In 1999, Tom Petty let his guitarist take the lead. It happened just once in the Heartbreakers history
In 1999, Mike Campbell sang lead on “I Don’t Wanna Fight”, the only song on a Heartbreakers album to feature him as lead vocalist. Tom Petty encouraged him to keep the song for himself, showing that Petty was willing to let his long-time collaborator take centre stage.
Campbell said he had started adding vocals to instrumental pieces because he was tired of waiting for others to finish them. Petty co-wrote the song and contributes a brief line in the chorus; the track lasts under three minutes. It appeared on Echo, an album shaped by the strain of Petty’s marriage, while bassist Howie Epstein was struggling with heroin addiction.
In short
- Mike Campbell sang lead on one Heartbreakers album track.
- Petty encouraged him to keep “I Don’t Wanna Fight”.
- The song appeared on the troubled 1999 album Echo.
Explained simply
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers were an American rock band formed in the 1970s, with Petty as singer and songwriter. Mike Campbell was the group’s long-time lead guitarist and also helped write many of its songs.
Echo, released in 1999, was the band’s tenth studio album. Its recording came during a difficult period for Petty and the band, including strain in his marriage and bassist Howie Epstein’s struggle with heroin addiction.
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