Tom Petty's Heartbreakers Reunite with Chris Stapleton

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers — Source: Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers pose for a portrait backstage in August 1977 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Montfort/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

Tom Petty’s Heartbreakers Reunite with Chris Stapleton for First Performance Since 2017

It’s been nearly nine years since Tom Petty died, one week after the conclusion of his 40th anniversary tour with the Heartbreakers. The surviving members of the band have not performed together since then, but that changed Wednesday night.

Heartbreakers founding members Ron Blair, Mike Campbell, Stan Lynch and Benmont Tench reunited to perform at the opening of the 25th annual Americana Honors & Awards with country music superstar Chris Stapleton at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium.

Stapleton and the Heartbreakers performed “American Girl,” “Breakdown” and “You Wreck Me” during the show. They were also joined by later members, Steve Ferrone and Scott Thurston, for “You Wreck Me.”

The surviving band members were also honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing the lasting influence of Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers as the band celebrates the 50th anniversary of its formation.

In honor of those 50 years, Petty’s estate is releasing the Origins 1971-1978 box set on Nov. 6. The collection traces Petty’s early recording career through the formation and early years of the Heartbreakers and features rare, live and previously unreleased recordings alongside the band’s first two albums.

Watch the band’s performance of “You Wreck Me” and “Breakdown” with Stapleton below.

Watch the full stream of the Americana Honors & Awards below.

Tom Petty’s Heartbreakers Reunite with Chris Stapleton for First Performance Since 2017 was originally published on houstonseagle.com