Tom Petty And Me: My Rock and Roll Adventures With Tom Petty

by Jon Scott, John Mellencamp (Foreword)

Tom Petty And Me is a new book by Jon Scott, Tom's friend for 40 years. Jon has been credited with "breaking" the career of this 'iconic' rock n roller. This book is an inside look of a former deejay, turned Promotion Man, who met Tom when he was about to be dropped by his record label, ABC Records. Through many serendipitous moments, Jon appeared at the right time to help get Tom's first album played on the radio and changed the careers of both men. Tom's first album had been out for eight months .when Jon arrived on the scene. The rest is history! At Tom's final concert at The Hollywood Bowl, Tom dedicated "I Won't Back Down" to Jon, as a testament to Jon's help in establishing his career back in 1977.

Genres: Music, Nonfiction, Biography

196 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 26, 2018

Reviews

[Lynx · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun, inspiring read. Jon's passion for music and unyielding drive to stand by the musicians he admires literally changed peoples lives. Everything happens for a reason, and when Jon heard Petty's album for the first time he knew he had to do everything he could to get it out to the masses. Thank you Jon Scott!

To listen to my interview with Jon click here or look up Muses and Stuff on iTunes!

[Sharon/ LFrog1386 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jon Scott is almost single-handedly responsible for getting Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers noticed. He stumbled upon their first album, which had given them some success in England and then Europe, but back home in America got ignored as "just another punk rock band" until Jon took it upon himself to champion their debut to every single industry exec, DJ and club that would listen.
Thanks to Jon, they started to get noticed on rock radio, most especially when Damn the Torpedoes exploded onto FM air with several hits. Those hits, like Refugee and Even the Losers, caught on fire and fans started to listen to their first two albums and see what they'd be missing, most notably Breakdown, American Girl and Listen to Her Heart.

The book is a quick read but loaded with great stories and some insight into Tom's world as an artist first, rock-n-roll star second. My only complaint is that the book was too short. I can only imagine some of the other stories Jon did not tell-but then I suppose there are some things that happened in TPATH, stayed in TPATH. ;)

Bonus-if you order from the author's website, he will autograph your book for you.

[Sherry Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are times when a book, movie or song moves you so much that the need to share it with everyone is overwhelming. In Jon Scott’s case, it was an album from a relatively unknown band that caught his attention. This began a forty-year relationship chronicled in Tom Petty and Me: My Rock ‘n’ Roll Adventures with Tom Petty.

In 1977, Scott was just hired as the national head of album promotions for ABC Records. While reaching into a closet for his coat, a record with no identifying factors fell out. Determined to get a chance to break the band, Scott approached his boss, Charlie Minor. He learned it was Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers by the band of the same name released eight months before with little success. In return, he was given six weeks and no budget. The rest is history.

The book details the friendship between Scott and Petty – from the heated first meeting backstage at the Whisky a Go Go and traveling coast-to-coast on tour to exchanging notes by way of the latest technology (facsimile) and holiday parties with loved ones. The stories shared within the pages are heartfelt and sometimes emotional but stays true to telling a story of grit and determination.

Tom Petty and Me is a great read for fans of this American treasure, anyone with a love for rock and roll, or people curious about the inner workings of the recording industry. I enjoyed the book thoroughly and read it in a few hours

[Wesley Britton · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Six weeks before our record was going to be dropped from ABC Records, Jon Scott went to radio stations with a vengeance and got our record played and on the charts. Because of that, we are forever grateful to him.”

-Tom Petty (The Hollywood Bowl, September 25, 2017, Petty’s last concert performance)

It’s no trade secret that promo man John Scott was very instrumental in igniting the career of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers when no one else in the music business believed in them.

As chronicled in Scott’s very personal insider’s tour of the music industry, in 1973 he moved from behind a Memphis radio station microphone to work for MCA Records as a Southern-based promo man. Then, he was promoted to head of national album promotion and worked and traveled with bands and artists like Lynyrd Skynyrd, Elton John, the Who, Olivia Newton-John, Keith Moon, Roger Daltrey and Golden Earring.

In 1977, Scott moved over to ABC Records with the same job title. It’s here where his story really gets interesting as Scott’s 40-year association with Tom Petty begins after a series of coincidences and serendipitous events. That was when Scott put his radio and promo experience to work as he threw all his energy behind Petty and his music.

So the memoir is part a detailed review of what a promo man does, revealing why they’re an indispensable part of an artist’s success. In part, the book is about the professional collaboration between Petty and Scott as well as a fond series of reminiscences and anecdotes of their long friendship. That includes behind-the-scenes stories in the recording studio, song composition, and touring.

So this is a book not just for Tom Petty fans who won’t want to miss this one, but for those who’d like a peek into the promotions side of the music industry, especially from the 1970s onward. Happily, Scott writes with a personable, engaging style any reader can enjoy. On top of that, we also get an informative foreword by John Mellencamp, another musician who benefited from Scott’s work.

If you’re interested in a signed copy of the book by John Scott, here’s how to get one:

https://tompettyandme.com/

This review first appeared at BookPleasures.com on Nov. 29, 2018:
https://waa.ai/oaFb

[Νικόλας Μάντζαρης · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent, and rather concise, insider’s look of the music industry in the 1970s, for fans of rock-n-roll and Tom Petty especially. If you’re a Petty fan this is a page-turner that you’ll be glad to get your hands on.
At times this felt like an alternate history type of book. “What would have happened if…”, except that here you get the version of what actually did happen, and you’re only left to wonder (with horror) about a possible alternate reality. I read the second edition (2018 - bought from Jon Scott’s own online shop) and the moment I finished it I had to go back and start all over again. I’ve told him online and I’ll write it here as well: Thank you Jon Scott for all you’ve done for us, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers and rock’n’roll!

[Zan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about a man working for MCA who discovered Petty 8 months after his first album was release; the author made it his personal mission to resurrect the album from the dead. The most interesting part of the book to me was the description of the record promotion process in the 1970’s. (It seems like an industry that could make a decent period piece TV drama.) The author flew all over America meeting with DJs to play Tom Petty in front of them in order to convince them that TP was an overlooked rising star whom they should play on the radio every hour. There were too many pot references for my preference, but I guess that is just the reality of the scene they were in.

[Angela Bunn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Wonderful Tribute

I purchased this book after hearing of it from my Sis-in-Law, and to my delight, I could not put it aside until I finished. What a great view of not only the recording business, but of Tom Petty as a musician and true friend, that without this book, I would never have known. I am so thankful to have seen Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers in concert, especially after reading it! I also wonder what Tom (Charles T. Wilbury) Petty would say in a fax to Jon Scott from the other side...

[Erin Riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a sweet little fun ride this book was! Tom Petty was with us for all too short a time but without Jon Scott, we might never have heard of him at all. Everyone needs a champion in their life, someone to provide that extra little push and to Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, that man was Jon. Record guys are fans, just like the rest of us and so are the artists. I loved reading about how thrilled Tom was to be a Traveling Wilbury and then adopt Jon as one too! You can feel their warm, playful friendship and mutual respect in every written word.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a music lover first, and a Tom Petty fan to boot...I truly loved this book. I loved hearing the behind the scenes story, and hear matching stories from friends who were in the business. If you are a Tom Petty fan, I believe you will truly enjoy this book. If you worked in the music industry, you will appreciate the strory, as that was the game back in the day. Definitely a good read.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice, informative read into some history of the inter workings of the music industry as well as Tom Petty. Jon Scott talks with you as if he’s sharing great campfire stories—unpretentious and with charm.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

You will love this book! It’s a must read even for a casual fan! I love Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers! It was great to read some of the things that happened to get their music played. I enjoyed the artwork, faxes and the stories of how he went the extra mile for his friends!

[Peggy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good read for the true Tom Petty fan.

[Rocco Pallotto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun, easy read detailing the trials and tribulations of making Tom Petty a star.

[Jeanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely LOVED this book! It was so well written and full of great stories of 40 years with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers!!

[Mark Vierow · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved the business side of the Tom Petty story as told by Jon. The book was not nearly as comprehensive as Warren Zane's bio of Tom Petty but this was a fun, easy read.

[Marlene Nunamann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too much fan chatter.

Written too much as a gushing fan. It would have been nice if the author was a little more objective.

[Tabatha (JetCityGal) · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must for any Tom Petty fan! Lived there audible version with extra sound bites from Tom.

[Madalene · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the background stories. His writing was a bit quirky but he sounds very enthusiastic.

[Joseph Hilden · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just met this author recently. We are the same age but I love Jazz vs rock and roll. I wasn't a Tom Petty fan but the stories of the music world were entertaining.

[Lynda R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

More Petty, please!

I’m consuming biographies on TP and the Heartbreakers and this read rounds out the history nicely. I recommend for sure!

[Robert Morgan Fisher · Rating 5 out of 5]

A vital book to the understanding of Tom Petty. Jon was there and instrumental to TP's success. A true believer with more than a few fascinating anecdotes and insights.