Origin: Gainesville, FL

Decades: 1970's, 1980's, 1990's, and 2000's

Upon the release of their first album in the late '70s, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers were shoehorned into the punk/new wave movement by some observers who picked up on the tough, vibrant energy of the group's blend of Byrds riffs and Stonesy swagger. In a way, the categorization made sense. Compared to the heavy metal and art rock that dominated mid-'70s guitar rock, the Heartbreakers' bracing return to roots was nearly as unexpected as the crashing chords of the Clash. As time progressed, it became clear ... Read More

Bob Dylan, Chuck Berry, The Beatles, The Byrds, The Rolling Stones, The Kinks and The Yardbirds

Soul Asylum, Material Issue, Kings of Leon, Dashboard Confessional, The Wallflowers, Limbeck and Bryan Adams