Features
Petty Companions
The first leg of the trek has been announced, with amphitheatre dates planned from June 9 through July 3. Petty and the Heartbreakers will travel from Charlotte, N.C., to Denver, hitting the Bonnaroo Music Festival on the way and bringing Trey Anastasio along for most gigs.
Pearl Jam will join Petty for the last six dates of the leg, with two shows each booked in St. Paul, Minn.; Milwaukee and Denver.
Two more legs are planned, including a July/August trek with the Allman Brothers Band and a September/October gig with support to be announced.
Petty is planning to release his third solo album, Highway Companion, this summer.
In addition, Oscar-winning director Peter Bogdanovich has been following the Heartbreakers around and working on a comprehensive feature film/documentary about the band.
“I want to tell this very American story about a small family of musicians who jumped in a car, left Gainesville and drove cross-country to get into the record business,” Bogdanovich said.
“How they did it, what happened to them as a result, how this affected their families and friends, and the impact their music has had on the music industry and on millions of people’s lives.”
The film will combine vintage footage with new interviews, live performances and behind-the-scenes action. No title or release date has been set.