The Heartbreakers Talk About the Tom Petty Fillmore 1997 Concerts
by Best Classic Bands Staff
Tom Petty at The Fillmore 1997 (Photo: Martyn Atkins; used with permission)
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ legendary 20-night run in 1997 at The Fillmore in San Francisco is the subject of a new short film, in conjunction with the recent deluxe box set that documents the band’s residency. [The album, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: Live at The Fillmore 1997, arrived Nov. 25, 2022, via Warner Records. The collection is available as a 4-CD or 6-LP deluxe edition, as well as on 2-CDs, and 3-LPs.]
Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers—The Fillmore House Band—1997 (Short Film Part 2), an 11-minute short film, directed by Alison Tavel and released on Jan. 24, 2023, features never-before-seen footage from the Petty estate vaults, accompanied by new interviews with the Heartbreakers filmed at the famed Clubhouse.
In addition to the incredible performance footage, the film captures the excitement and camaraderie around the shows, giving fans yet another glimpse into the ambitious multi-night stint at the San Francisco venue, described by Petty as “the highpoint of our time together as a group.”
Watch Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers—The Fillmore House Band—1997 (Short Film Part 2)
For the album collection, six of the shows were professionally recorded and the editions contain numerous previously unreleased performances. The 4-CD edition includes 58 tracks, 35 of which are covers. Much of the band’s well known repertoire such as “American Girl,” “You Don’t Know How It Feels” and “Runnin’ Down a Dream” is included, with often re-arranged and distinctive versions. The band always enjoyed playing a choice selection of classic songs on their setlists and the new release offers plenty, paying tribute to the artists that Petty and the band had been influenced by. Highlights include the Rolling Stones’ “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction,” as well as spirited versions of “Louie Louie” and “Gloria,” plus “You Ain’t Going Nowhere” featuring guest Roger McGuinn, are among the set’s ample track listing.
Listen to many of the performances of Petty classics and covers below.
Petty, born Oct. 20, 1950, was 46 years old at the time of the concerts. To put the timeline in perspective, Petty had released his great solo album, Wildflowers, in 1994 and the band had released the music for the feature film, She’s the One, in 1996. Of the concerts, Petty said, “We all feel this might be the highpoint of our time together as a group… It’s going to be hard to get us off this stage tonight.”
Watch the first short film, featuring previously unreleased live footage
Since Petty’s death in October 2017, his Estate and bandmates have carefully mined his archives. 2018’s An American Treasure set included “I Won’t Back Down” from the Fillmore run. 2020’s Wildflowers & All the Rest also featured music from those concerts. Multiple tracks also appeared on 2009’s The Live Anthology set. The new Fillmore set is a collaboration between the Estate and Mike Campbell.
The 4-CD set includes a 32-page booklet (with previously unseen photographs), three custom guitar picks, a replica All Access laminate, and an embroidered patch (“The Fillmore House Band” – a term that was bestowed on The Heartbreakers during the shows at the Fillmore).
Watch the video for “Listen To Her Heart”
And here’s an acoustic performance of “I Won’t Back Down”
The numerous covers include Bob Dylan’s “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door,” J.J. Cale’s “Crazy Mama” and “Call Me the Breeze,” The Rolling Stones’ “Time is On My Side” and more from The Kinks, Everly Brothers, Bill Withers, Ray Charles, Chuck Berry and Booker T. & the M.G.’s. John Lee Hooker guests on “Boogie Chillen.”
Watch the animated video for their cover of J.J. Cale’s “Call Me the Breeze,” released on Nov. 4
Mike Campbell said, “Playing the Fillmore in 1997 for a month was one of my favorite experiences as a musician in my whole life. The band was on fire and we changed the set list every night. The room and the crowd was spiritual… AND… we got to play with some amazing guests. I will always remember those nights with joy and inspiration.”
Petty’s Estate teased the collection in the days leading up to its release. “Did someone say ‘Heartbreakers beach party’?”
“We all feel this might be the highpoint of our time together as a group.” – Tom Petty
Stay tuned for a very special announcement this Wednesday 9/21 and see why TPATH are #AmericasGreatestRocknRollBand pic.twitter.com/FHG9S3wFjh
— Tom Petty (@tompetty) September 19, 2022
The 4-CD track listing and many more performances appear below the Amazon links.
Related: Our feature story on “The World’s Best Cover Band”
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: Live at The Fillmore 1997 4-CD Track Listing
CD 1
1. Pre-show (spoken interlude)
2. Around And Around
3. Jammin’ Me
4. Runnin’ Down A Dream
5. Good Evening (spoken interlude)
6. Lucille
7. Call Me The Breeze
8. Cabin Down Below
9. The Internet, Whatever That Is (spoken interlude)
10. Time is On My Side
11. Listen To Her Heart
12. Waitin’ In School
13. Let’s Hear It For Mike (spoken interlude)
14. Slaughter On Tenth Avenue
15. Homecoming Queen Intro (spoken interlude)
16. The Date I Had with That Ugly Old Homecoming Queen
17. I Won’t Back Down
18. You Are My Sunshine
19. Ain’t No Sunshine
20. It’s Good To Be King
CD 2
1. Rip It Up
2. You Don’t Know How It Feels
3. I’d Like To Love You Baby
4. Diddy Wah Diddy
5. We Got A Long Way To Go (spoken interlude)
6. Guitar Boogie Shuffle
7. I Want You Back Again
8. On The Street Intro (spoken interlude)
9. On The Street
10. California
11. Let’s Hear It For Scott and Howie (spoken interlude)
12. Little Maggie
13. Walls
14. Hip Hugger
15. Friend Of The Devil
16. Did Someone Say Heartbreakers Beach Party? (spoken interlude)
17. Heartbreakers Beach Party
18. Angel Dream
19. The Wild One, Forever
20. Even The Losers
21. American Girl
22. You Really Got Me
23. Goldfinger
The official video for the acoustic performance of “American Girl,” celebrating diversity, was directed by Petty’s daughter, Adria Petty, and Jacques Naudé
CD 3
1. Mr. Roger McGuinn (spoken interlude)
2. It Won’t Be Wrong
3. You Ain’t Going Nowhere
4. Drug Store Truck Drivin’ Man
5. Eight Miles High
6. Crazy Mama
7. Everyone Loves Benmont (spoken interlude)
8. Green Onions
9. High Heel Sneakers
10. John Lee Hooker, Ladies And Gentlemen (spoken interlude)
11. Find My Baby (Locked Up In Love Again)
12. Serves You Right To Suffer
13. Boogie Chillen
14. I Got A Woman
Listen to Benmont Tench’s showcase
CD 4
1. Sorry, I’ve Just Broken My Amplifier (spoken interlude)
2. Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door
3. Honey Bee
4. County Farm
5. You Wreck Me
6. Shakin’ All Over
7. Free Fallin’
8. Mary Jane’s Last Dance
9. Bye Bye Johnny
10. (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction
11. It’s All Over Now
12. Louie Louie
13. Gloria
14. Alright For Now
15. Goodnight (spoken interlude)
Related: When Tom Petty Presaged the #MeToo Movement in 1999
3 Comments so far
Jump into a conversationGot to see one of the Fillmore concerts when I lived in San Fran. Guest that night was Carl Perkins with Heartbreakers back up. Whole night had rockabilly vibe. Still got the Fillmore poster that was handed out on leaving.
Tom Petty was great, a true Rock and Roll icon. I was lucky enough to see him a few times and one of those times was right before he passed away. His music will live on.
I have loved since the summer of 1978 and will always love him.