He was Tom Petty's Secret Weapon...and Don Henley's too | Professor of Rock

Coming up a special full-length uncut interview with one of the great unheralded guitar heroes of rock history. One of my favorites, but not only that, he’s a legendary producer, songwriter and the right-hand man of the late great Tom Petty. Mike Campbell. Mike produced and co-wrote many of the Heartbreakers' classics as well as several big hits for Don Henley, including Boys of Summer. A song that has one of the most incredible stories of the rock era. Mike thought he had written one of his best songs, but when he brought it to Tom Petty, Tom rejected it as it didn’t fit the album they were creating, so producer Jimmy Iovine told Mike to take it to Don Henley for his second Solo Album. So Don came to Mike’s house.So when he played it for Don, Henley’s reaction made Mike feel like he thought it was a dud too. Henley left without a word, but then he called back about an hour later and told Mike he’d just written the best song of his career. Putting lyrics to Mike’s Music. There’s even more to it with the Track almost getting erased forever and thenTom Petty’s reaction after it became a hit. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg; there’s the story of all of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers hits on here, and Mike does it while smoking a bowl. It was such an amazing interview, I felt like Tom was there in spirit. Discussing the greatest hits from Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers including Free Fallin' , Mary Jane's Last Dance, Refugee, American Girl, I Won't Back Down, Running Down a Dream and many more. Ya know, the more time that goes by in my life, the more Tom Petty moves up in my top artists list. He’s probably top 5 for me! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Executive Producer Brandon Fugal Honorary Producers Steve Maddox, Thomas French, John Tanner, Robert Coen, Mark Austin, Andrea Drake ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe to the Professor of Rock Podcast Apple: https://apple.co/445fVov Spotify: https://spoti.fi/42JpfvU Amazon: https://amzn.to/44b5D6m iHeartRadio: https://bit.ly/444h8MO ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Patreon: http://bit.ly/ProfessorofRockVIPFan Merch Store: https://professor-of-rock-lsn-shop.fo... Instagram: https://bit.ly/Instagram_Professor_of... #classicrock #80smusic #vinylstory #70smusic Miss him every day. As Mike says in the following interview, he never backed down, he stuck it to the man, he stood for his principles, and took the labels and greedy execs to task. He was everything rock and roll should be….Let’s celebrate his music. Here’s the interview.

The Story Behind Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers' "Refugee" with Mike Campbell
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The Story Behind Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers' "Refugee" with Mike Campbell

Legend Has SOLD 300 Million Records but Rock Hall of Fame has SHADOW BANNED Him! | Professor of Rock
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Legend Has SOLD 300 Million Records but Rock Hall of Fame has SHADOW BANNED Him! | Professor of Rock

Icon's TAKE on SPRINGSTEEN is PRICELESS.."He KILLED US...HE JUST BLEW US OUT"! | Professor of Rock
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Icon's TAKE on SPRINGSTEEN is PRICELESS.."He KILLED US...HE JUST BLEW US OUT"! | Professor of Rock

Mike Campbell on the Heartbreakers “The Waiting” Solo & Its Electric Spontaneity | Shred with Shifty
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Mike Campbell on the Heartbreakers “The Waiting” Solo & Its Electric Spontaneity | Shred with Shifty

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Tom Petty - A Q Exclusive - Part 1

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S13 E17: Trump’s Reflecting Pool, Redistricting & Soaps: 6/28/26: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver

From Heartbreaker to Dirty Knobs | Mike Campbell's Rock n Roll Journey
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From Heartbreaker to Dirty Knobs | Mike Campbell's Rock n Roll Journey

This INTERVIEW was a DISASTER as LEGEND CUSSED ME OUT for ASKING This Question! | Professor of Rock
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This INTERVIEW was a DISASTER as LEGEND CUSSED ME OUT for ASKING This Question! | Professor of Rock

A Timeline of Tom Petty's Incredible Career
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A Timeline of Tom Petty's Incredible Career

Billionaire's WARNING: I'm SELLING. The Crash Is Already Here!
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Billionaire's WARNING: I'm SELLING. The Crash Is Already Here!

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Mike Campbell - Performance and Conversation with Matt Pinfield The SoCal Sound at Sound City Studio

David Gilmour: The Studio Interview 2025
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David Gilmour: The Studio Interview 2025

We BOTH AGREE: How The HELL is This LEGENDARY Band NOT in the Rock Hall of Fame! | Professor of Rock
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We BOTH AGREE: How The HELL is This LEGENDARY Band NOT in the Rock Hall of Fame! | Professor of Rock

Dave Grohl on Why Nirvana Could Never Last & Kurt Cobain's Downfall | tribuune.
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Dave Grohl on Why Nirvana Could Never Last & Kurt Cobain's Downfall | tribuune.

Kevin Spacey | Club Random with Bill Maher
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Kevin Spacey | Club Random with Bill Maher

Norman's Rare Guitars Documentary [Full Movie] Watch for Free!
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Norman's Rare Guitars Documentary [Full Movie] Watch for Free!

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Dogma (1999): 10 Weird Facts You Didn’t Know!

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Freddie Mercury, Falco & die Stones: So waren sie wirklich

The ONLY Rockstar Who’s Music is SOLD in METAL SHOPS & CHRISTIAN Bookstores! | Professor or Rock
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The ONLY Rockstar Who’s Music is SOLD in METAL SHOPS & CHRISTIAN Bookstores! | Professor or Rock