Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers’ Christmas Video

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Screen grab from TNT’s 2000 A Very Special Christmas

Like we ever need an excuse to run anything by or about Tom Petty. Best Classic Bands continues its holiday countdown with a clip we first posted in December 2015.

This Classic Video is from A Very Special Christmas that was taped all the way back on December 14, 2000, and aired on TNT that December 19. (We had forgotten how TP looked with short hair and no beard.)

The night before the taping, Petty and the Heartbreakers performed a set at then-Vice President Al Gore’s home, including “American Girl” and “I Won’t Back Down.” Petty was joined on vocals by Jon Bon Jovi and Blues Traveler’s John Popper on harmonica, who were also appearing on the A Very Special Christmas special.

Later, Petty is said to have sung with Stevie Wonder. One hour earlier, Gore had appeared on national television to concede the presidency to George W. Bush.

The A Very Special Christmas record series debuted in 1987 with an album featuring holiday songs by a true A-List of classic rock acts including Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, U2, John Mellencamp and Stevie Nicks. Various titles in the series are available here.

Petty’s original song, “Christmas All Over Again,” was included on the second edition in 1992, and then on his Playback box set in 1995. Others contributing to A Very Special Christmas 2 include Ann and Nancy Wilson, and a duet between Frank Sinatra and Cyndi Lauper. Subsequent releases featuring the likes of Sheryl Crow, Steve Winwood and B.B. King have spread to other musical genres. All told, the series has raised more than $100 million for the Special Olympics.