INTERVIEW: After 20 years, Petty Theft won’t back down
Photo: Petty Theft will celebrate their 20th anniversary with a string of special gigs in the coming weeks and months. Photo courtesy of the band / Provided by Laura Orrico Public Relations with permission.
Petty Theft — San Francisco Tribute to Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers have been in the tribute business for 20 years, and they show no signs of stopping. This talented group of musicians has been touring the Petty songbook around to adoring fans, both original devotees who have been rocking out to these tunes for decades and newbies who are just learning the ropes.
To celebrate their 20th anniversary, Petty Theft will offer an extra special show Friday, Aug. 11 at The Showbox in Seattle, plus they have a host of other gigs in the coming weeks and months. For the uninitiated, this tribute band tries to play the songs “true to their originals,” according to press notes. People have noticed their technical mastery as well. Heartbreaker Steve Ferrone sat in on drums for a few gigs, and they have graced the stage with the likes of Tesla and Lynyrd Skynyrd.
The band consists of Dan Durkin as lead singer and guitarist, Django Bayless on bass and vocals, Monroe Grisman on guitar and vocals, Michael Papenburg on guitar, Adam Berkowitz on drums, and Steven Seydler on keyboards. Recently Grisman exchanged emails with Hollywood Soapbox to talk about their 20th anniversary and the excellence of the late, great Petty. Questions and answers have been slightly edited for style.
Could you ever have imagined 20 years ago that Petty Theft would still be going strong? :
No, definitely not. We always thought Tom would outlast us, and sadly that was not the case. However, the music lives on, and things keep happening for us. The support of the fans is amazing. It keeps growing and keeps us going as a band. We’re simply having too much fun!
What do you feel is the magic of this tribute band that keeps it going? :
Our band truly has a natural chemistry, and it did not start that way. Like most bands, we had several lineup changes early on — before we settled on the group we have now. Django Bayless, our bassist, and Dan Durkin, our lead singer, are founding members who have been in the band for the entire 20 years. The rest of the core — myself, Adam Berkowitz (drums) and Michael Papenberg (guitar) — have been in the band for 15-16 years. Our keys player, Steven Seydler, who we affectionately call “the new guy” (just as Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers called their second drummer of 20 years Steve Ferrone) has been in the band for five years now, this month.
What did day one look like for the band? How did it all start? :
Like a lot of musicians, the band actually started at the home of one of our members (Django) — a bunch of dudes playing cover songs from a lot of different pop and classic rock bands. Dan, who had already been playing in bands professionally in the Bay Area, had been on a musical hiatus and answered our ad on Craigslist. He was originally just playing keyboards and singing background — he just wanted to play for the fun of it. Shortly thereafter, the band had some turnover, and Dan sounded really good singing Tom Petty. Naturally, the thought became: Why don’t we just do Tom Petty songs? The rest is history.
For someone who hasn’t taken in a live Petty Theft performance, what can they expect? :
A fun evening celebrating the amazing songbook of Tom Petty by a great band that truly enjoys playing his music and connecting with the audience. Our shows are positive and high energy, with crowds singing along. It’s truly a reciprocal thing, as we are just as much fans of the music as the audience. We don’t wear any costumes or wigs, or try to look like them; our focus is on the music and performing a show, one that’s not only full of expected classics but included some of those lesser-known gems for the die-hards.
What are some concert highlights for you over the last 20 years? :
There have been many, although having the Heartbreakers drummer, Steve Ferrone, sit in with us (three times) is definitely at the top of the list. The opportunity to not only meet but get to play with one of our musical idols is something we will never forget! Recently, we got to open a show for Lynyrd Skynyrd and Tesla at the Concord Pavilion. Being able to play at an outdoor venue, with a capacity of over 12,000, where we all grew up going to see the big concerts was a dream realized. It was a blast and something that we would have never expected to happen. In the last 6-7 years, we have been expanding our territory to most of the western United States — now, playing shows at well-known national venues, in places like Portland, Seattle, Salt Lake City, Tacoma, Denver,and even Chicago. It’s been really exciting to see where things are heading, and they have long exceeded our expectations. The reception has been truly amazing everywhere we go!
Why is the Tom Petty songbook so important to keep alive? :
Tom Petty’s songbook is practically unmatched as an American songwriter. He’s right up there with the Beatles and anyone else of that magnitude. He has a song for almost anything you can think of in terms of life, relationships and real-world living. A master storyteller — like any good story, it needs to be told. It still holds its own and remains as relevant to the listener as the day he wrote it. By playing and celebrating his songs, we keep his music alive, and in doing so, we play a small part in keeping Tom alive as well, at least in our hearts and minds.
If you’re stuck on a deserted island and only have one Tom Petty song to keep you company, which one are you choosing? Why? :
Wow, tough question! I guess if I were stuck on a desert island I would pick “Wildflowers” … the song is so positive and uplifting. The song would cheer me up and give me some hope. I think we all need that once in a while anyway.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
Petty Theft — San Francisco Tribute to Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers will celebrate 20 years with a special concert at The Showbox in Seattle on Friday, Aug. 11. Click here for more information and tickets.
