Tom Petty was taken from us too soon in 2017, and he left behind a discography of classics that influenced countless heartland rockers who followed in his footsteps. Just as well, plenty of Petty’s contemporaries were also inspired by him, at least enough to produce a few next-level covers of his best songs. Let’s take a look at four times other musicians delivered Tom Petty covers that rock!
Videos by American Songwriter
1. “Room At The Top” by Eddie Vedder
Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam has the kind of voice that can add depth to any song. That much is true for the grunge icon’s cover of “Room At The Top”.
This live cover from 2018 is a splendid tribute to the icon that wrote it. It was very apt for Vedder to cover “Room At The Top” during that year’s Academy Awards in memoriam section, and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house by the time he wrapped up.
2. “The Waiting” by The Killers
The Heartbreakers and The Killers might be radically different bands, but that didn’t stop the latter from (surprisingly) delivering one of the best Tom Petty covers on this list.
Originally from one of Petty’s finest albums, Hard Promises, “The Waiting” is an absolutely stunning and uplifting classic. Brandon Flowers’ vocals are on par with Petty’s throughout this cover, and the fact that he’s accompanied by a simple acoustic guitar is perfect for this particular song.
3. “Learning To Fly” by Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan loves his covers, and his unique voice lends a special sort of edge to Tom Petty’s “Learning To Fly”.
Dylan whipped out this stellar cover back in 2017 shortly after the death of his longtime friend. What better way to honor the man who gave him a big break in the 80s than through the medium they both loved so dearly?
4. “Southern Accents” by Johnny Cash
No stranger to dishing out some next-level covers, Johnny Cash covered the Tom Petty tune “Southern Accents” for Unchained in 1996. Cash’s version of the song is simpler, richer, and oddly more heartwrenching than the original.
Few musicians can do such a thing, and Cash delivered this Tom Petty cover with as much quiet power as he did reverence for the original.
Photo by Jerod Harris/Getty Images
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