One of rock ‘n’ roll’s most iconic musicians had died.
Tom Petty passed away at UCLA Medical Center on Monday evening after suffering from cardiac arrest at his home in Malibu. He was 66.
Petty had an illustrious career as a solo artist, releasing many critically and commercially successful songs including “I Won’t Back Down,” “Free Fallin’” and “Runnin’ Down a Dream.” He was also the lead singer for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, who were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002. Petty gained popularity among younger fans after performing with his band at the Super Bowl Halftime Show in 2008.
Petty’s death had an immediate impact on the entertainment community, with many artists taking to Twitter to pay tribute.
There were initially conflicting reports stating that Petty had died earlier in the day, but it wasn’t until late Monday evening that his death was confirmed in a statement from Tony Dimitriades, longtime manager for Tom Petty and the Heartbreaker’s, on behalf of his family.
"He died peacefully at 8:40 p.m. PT surrounded by family, his bandmates and friends," Dimitriades said in a statement.
Check out this Tom Petty playlist:
