The 1965 song Tom Petty and Bruce Springsteen said changed their lives: “I loved that right away”
Tom Petty and Bruce Springsteen said Bob Dylan’s 1965 single ‘Like a Rolling Stone’ changed how they heard popular music and helped shape their careers. Its electric sound and forceful voice showed them that rock songs could carry personal stories and speak to a wider world.
Springsteen recalled first hearing the song on Top 40 radio around 1964 or 1965, describing its snare sound as opening his mind. Petty said he and his band learned the single for their shows and later bought Dylan’s albums, with Blonde on Blonde deepening his interest. Both drew on Dylan’s storytelling while developing their own songs about American life.
- Dylan’s ‘Like a Rolling Stone’ made a lasting impact on both artists.
- Springsteen heard it on Top 40 radio around 1964 or 1965.
- Petty learned Dylan’s singles with his band and later explored his albums.
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Bob Dylan was an American singer-songwriter who became prominent in the 1960s. His early work was mainly acoustic folk music, but “Like a Rolling Stone” used electric instruments and ran much longer than a typical pop single of its time.
Tom Petty and Bruce Springsteen are American rock musicians whose songs often tell stories about people and life in the United States. Dylan’s music was one influence on their songwriting, alongside the many other artists and experiences that shaped their careers.