Tom Petty
Tom Petty (1950–2017) was an American rock musician best known as frontman of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.
His catalog of accessible, guitar-driven songs—Free Fallin', American Girl, I Won't Back Down—made him a mainstay of classic rock radio.
As slang, *tom petty* or just *petty* describes someone being spitefully small-minded over minor grievances, though this usage predates and is unrelated to the musician.
Electric guitar brand
- RickenbackerGuitar maker or aviator
- StratocasterFender electric guitar model
- twelve-stringGuitar with paired courses
- chordsSimultaneous note combinations
riff · rhythm guitar · tone · amplifier · acoustic · strumming · jangle · signature sound
Crushing emotional pain
- defianceOpen resistance to authority
- resilienceCapacity to recover quickly
- freedomAbsence of constraint
- AmericanaHeritage artifacts or music
outsider · working class · small town · growing up · road · romance · rebellion · authenticity
Pictorial screen symbol
- legendUnverified traditional tale
- pioneerEarly explorer or settler
- hall of fameInstitution honoring the best
- influencePower to affect others
legacy · superstar · inspiration · hitmaker · innovator · cultural impact · music history · trailblazer
Vocal music performer
- songwriterOne who composes music
- frontmanLead performer of group
- vocalistOne who sings professionally
- performerOne who entertains audiences
composer · bandmate · touring · recording · studio · album · collaboration · rock and roll
Fender
Electric guitar brand
- RickenbackerGuitar maker or aviator
- StratocasterFender electric guitar model
- twelve-stringGuitar with paired courses
chords · riff · rhythm guitar · tone · amplifier · acoustic · strumming · jangle · signature sound
heartbreak
Crushing emotional pain
- defianceOpen resistance to authority
- resilienceCapacity to recover quickly
- freedomAbsence of constraint
Americana · outsider · working class · small town · growing up · road · romance · rebellion · authenticity · nostalgia
icon
Pictorial screen symbol
- legendUnverified traditional tale
- pioneerEarly explorer or settler
- hall of fameInstitution honoring the best
influence · legacy · superstar · inspiration · hitmaker · innovator · cultural impact · music history · trailblazer · tribute
singer
Vocal music performer
- songwriterOne who composes music
- frontmanLead performer of group
- vocalistOne who sings professionally
performer · composer · bandmate · touring · recording · studio · album · collaboration · rock and roll · twelve-string
Walls
Proper name, hereditary
- California MusicDr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, N.W.A., Ice Cube, Tupac
- 70s RockLed Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Fleetwood Mac, Eagles, The Who
- music legendsThe Beatles, Elvis Presley, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Chuck Berry
- Rock StarsMick Jagger, Freddie Mercury, David Bowie, Jim Morrison, Kurt Cobain
- songwritersBob Dylan, songwriter, lyricists, composer, lyricist
- ThomasTommy Hilfiger, Tommy Lee
Tom PettyMilli Vanilli
Fraudulent vocal duo
boy bands · Backstreet Boys · The Monkees · One Direction · Simon Cowell
Tom PettyKraftwerk
German electronic music pioneers
Skrillex · Daft Punk · death metal · synth-pop · John Cage
Tom PettyKISS
Acronym favoring simplicity
Lady Gaga · Liberace · Marilyn Manson · Kanye West · Gene Simmons