The Tom Petty song that features Ringo Starr on drums
By the 1990s, Tom Petty had become a rock and roll living legend. After soundtracking some of the greatest moments of the late 1970s, the heartland rocker had begun reinventing himself as one of the junior members of classic rock royalty, working alongside Bob Dylan and becoming a founding member of The Traveling Wilburys with George Harrison. Given his pedigree for working with legendary musicians, it was a matter of time before Petty got to have a Beatle play on one of his albums.
As Petty approached his next album following The Wilburys, he wanted to keep working with ELO frontman Jeff Lynne. Having an innate ear for outstanding production, Lynne would help Petty refine his craft on the album Full Moon Fever, which sent him into the stratosphere with singles like ‘Free Fallin’ and ‘Runnin’ Down a Dream’.
Although Petty was on cloud nine, the rest of the Heartbreakers weren’t as keen on seeing their bandleader go solo. Even though Lynne would work his way into the Heartbreakers mould on the album Into the Great Wide Open, the rest of the band wanted to bring their production back, relying on the live performance instead of layering different pieces.
Going into production for his next record, guitarist Mike Campbell had suggested working with Rick Rubin, who had just come off of working with artists like Red Hot Chili Peppers. Wanting to capture the sound he had loved as a kid, Rubin thought the best course of action was getting everyone in a room to hone the material, which would turn into the album Wildflowers.
While most of the band would have fond memories of working on the album, the biggest hurdle came with replacing drummer Stan Lynch. Not overly fond of the material he was being asked to play, Lynch would sever ties with Petty soon after the album sessions began, moving to Florida and not communicating with the band outside of a few minor jabs at Petty’s expense.
Although the group would use substitute drummers throughout the recording, the biggest name on the record was Ringo Starr behind the kit. Looking to have a midtempo groove throughout the song ‘To Find a Friend’, Starr sat behind the kit for the session, bringing his signature metronomic groove to the song and giving a steady pulse for the listener to hold onto.
That wouldn’t be the last time Starr would lend his skills to the sessions, playing on the B-side ‘Hung Up and Overdue’, which would later appear on the soundtrack for the film She’s the One. Even though Starr may have been looking to keep the peace, he got in the middle of the band’s drama when they were asked to play The Viper Room shortly after the sessions.
After asking Lynch to return to play the songs, Petty ended up using Starr as leverage, saying in Runnin’ Down a Dream, “[Lynch] said, ‘I can’t do it’. I was outraged. I told [my manager], ‘Tell him, nevermind, Ringo’s going to do it’, and then Stan showed up within 24 hours”. For the remainder of the dates, Petty would hire drummer Steve Ferrone for the sessions, who would become his go-to drummer for the rest of his life.
Even though Starr may have been providing a service to a friend, hearing Petty with that signature Beatles swing feels so natural in context. After years of being a Beatles freak, Petty had earned the rock and roll respect good enough to perform alongside one of the Fab Four.
