When Tom Petty and Stevie Nicks Shared the Stage For the Last Time
by Best Classic Bands Staff
Stevie Nicks and Tom Petty share a hug after performing “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around” at Hyde Park in London, July 9, 2017
Tom Petty and Stevie Nicks sang their huge 1981 hit “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around” together on July 9, 2017, when they last shared the stage. The concert, at London’s Hyde Park, was announced in December, 2016. It was reportedly only the Heartbreakers’ second U.K. visit in the previous 18 years and their only 2017 European or U.K. date. Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers were celebrating their 40th anniversary on a lengthy tour which began several months earlier, on April 20. The celebratory run was extended several times and concluded with three shows in Los Angeles at the Hollywood Bowl in September.
The classic rock titans collaborated on the 1981 #3 hit and performed together numerous times. The Heartbreakers’ last U.K. visit in 2012 included a headlining appearance at the Isle Of Wight Festival and two shows at London’s Royal Albert Hall.
Earlier, Nicks had played a 15-song set drawing from her extensive solo catalog (“Stand Back,” “Edge of Seventeen,” “Wild Heart”), Fleetwood Mac (“Rhiannon,” “Dreams,” “Gypsy”) and even her collaboration with Lindsey Buckingham (“Crying in the Night”).
Watch Nicks perform “Gypsy”
For their part, TPATH gave a 19-song, career-spanning headlining set that began and ended with songs from the group’s 1976 self-titled debut. Among the highlights were “Mary Jane’s Last Dance,” “Don’t Come Around Here No More,” “Learning to Fly” and “Runnin’ Down a Dream.”
Watch “Learning to Fly”
Related: Our review of Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers’ June 16, 2017 concert
Watch “You Don’t Know How it Feels”
Watch Tom Petty introduce the Heartbreakers midway through the London set before Stevie Nicks joins the band onstage, including her future Fleetwood Mac touring band mate, Mike Campbell. (If you just want to see the performance, skip to the 5:28 mark.)
[Petty’s extensive recorded legacy is available in the U.S. here and in the U.K. here.]
Related: Tom Petty, American Rock Giant, 1950-2017
Following the London show, Nicks returned to the U.S. to prepare for Fleetwood Mac’s two 2017 reunion concerts as part of the Classic West and East concerts, July 16 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles and July 30 at New York’s Citi Field.
Nicks (and Campbell) commenced a worldwide tour with Fleetwood Mac in 2018.
3 Comments so far
Jump into a conversationI’m totally devastated by the loss of Tom Petty. It has saddened to to tears and heart felt sorry. I saw him perform way back in the 80s at radio city music hall at Stevie nicks wild heart tour. I’ll miss him greatly. Thank you BEST CLASSIC BANDS for posting these tributes to Tom Petty.
i still tear up
Steve Nicks does have an extensive body of work. Wonderful presence on stage. She reportedly got herself to move the duo singing. Tom Petty, What can u say, too short of a life. Read the biography by Warren Zanes, it will amaze you,what a crazy roller coaster ride he had. His most creative time was with the Traveling Wilburys.!