Tom Petty‘s death has been confirmed. The US rock icon suffered a cardiac arrest. He was 66. Check out the star-studded tributes to the icon below.

After suffering a cardiac arrest, rumours of the rock icon’s passing spread yesterday. Now, his death has been confirmed by Tony Dimitriades, longtime manager of Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers. Dimitriades confirmed Petty’s death on behalf of the performer’s family.

Petty formed The Heartbreakers in 1976, and their self-titled debut album was released the same year. It featured Petty’s classic song ‘American Girl’. Petty’s breakthrough came with his band’s third album ‘Damn the Torpedoes’ in 1979. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers last released an album in 2014 in the form of 13th LP ‘Hypnotic Eye’.


As well as his career with the Heartbreakers, Petty also co-founded supergroup the Traveling Wilburys with Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Jeff Lynne and Roy Orbison.

The news of Petty’s death comes following initial confusion and contradicting reports about Petty’s condition.

TMZ were the first outlet to report that Petty was rushed to UCLA Santa Monica Hospital on Sunday night (October 1) after being found unconscious, “not breathing and in full cardiac arrest” at his home in Malibu, California. The report added that Petty had been put on life support and his condition was thought to be “critical”.



However, the website later reported that “after Petty got to the hospital he had no brain activity and a decision was made to pull life support”. They later issued an update that described previous reports of Petty’s death as “inaccurate”, adding that the musician was “still clinging to life” but “not expected to live throughout the day“.

CBS News had also reported confirmation of Petty’s death, citing a statement from the Los Angeles Police Department. The LAPD was later forced to release a statement saying that it had “no information about the passing of singer Tom Petty” and that “initial information was inadvertently provided to some media sources”. CBS then retracted their original story.

Petty recently concluded a 40th anniversary tour with his band The Heartbreakers. The final date took place at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles on September 22.

The music world pays tribute


Tributes have been pouring in following the news of Petty’s death. Bob Dylan has issued a statement and you can see more tributes below.

Shocked and so sad at the passing of Tom Petty. RIP. Bri — Dr. Brian May (@DrBrianMay) October 3, 2017

"I wanna write her name in the sky

I'm gonna free fall out into nothing

Gonna leave this world for a while" Rest in peace Tom Petty ? — Travis Barker (@travisbarker) October 3, 2017

I ❤️ Tom Petty. — Frank Turner (@frankturner) October 2, 2017

RIP Tom Petty ? Such a shitty day — Courtney Love Cobain (@Courtney) October 2, 2017

We miss you already Tom Petty. A true Heartbreaker ? — ?? (@Truman_Black) October 2, 2017

https://twitter.com/jackantonoff/status/914944748565098497

My ❤️ goes out to all the people affected by the horrible shooting in Las Vegas, & to family,friends & fans of Tom Petty, of which I'm one. — Carole King (@Carole_King) October 2, 2017

tom petty. weeping at the dmv. — Maggie Rogers (@maggierogers) October 2, 2017

My first CD was 'Full Moon Fever'… my first live performances were strumming a tennis racket while singing along. Tom Petty forever. — Laura Jane Grace (@LauraJaneGrace) October 2, 2017

Tom petty – what a day – — John Cusack (@johncusack) October 2, 2017

So very sad to hear that Tom Petty as left us . A true musical legend who has inspired me for so many years . RIP x G and the feeder boys . pic.twitter.com/24a43utuPv — Feeder (@FeederHQ) October 3, 2017

My first CD was 'Full Moon Fever'… my first live performances were strumming a tennis racket while singing along. Tom Petty forever. — Laura Jane Grace (@LauraJaneGrace) October 2, 2017

Tom Petty gone? That’s just so wrong. What a bad day this has been, in so many ways. — Stephen King (@StephenKing) October 2, 2017

What a horrid day for our country, music fans and music itself. RIP Tom Petty. His songs are always good medicine. Love to his family. — josh groban (@joshgroban) October 2, 2017

damn we love you Tom Petty. incredible songwriter. "free fallin" is truly one of the greatest pieces of american art. so perfect & sad — Ezra Koenig (@arzE) October 2, 2017

So saddened to hear of @tompetty passing. He's was such sweet person to us and a once in a lifetime artist. — Cage The Elephant (@CageTheElephant) October 2, 2017

I've just heard the news about Tom petty….I can't fully comprehend this news. Tom petty was everything to me. I'm devastated. — lanzo (@babyhaim) October 2, 2017

Wow. Another legend departs. You belong among the wildflowers Tom. Thank you for the music. — Aaron Dessner (@aaron_dessner) October 2, 2017

This is unbearable. Vegas and now a great music hero has passed. You brought us so much joy, @tompetty. We will miss you. ❤️ #RIPTomPetty — Sheryl Crow (@SherylCrow) October 2, 2017

https://twitter.com/sharonvanetten/status/914944889867120641

Tom Petty was one of the biggest inspirations for me as a musician. This one will hurt for a long time. Truly one of the sweetest people on earth. Rest In Peace brother. — nathan followill (@doctorfollowill) October 2, 2017

It’s going to be hard to take the stage tonight with such a heavy heart. Luckily music is what I use to get through tough times like these. Love one another. — nathan followill (@doctorfollowill) October 2, 2017

RIP Tom Petty. Thanks for all the great rockin' music, hard to believe you're gone. — Bryan Adams (@bryanadams) October 2, 2017

https://twitter.com/TheRyanAdams/status/914947310634852358

Tom petty you are my eternal musical hero and the reason i became a singer and a songwriter and you have my WHOLE heart rooting for you. — Kathleen Edwards (@kittythefool) October 2, 2017

My heart is broken. We lost another legend today. Tom Petty was a rock n Roll rebel,… https://t.co/4AdJZFv1bR — Lzzy Hale (@LZZYHALE) October 2, 2017

Damn ….Tom Petty I remember standing backstage w him & he tells me 'Go Get Em at a. Presentation #rockAnointed — Chuck D (@MrChuckD) October 2, 2017

I can't think of an important moment in my life without an accompanying Tom Petty song. Every night we walk off stage to his music. So sad. — Jason Isbell (@JasonIsbell) October 2, 2017

Dear God, please don't take Tom Petty away from us. We still need him here… — Margo Price (@MissMargoPrice) October 2, 2017

https://twitter.com/cypresshill/status/914946121428094978

So sad to hear about Tom Petty, if you haven't seen his documentary 'Runnin Down A Dream' go watch it, so inspiring, one of the greats ? — Jamie N Commons (@JamieNCommons) October 2, 2017

https://twitter.com/NikkiSixx/status/914942975645409281

RIP Charlie T Wilbury Jr ? Say Hello to Nelson & Lefty… Thank you for all of the great music…Today we're all heartbroken ? #RIPTomPetty pic.twitter.com/hU7HUA21Z0 — Mike Portnoy ? (@MikePortnoy) October 2, 2017