. Campbell took these guitars and clung onto them as the only respite. It feels like actual fate that a kid that grew up how he did would go on to write some of the biggest rock songs ever. I know nothing about guitars except that I like listening to them but I still enjoyed reading Campbell obsessing over chords and scales and pickups and other technical things I only have a rudimentary understanding of.

As a huge fan of Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers I enjoyed Petty: The Biography by Warren Zanes, but Heartbreaker is a true insider’s perspective to Tom Petty’s inner machinations, or at the least a view into how his ego and stubbornness could sometimes cloud his judgment. For example, he passed on “The Boys of Summer” and when Campbell took it to Don Henley who turned it into a huge hit, it took him some time to admit regret and offer congratulations. Still, Campbell speaks of Petty with the deepest pathos and appreciation for 40 years of collaboration and brotherhood. Much of Heartbreaker reads like a thoughtful thank you note Campbell was never able to send. Campbell also pays homage to Howie Epstein, bassist for the Heartbreakers who died in 2003. I think being a fan isn’t necessarily a requirement for reading Heartbreaker as Campbell’s writing is so matter of fact and sincere that he draws you in whether he’s talking about his wife, their kids, and their various animals or dropping stories about KISS, Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, or Stevie Nicks.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Books for the eARC.

This was an okay read. Nothing earth shattering. Good for my music loving soul. Just not good enough to carry with me of recommend to a friend

The Power Chord Behind Tom

Mike Campbell was Tom Petty’s right-hand man, his lead guitarist throughout his recording career. He, along with his co-writer, Ari Surdoval, has written a rare gem: a truly enjoyable rock and roll biography. Unlike many other musician autobiographies, Campbell avoids self-congratulation and doesn't overstate his significance in the music industry.

Tom Petty's backup group, the Heartbreakers, were integral to his signature sound. Mike Campbell, the lead guitarist, was an essential member, notably co-writing hits like "Refugee," "I Won't Back Down," and "You Got Lucky." His distinctive guitar work, as exemplified in the outro solo of "Running Down a Dream," is unforgettable. Campbell's influence extended beyond Petty's work, collaborating with artists such as Stevie Nicks and Don Henley, co-writing Henley's iconic songs "Boys of Summer" and "Heart of the Matter," as well as Nicks’s “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around.”

Early in his life, Campbell faced many challenges. Growing up in poverty in Florida, he was forced to sell his blood plasma for $15 a day to buy food before finding success. The book also explores the journey of Petty and Campbell's early band, Mudcrutch, as it evolved into the Heartbreakers, including the difficulties they encountered. The band struggled to find its unique sound while dealing with producers, record companies, and internal conflicts. Resentment grew within the group due to the "Tom Petty and..." label and Petty's eventual dominance over the other members, who were told by management that they were merely “sidemen,” and would be compensated as such. Campbell found himself acting as a mediator between Petty and the rest of the band, persuading them to stay together despite the challenges.

Mike Campbell's unassuming nature is part of what makes his book such a good read. He puts making the best music above all else, even if it means deferring to Petty and sometimes being at a disadvantage because of it. While the book includes stories and mentions names like Harrison, Dylan, and the Stones, it never becomes a gossipy tell-all. Although Tom Petty is no longer with us, Mike Campbell continues to make music and, thankfully, has shared the Heartbreaker journey with us.

…somethings are over
Some things go on
And part of me you carry
A part of me is gone – “Walls” Tom Petty

Thank you to Hachette Books / Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for providing an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review. #Heartbreaker #NetGalley

I am a huge Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers fan, so I am probably predisposed to love this book. However, it was everything I wanted and a memoir from Mike Campbell. I love that he is honest and tells what really happened and how difficult Tom Petty could be. I love that he goes into all of the details of his early life and recording. I liked all of the background information that I already did didn’t know I’m all different song processes ever like. I thought this book was very thoughtful and I’m so happy that Mike decided to release it. It made me miss Tom Petty so much, but I’m so thankful that Mike is still here.

If you like Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers or rock history, you would probably enjoy this book. Mike knows everyone including various members of Fleetwood Mac, the Beatles, the Eagles, etc..

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Books for a copy of this ARC.

This book took me places. It took me to when I first fell in love with Tom and The Heartbreakers. It took me to all the times I saw them live. It took me back to all the thrills of the music.

Mike Campbell wrote a book that showed more of the bad side of Tom Petty than I think he intended. That’s a great thing. There’s two camps on him. One is that he’s the great American storyteller and the other is that he was a gigantic jerk. Mike has the receipts, he was both. The obsessive need that Mike had for Tom’s approval, to the detriment of himself and his career, was a big disturbing and after a fantastic beginning, turns the book into a Heartbreakers book.

Mike covers himself, past the early years, in stories about the music. There are beautiful stories here, so I’m not knocking it. But there’s not enough Mike outside of the music world. Does he like movies? Does he shop for all those great clothes or does he just randomly grab stuff? Does he ever eat a meal with his family? There’s no backstory to it. I was hoping for something more, but I’m insanely happy with what we got.

I would recommend this to everyone.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book prior to the publish date. Initially, I wasn’t sure what to think of the start of this autobiography. While, it was detailed well written, I didn’t find myself flying through it. I suspect some of this is because I have started going the audio route with many memoirs in autobiographies, and perhaps I was in a bit of a reading lull. That all changed when I got about 40% of the way through the book. I flew through the back half in about four days. This was a fantastic read! While, I have a lot of respect for Mike Campbell prior to reading this book, I didn’t know much about his life or work outside of the Dirty Knobs and The Heartbreakers. I did manage to see him play both with Tom Petty and Fleetwood Mac, but learned so much more about songwriting collaborations he was part of, music and musicians he has loved, and the people that he has spent time with. This was an excellent read, and if Mike does the audio version himself, I would be happy to listen to him narrate his life. This is a book I would consider re-reading. I give very few 5 stars, but this book has made that list.

very well written memoir about someone who's played a role in a lot of interesting musical events, mainly as the long-time guitarist of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, and then later briefly in Fleetwood Mac and solo. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

This is one of the best rock'n'roll memoirs I have read, and I've read a lot. Mike Campbell strikes the perfect balance between musical details, the creation of songs and albums, and personal history of himself and his fellow band members. Interspersed in this thoroughly engaging biography are heartfelt stories of working with Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Stevie Nicks, George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, and so many more. This is a must read for fans of rock'n'roll, and especially Tom Petty and the Heartbreaker fans! Highly recommended

Thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for an advanced reader copy.

I knew Mike Campbell was a brilliant writer of music, but with Heartbreaker he shows himself to be able to write a very engaging story. The book is peppered with stories about Tom Petty as well as the members of the Heartbreakers. There are also great stories about Stevie Nicks, Bob Dylan, George Harrison and so many others. If you're a rock fan, there is a lot of good stuff to dig through.

I received a free e-galley of the book in return for an honest review.

There are many very flawed rocker autobiographies out there: some with an axe to grind, some desperate for attention again after flame fled, some with an agenda, and others just to name check everyone they have ever worked with in the past. This is not one of those. Campbell writes an engaging, heartfelt, honest, and very poignant memoir of both his own history and that with the four decades spent playing/writing with Tom Petty. This is definitely an autobiography that deserves to be read.

The book is chronological, told with a pathos and quiet humility throughout. At its crux, it is yet another story of how a bandmate gets screwed in the music industry: always by the label and their lawyers but in this case, by his own bandmate as well. Yet despite all the ways that Tom Petty managed to take from his bandmates and treat them poorly, there is always a thread of gratitude and recognition that they would have none of what they do today without Petty. There isn't any harsh criticism of Petty despite that; rather, Campbell tells what happened with good clarity. You can tell that that is his nature rather than a false humility.

Along with the story of how a lot of the songs/albums were created as the lead guitarist of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, we also get an understanding of the band's original incarnation as mudcrutch and how/why it turned into a Tom Petty project. There are also great stories of the people Campbell's met and played with - from Bob Dylanm Stevie Knicks, Jeff Lynne, Carl Wilson, to George Harrison. Throughout it all, he marvels that he could meet those luminaries who inspired him and taught him throughout his career.

Also important is that he gives honest views of the bandmates and how they handled Petty's control issues. It is clear that Campbell has had nothing but respect for his bandmates and always played the quiet appeaser when interpersonal issues arose. Especially when Petty decided to change the split of royalties and proceeds in favor of himself. Campbell stood by throughout along with fellow bandmates Stan and Benmont, all due to their respect for Petty's creativity and presence.

In all, this really is a beautiful read. One of the best autobiographies for its candor, self reflection, honest assessments, and humility. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.

There may be no more appropriate day for me to wrap up my journey with Mike Campbell's "Heartbreaker: A Memoir" than the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer's 75th birthday.

The longtime lead guitarist for Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers has crafted a heartbreaker of a memoir, a book destined to be among the year-end lists of best memoirs with practically everything you could possibly want from a rock & roll memoir.

Campbell was with Petty the entire way from the band's inception in 1976 through Petty's tragic death at age 66 in 2017. While Petty was always front-and center, Campbell's memorable melody making helped develop and form the foundation for the band's instantly recognizable sound on classics such as "American Girl," "Breakdown," "Don't Come Around Here No More," "Mary Jane's Last Dance," "Into the Great Wide Open" and others. Campbell often provided the music that served as a perfect companion to Petty's lyrics including songs like "Refugee," "Here Comes My Girl," "You Got Lucky," and "Runnin' Down a Dream" among others.

If there's one thing that surprised me about "Heartbreaker," it's that Campbell writes with tremendous vulnerability about everything from his early childhood with a single mother struggling in minimum wage jobs in Jacksonville, Florida through the unexpected gift he received from that same mother of a $15 pawn shop guitar for his 16th birthday through the early days with Mudcrutch that would serve as the foundation for what would become a Petty-centered Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.

Campbell writes with respectful candor, his clear-eyed vulnerability recalling his extreme lows, glorious highs, and everything in-between.

Sure, we get some of the music icon storytelling including experiences with such artists as Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Stevie Nicks, Don Henley, and a host of others. These stories are a delight and will practically have you imagining them directly in front of you as Campbell reflects on recording sessions, friendships, producing and more.

Campbell, who has been married to longtime wife Marcie since the early days of the band, recounts his own struggles with drugs and how he eventually pulled out while many of his peers did not. He tells the story of his bandmates with respect and affection, offering up explanations of sorts for how things changes and why personnel would come and go. It's clear he embraces those, especially longtime drummer Stan Lynch whose post Petty life seems to have affirmed his immense talent in a way he never really received while with the band.

Throughout "Heartbreaker," Campbell writes with such a warmth and honesty that you can't help but immerse yourself in his writing. There was the chance encounter with a high school guidance counselor that ended up inspiring him, very unexpectedly, to enroll in the University of Florida. This, in turn, led to his initial meeting with Petty and a lifelong musical journey.

I keep going back to the vulnerability in "Heartbreak," but it's truly remarkable. Campbell writes honestly about the mixed emotions and desire for "more" that served as a frequent companion as Petty was often deemed the genius while Campbell was part of the "band." Perfectly balancing that desire for more with a gratitude for what was, Campbell perfectly peels back the curtains on what it feels like to be part of an iconic Rock & Roll Hall of Fame band. He writes with an almost schoolboy enthusiasm about his experiences with Dylan, Jeff Lynne, George Harrison, meeting Johnny Cash, finding his voice with Stevie Nicks and Fleetwood Mac, and encounters we knew about and encounters we didn't.

Notoriously soft-spoken, it's almost remarkable that Campbell has even offered up this memoir. You can't help but think he believed Petty would always be the one to do so. However, "Heartbreaker: A Memoir" is a sublime experience offering impossible to forget insights on Campbell and the band's triumphs, tragedies, relationships, recording, and so much more.

Again, "Heartbreaker," at least for me, is easily one of my favorite musical bios of all-time with an honest, vulnerability, air of confidence, and sense of awe that grabbed me and never let me go. It's heartfelt and exhilarating as we really learn how music saved this throwaway kid and his this immensely talented musician and songwriter lived his life in music through his music, talent, genuine friendships, more than a little luck, and songs we'll likely never forget.