WCSX Classic Cuts
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: “Anything That’s Rock ‘n’ Roll”
The Hook: They were inspired to write a song about rock’n’roll by KISS’s success with “Rock ‘n’ Roll All Night.”
Album: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Year: 1976
Writer: Tom Petty and Mike Campbell
Stats: Not released as a single here in America, it had moderate British chart success, reaching number-36.
Background: Forty years ago yesterday, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers released their self-titled debut album. Forty years ago today, they began their first national tour, opening for KISS. As guitarist Mike Campbell tells it, one of the songs on their debut album was, in a way, inspired by the headliners.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ guitarist Mike Campbell on a classic from their debut album, “Anything That’s Rock ‘n’ Roll.” OC:…that one. :16
“We did that one pretty fast. That was, I think, one of the last songs we did on that album. I think the discussion with that was KISS had this song out at the time: ‘I Wanna Rock N Roll All Night’ and party every day or something. I said, ‘We should do a song with ”rock ‘n’ roll” in it ’cause that always works.’ And Tom came in the next day and had that one.”