Tom Petty had a significant falling-out with drummer Stan Lynch during a tour with Bob Dylan, an incident that marked the beginning of the end for their long-standing musical partnership. During a poorly performing set, Lynch made a dismissive gesture at Petty, provoking such anger that Petty threw down his guitar and walked off stage. This confrontation epitomised deeper tensions that had been building between the two musicians over years of collaboration.

The conflict between Petty and Lynch had roots in longstanding disagreements about drum sound and musical direction. Lynch had been both a talented musician and the band's morale booster, particularly during work with the reserved Dylan, but his occasional indifference during rehearsals frustrated Petty. When Petty later recorded his album Wildflowers, Lynch no longer featured in his musical plans, effectively ending their years-long partnership as Petty pursued his intended sound.