Born on September 7, 1953, in Gainesville, Florida, Tench took up piano at an early age, playing recitals at the age of six. (hoped he had more 'spare change' after such a full rock career) My parents had an ivory chess set they got in the 1940s and it was breathtaking because it had so much soul. It saved me, having my daughter. The news set off a whole new series of alarms regarding the growing opioid crisis among celebrities. The records with the outtakes give you a certain picture of the way it went deeper, but the film, especially because you get to hear Tom talk so much, the film takes you further.. Thanks for sticking with us through the storm." There, he lingered on life support, while certain news sources (including CBS News and Rolling Stone, via iHeart Radio) jumped the gun and reported that Petty had died. It saved me, having my daughter. His collaborator and bandmate of over 40 years, Tom Petty, was in the hospital, after being found in his home unconscious, not breathing and in full cardiac arrest. All love. In 2008, Benmont became part of a group named The Scrolls. The group is composed of: Currently, they are officially known as Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.).. The Tom Petty website recounted that after a full half-hour of rain, the storm passed as the road crew took the stage to uncover the band's gear. His father was born and raised in the city of Gainesville, and served as a circuit court judge. When Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers honored their 2017 dates at the Greek Theatre in Berkeley a few days later, Harrington seemed unimpressed. Related Blog Posts. Benmont Tench 03.08.14 13 12 Wks 03.08.14 2 View full chart history Sign Up. Steve Winwood is a wild musical story. Especially pleasing to fans was an acoustic sing-along of "Learnin' to Fly," with the audience singing out the chorus like "an eerily beautiful choral society" as a crescent moon shone brightly in the night sky and the night lights of Denver glowed far away. Guitarist Mike Campbell has admitted to feeling reluctant about reuniting under the Heartbreakers banner, but says it might happen someday under the right circumstances. Benjamin Montmorency "Benmont" Tench III is an American musician and singer, best known as a founding member of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. "We always recorded more than what we put out, but we always put out what we thought was the very best," he told Meredith, "but fairly often, I would wonder why a song had been left off the record. True North Records announces a June 25th release date for A Sweet Relief Tribute to Joey Spampinato, which features a lengthy list of friends and fans of the NRBQ founding member/bassist saluting him with 14 versions of their own previously unreleased takes of Spampinato-penned songs.. A Sweet Relief Tribute to Joey Spampinato is an inspired album recorded by an astounding group of musicians . Benjamin Montmorency "Benmont" Tench III (born September 7, 1953) is an American musician and singer, and a founding member of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. He says there are also"one or two really great songs" that were recorded in 1973 three years before the band's debut album in Tench's parents' living room, "completely live to two track.". He's taught one or two classes a semester in the journalism and mass communications department at Cal State Long Beach since 2006. Best known as a founding member of Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers . Active. Enjoying his music right now! Welcome, Doyle Bramhall's third effort, continues to blur the lines between rock and blues, but he doesn't always achieve success with this tactic. TMZ maintained that there was no brain activity and that Petty's family had decided to pull life support. For his work with Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers and Mudcrutch, see, [benmont-phil-lesh-friends-march-1801016], The Man with the Blue Post-Modern Fragmented Neo-Traditionalist Guitar, "Memories of Petty: How singer found way in area", "Tom Petty returns to his roots with Mudcrutch", "From Side Player to Frontman: Benmont Tench on Solo Debut, Playing With Tom Petty and Bob Dylan", "Heartbreakers, Imposters, Nickel Creekers Make The Scrolls", "Ten songs with prolific sideman Benmont Tench", "Watkins Family Hour - Debut Album out July 24th, 2015", "Wilco, R.E.M. Petty, an uncomplicated, easygoing musician from Florida, would have likely laughed at that, but to millions of fans around the world, his loss was a devastating, unforeseen surprise that saddened the music world. Benmont Tench III has helped create the musical fabric of hundreds of records, both as a founding member and piano/organ player of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and a session musician on . It felt very, very real. That he was always going to be striving for different ways to express himself. Tom Petty as seen in the new documentary Tom Petty, Somewhere You Feel Free: The Making of Wildflowers, which debuts on YouTube on Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021. Fast-forward to 2016. Thanks for your music! Pop/Rock. found in his home unconscious, not breathing. Benmont Tench talks with Kyle Meredith about Live at The Fillmore 1997, the new Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers box set that collects highlights from the bands infamous 20 night sold out run. In 2002, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 2015, the Watkins Family Hour released their debut album and went on a national tour.[10]. Nicks also later expressed her concern about Petty that night. ", That day at Hyde Park, Nicks remembered rehearsing "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around" with the band in the dressing room. Next: The Stories Behind the 36 Covers from Tom Petty's 'Fillmore' Box, 40 Years Ago: ELO Prompts Tom Pettys Change of Heart, Win a Signed Tom Petty Live at the Fillmore 1997 Vinyl Set, Watch New Unseen Clips of Tom Pettys Fillmore Residency, Win a Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers Fillmore Vinyl Box Set, The Stories Behind the 36 Songs Tom Petty Covers on Fillmore LP, Hear Tom Petty Cover Call Me the Breeze at 1997 Fillmore Show, Watch Never-Before-Seen Clip of Tom Petty at the Fillmore in 1997, Original Tom Petty Drummer Nearly Refused Mike Campbells Reunion Offer. And the film, really, really brings that to light.. As ticket-holders reset their calendars for the new dates, the Mercury News'Jim Harrington "bet my copy of Damn the Torpedos" that the band would be back to play other northern California venues in the future. "I'd hug every one of you if I could," Petty told his fans. Petty responded, "I'll do it in a chair if I have to." As the band began rehearsals for the 40th Anniversary Tour, Tom Petty received a nice surprise: In February 2017, he received the MusiCares Person of the Year award. ", In the meantime, Tench confirmed that there's still material in the vault that could potentially be released at some point. Although the album opens with "Green Light Girl," a frenetic tune with lots of rockin . Based on your location, we've changed your settings: By clicking Subscribe, I agree to receive exclusive offers & promotions, news & reviews, and personalized tips for buying and selling on Reverb. A sought-after session player, he has contributed his talents to recordings by Jackson Browne, Johnny Cash, Elvis . Tom was pronounced dead a day later. While Tench's career also brought him gigs with other legends like Stevie Nicks, Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison and Cyndi Lauper, his main priority was always Tom and the Heartbreakers. Ill play on a few radio station solo shows, and a few songs on piano and guitar at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles on Feb. 13, followed by a Q&A session. "I listened to a lot of The Band growing up," Goldsmith said. We had this conversation with Mike and Ben and Rick Rubin that was a little bit of a free-flowing conversation, where they might start talking about one thing and it leads to talk about something else. He had also played at the Super Bowl, went solo for a bit, joined up with other famous musicians to form the Traveling Wilburys, and resurrected Mudcrutch. eBay item number: 125797211311. . I was 10 when they showed upShe Loves You was just a marvel of joy and emotion. Benmont and Petty played together as members of the Sundowners in 1964. We didnt fake it. Songs written by Tench and recorded by other artists include "You Little Thief", a top 5 UK and Australian hit for Feargal Sharkey in 1985, and "Never Be You" (co-written with Petty), which became a #1 US Country hit for Rosanne Cash, also in 1985. In October, American Songwriterannounceda mega-40th-anniversary, remastered vinyl box set that would include all 16 albums by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, as well as Petty's three solo albums (Full Moon Fever, Wildflowers, and Highway Companion). 9. Tench also appears on the bill for a tribute to the band Big Star that took place in Los Angeles, California, in April 2016 (together with members of R.E.M, Wilco and Semisonic). (Photo by Martyn Atkins, courtesy of Warner Music & Petty Legacy, LLC. Its changed to kind of an alternate universe. At age 11, he happened to meet Elvis Presley, who was shooting a film near Petty's hometown of Gainesville. What anti-LGBTQ bills are moving forward at the midpoint of Indianas legislative session? [5], Mudcrutch eventually evolved into Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. "I look back on that and what a magical moment that was," Nicks remembered. They released a self-titled album in September 2009. Listen to the interview above and then check out the video below. First no. Theres not a false thing on the record, on the whole thing, Tench says. But you also catch how thoughtful he was about the record-making process and about the songwriting process.. And thats all the live shows I have planned for now; I hope it doesnt give me panic attacks or that people walk out bored en masse. Freedom (B-Side of Butterfly)Dust emerged in July 1996, featuring guest spots from Benmont Tench, on loan from Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, and Pearl Jam's Mike McCready. Check out Benmont Tench on Amazon Music. About This Deal. Tom would want you to do that. Well, I dont want to do that. And a dog named Buddy. Running the gamut from retro garage rock to rain-on-the-window balladry, its a poised disc well worth checking out. It wasnt like, Im Tom Pettys daughter, so I deserve special treatment. She was just a really cool young lady. "Catherine came in December, Tom died in October," Tench recalled. Heartbreakers keyboardist Benmont Tench said the birth of his daughter two months after the death of Tom Petty had prevented him from falling apart. Tench has received two ASCAP songwriting awards: in 1995 for "Stay Forever" (performed by Hal Ketchum) and in 2001 for "Unbreakable Heart" (performed by Jessica Andrews). Genre. "It's a pretty devastating song to sing more than once," she said later. Baby Health & Safety Shop All . ), Tom Petty and producer Rick Rubin as seen in the new documentary Tom Petty, Somewhere You Feel Free: The Making of Wildflowers, which debuts on YouTube on Friday, Nov. 12, 2021. So saying, Twain joined Nicks at the side of the stage and watched Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers perform, and the two sang along "at the top of [their] lungs." Yet its taken until now for Tench to take center stage with his very first solo album, You Should Be So Lucky (Blue Note). Tench isn't sure if there are any plans release further vault material, since "the cat who knows where everything is buried." My world world is fallen apart. Tom was the last person in the band that I expected ever to go. In 2014, Benmont released his first solo album, called You Should Be So Lucky.. (Photo by Robert Sebree, courtesy of Warner Music & Petty Legacy, LLC. X. In 2002, Tom and the Heartbreakers were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. His first recital was at age six. [2] The song was co-written by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers guitarist Mike Campbell. But his version of American Girl is out of this world. In addition, Tench worked as a session musician for artists like Bonnie Raitt, Neil Diamond, and Bob Dylan. Previous image. And when it goes to vinyl I can sink my teeth into it even more. I think its a real piece of work. Hey! A few years later, she was working with a new hire at VH1 named Adria Petty, who only after Wharton started to piece together clues, acknowledged that Tom Petty was her father. Next . I did learn from things Tom said because he would never say, Hey Ben, come here, I want to tell you whats on my mind while Im making the album.. True to Stevie Nicks' comments about Tom Petty at MusicCares, the musician was indeed suffering from a hairline fracture in his left hip, according toDavid Fricke of Rolling Stone. One day my cousin was over; he was a good athlete and could do anything. He said of Petty: Id known him since I was 17. Its on Refugee and everything else. It was the mid-'60s and Tench was 11 or 12, Petty three years older. Eddie Vedder has unveiled a new single The Long Way - the first to be taken from his forthcoming solo album, Earthling. Mixed by Andy Wallace (Nirvana, Jeff Buckley, White Zombie), the album kicks off with the visceral Halo Of Ashes, driven by Garry Lee . Benmont released his solo album, You Should Be So Lucky, in 2014. [13][14], In March 2019, Tench played three shows with Phil Lesh & Friends at the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, New York. That said, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers prepared for the tour to kick off in Oklahoma City on April 20. Wed love to see you hit the road in support of your album. Previous image. The band embarked on their American tour on May 26, 2016. He had a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame and had been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Petty's family further explained (viathe Tom Petty website)that on the day he died, Petty was told that his fractured hip was now broken. Benmont left Tulane University to play with Mudcrutch. In a message posted to his fan club and to Instagram, Tom Petty's longtime collaborator gave thanks to… Continue reading Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers . Tench was born in Gainesville, Florida, the second child of Benjamin Montmorency Tench Jr. and Mary Catherine McInnis Tench. Benjamin Montmorency "Benmont" Tench III (born September 7, 1953) is an American keyboardist best known as a founding member of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. The Gear of Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, Benmont Tench: A Heartbreaker Goes Soulful on Debut Solo Disc. They did a wonderful job, he says. As tributes rolled out across the media,the cause of Tom Petty's death remained "pending" (per Becker'sHospital Review)as an official autopsy was performed. Therefore, Benmont Tench has an estimated net worth of $1.5 million. The post was aimed at Rolling Stone, reading, "My dad is not dead yet but your f*cking magazine is." "TOM PETTY. In addition, Tench is a skilled session musician and collaborated with numerous artists. I really loved that it caught things like him pretending to play the French horn that are goofy and silly and funny because he had a side that was really off the cuff. But because I had a daughter coming. Next . Not many keyboard players can say theyve changed rock history, and Benmont Tench is far too modest to make such a claim. Who is Benmont Tenchs wife? Hes very interactive with his fans. Benmont Tench was born in the middle of Baby Boomers Generation. "It's hard to just realize, I suppose, that I'm not gonna get to play with that guy," he said. Tench emphasized that he was only speaking for himself, not his bandmates. A true gentleman. Looking back, Petty still expressed shock at the incident. At age 11, he met Tom Petty for the first time at a Gainesville music store. The meeting "kicked off my love of music," according to Petty, who would later say that "I'd never thought much about rock n' roll until that moment." The keys legend tells us about the idea behind the covers-heavy shows, their relationship with Bob Dylan, and bringing out deep cuts like Heartbreakers Beach Party. Vintage Cocktail Hour Playlist: Women's History Month Edition, Louisville ranks 3rd in U.S. for most premature deaths from coal-fired power pollution. "Why not?" (Photo by Rob Grabowski/Invision/AP), Tom Petty as seen in the new documentary Tom Petty, Somewhere You Feel Free: The Making of Wildflowers, which debuts on YouTube on Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021. (Photo by Martyn Atkins, courtesy of Warner Music & Petty Legacy, LLC. " But Harrington apparently didn't see what Peter Wolf of the J. Geils Band, who opened the concert, saw. Nicks shouted to the crowd after being introduced. Most poignant was Stevie Nicks' reaction to Petty's death. Top Brands. Videos by American Songwriter. I dont know. As time passed, their world divided into band life, which orbited around Petty as singer and songwriter, and their own lives with wives and children, side projects and outside interests. Includes Tom Petty originals plus covers recorded completely live in the studio over 10 days. Which pieces of gear are your absolute favorites? Heres a guy who at that point had gold records all over his wall, and Grammys and hit records, Wharton says. He'd attended school with Petty and spent. Watkins Family Hour is a bluegrass musical collaborative led by Sean and Sara Watkins. His doctor advised him to take time off, resulting in upcoming performances in Sacramento and Berkeley, California, being rescheduled. Nothing felt at all manipulated or edited to be a certain version of a story. Nicks didn't make an appearance at Petty's Red Rocks gig, but she did play alongside him in July at London's Hyde Park. Top sources. "@matthaig1 I suffer dreadfully from depression & anxiety. Do the Heartbreakers record live as well? For Petty, whose marriage to his first wife was on shaky ground during the making of the album, the songs became some of his most personal and autobiographical of his career, even though he didnt always realize it at the time. In turn, Petty and Heartbreakers guitarist Mike Campbell penned "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around," which Nicks sang with Petty. "He should've canceled," she said later, "and he should've just gone home and gone to the hospital. It brought a vital center to my life., Tench said he was now nearing completion of a solo album featuring a tiny, compact band as a result of the pandemic. Tench referenced songs from more recent records, like2008's Mudcrutch, 2010's Mojo,2014's Hypnotic Eye and 2016's Mudcrutch 2. He was also someone I looked up to enormously. "So Tom," she said, "I know you're standing next to me 'cause you always have been for so many years. Public Opinion. Ive always liked to record as live as possible, and Ive always loved tape machines. We just went to the studio and followed his lead. Its not a job. Produced by Glyn Johns (The Who, Eric Clapton, Eagles, The Beatles), "Lucky" spotlights Tench as smart songwriter, and a more-than-capable vocalist in the vein of Mark Knopfler, Bob Dylan and Del Amitri's Justin Currie. Heartbreakers keyboardist Benmont Tench was expecting a call about the next tour in early-October of 2017 when his phone rang with much worse news. Sites: benmonttench.com, Facebook, Twitter, instagram.com, Wikipedia, musicianbio.org, famousbirthdays.com, geni.com In Groups: And the songs were kind of the touchstones, Wharton says. A guy who was not a saint, who was not perfect, who was flawed, who was this, that and the other, but there was no [bull]. But shortly after discovering the Beatles, Tench turned his back on lessons and focused on '60s rock & roll. They divorced in late 1999. Petty was left "covered in raised welts." After discovering the music of The Beatles, he ended his classical piano lessons and focused on rock and roll. Tom was the last person in the band that I expected ever to go. Early on, Petty had also gained the musical nation's respect when, according toNewsweek,he had the guts to take on record labels who habitually put their musicians into debt. Former Tom Petty keyboardist Benmont Tench isn't interested in playing again as the Heartbreakers. Personal Opinion. ), Benmonth Tench and Mike Campbell of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers as seen in the new documentary Tom Petty, Somewhere You Feel Free: The Making of Wildflowers, which debuts on YouTube on Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021. "It was not the circle-of-life lesson that I wanted. He is 69 years old and is a Virgo. Benmont Tench talks with Kyle Meredith about Live at The Fillmore 1997, the new Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers box set that collects highlights from the band's famed 20-night sold out run. "I'd watch him coming down from the stage. "He was also someone I looked up to enormously.". It really wasn't. Reunited after 30 years! Brewed in Florida, aged to perfection in LA, the genius of Tom Petty was at it's very best with the Heartbreakers. Thats not how the Heartbreakers worked. They were fortunate with technology, where they stretched it to a certain point but you couldnt tweak things with a computer. Catherine came in December, Tom died in October, Tench said. 1970s - 2010s. You appreciate them, but theyre always there. Recorded at Cello Studios, Los Angeles, California. Today is Saturday, Sept. 7, the 250th day of 2019. I played with him since I was 18 or 19. His wife hosts the podcast Coffee with Alice.. In 2015, he married Alice Carbone Tench. And I think some people who see the film will get an insight from it, too., The story Wharton and her team wove together felt true when Tench watched the film, which includes such classic songs as Its Good to Be King, You Wreck Me, and You Dont Know How It Feels.. Email Kyle at, Louisville Public Media | Earned a master's degree at the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. At age 11, he met Tom Petty for the first time at a Gainesville music store. And that record is a prime example of that. And I really wish there was a way. "You know that Tom Petty is my favorite rock star!" Benmont Tench is an American keyboard player and multi-instrumentalist who was one of the founders of the band called Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.. "[T]hat was my singer," Tench said of Tom. And then it was like this box of sunshine had dropped out of the sky into my arms. Benmont Tench first met Tom Petty in a Gainesville, Florida music shop. Godspeed to her. The single was released only in Australia, [1] where it peaked at No. Born . On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. ), Mike Campbell of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers as seen in the new documentary Tom Petty, Somewhere You Feel Free: The Making of Wildflowers, which debuts on YouTube on Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021. Never forget the dog. "Tom & The Heartbreakers sincerely apologizes for any and all inconvenience and disappointment this has caused," said the post. I quit school at 19 to play with him full-time. Benjamin Montmorency Tench, III Profile: American keyboardist and singer, born September 7, 1953 in Gainesville, Florida, USA. We connected and we stayed in touch.. Petty and Tench played together as members of The Sundowners in 1964. I cant do that now. But he was far more than just a. Fans would be touched to know that even during his final year, Tom Petty had plans lots of them. How would you describe their impact on you? [15] He also played on three songs from The Who's album WHO, released in December 2019. So I just dove into this archive of beautiful footage and incredible music. The fact we knew and loved that music gave us a common musical language. It let me not go, Holy shit. . As confused friends and fans dug for the truth, Petty did die that evening at 8:40 PM. In March 2019, Benmont played three shows with Phil Lesh & Friends (an American rock band) at the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, NY. (Photo by Eva Mueller), Tom Petty with guitarist Mike Campbell and bassist Howie Epstein in the new documentary Tom Petty, Somewhere You Feel Free: The Making of Wildflowers, which debuts on YouTube on Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021. He says he's open to the idea of playing with the others in various groupings, but that things. Joe Walsh kicked things off before the band opened with an old favorite, "Rockin' Around (With You)," from their debut album so many years ago. The group released a self-titled album in September 2009. The post further explained that Petty could not be revived, dying peacefully in the presence of his family, bandmates, and friends. Craftsman; Cuisinart; DeWalt; Dyson; Keurig; KitchenAid In a way, the director Wharton had been preparing for this film all of her working life. No. "If we had a reason, then I would be all aboard," Campbell added. Nicks was so concerned about Petty that she felt he should have canceled the tour. Even as Tom Petty and his band rocked the house, however, the last two songs on the final night (via Slate),September 25, show Petty visibly lumbering across the stage and limping off after signing a few autographs.