Ask a Part-Time Pettyologist -- THE SECOND TRY

[rugbyLEAGUEfan]

Onya Johnny

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

Im afraid I dont understand that.

 

[lordsurya08]

Here's a funny true story: A few months ago I got some money and decided to order a magazine for the Archives from eBay. I decided to get an issue of Trouser Press. (You can see the article here.) So anyways I was IM'ing a friend as I was waiting for the thing to count down hoping nobody would grab it. And he was confused and eventually said something like "Why don't you just get a trouser press at the store?" He thought I was buying a literal one.

And now for a Petty story!
In the early days, this would be 1977-ish, the Heartbreakers were once playing in England. And in the hotel lobby Tom heard a snotty voice say "Oh, it’s the American pop star Tom Petty." He ignored that and went to check in to the hotel. So they did that, and he and Stan Lynch (probably the most temperamental Heartbreaker) began to walk to the elevator.
The same voice then goes, "There the hippies go. Bye-bye Tom."
So Stan turns to see who it is and he "wants to kill" (this is what Tom said). Turns out it was Johnny Rotten talking to some French journalists. Stan had to be restrained.

True story.

yeah, i can totally imagine johnny rotten saying that

 

[rugbyLEAGUEfan]

Im afraid I dont understand that.

You kill me

"onya" , Australian slang for " good on you " .

I was just having a little dig at you by supporting JR for being rude to TP . I don't know if you know much about Johnny Rotten , but as Lord Usuary said , it would almost be disappointing if he didn't reply that way .

Cool story by the way

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

Don't know much, he was one of the punk guys.

I still get a laugh that TP&HB were considered punk. I remember T.P. saying several times in early interviews that they weren't the type to stick safety pins in themselves.

 

[Abaddon]

No because he gets too many.

Too many, even now? I can't imagine they get as much today as like, 30? years ago?

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

I don't know. I didn't interview him so I can't ask him.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

Speaking of interviews, I have another true story [source]:

So anyways around 1981, music writer called Jas Obrecht wanted to interview TP for the magazine Guitar Player (I don't have that one sorry). The publicity people agreed, as long as they also interviewed Mike Campbell (lead guitar player). So Obrecht agreed, and went to interview Mike, which was good. Throughout the interview Obrecht could see Tom sitting on a couch.
So after the interview with Mike, the publicity agent wouldn't let him see Tom. So he basically threatened to not publish Mike's interview and leave the agent to explain it. So the agent let him in to see Tom, saying this:
“You can talk to Tom for 15 minutes – that’s it. And no questions about drugs or sex.”
So Tom walked in, and Obrecht said that . “I guess they’re afraid I’m gonna ask you the wrong questions.”
Tom basically said "F them," locked the door, pulled up a chair very close, and said "How's your sex life?"
"Fine," said Obrecht.
"Getting some good drugs?"
"Yes."
"Good. We can talk about anything you want." They proceeded to to a 45-minute interview, no-nonsense and charismatic. Obrecht walked out a diehard Petty fan.

You may want to read the article I linked as it's interesting.

EDIT: Actually, I just realized something. I know the article made it sound like it was from 1981, but I just realized all the other details (the dual-feature and the magazine title) matched up this:
http://thepettyarchives.squareserve.org/magazine/magazines-1986/1986-08-guitarplayer/

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

I hope someone enjoyed the story.

I have more to tell.

 

[sophie]

No one asked for these stories though...

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

Yeah but I like telling them.

EDIT: I just realized something. I have an online friend. Either ways, some years ago, when we both got into Petty, I would often tease her about liking Benmont Tench (the keyboardist)....

Anyways, now, 5 years later, she's actually friends with Benmont Tench. (It's mostly over the Internet though.)

True story.

 

[Atticus]

Aimee, Ask a -threads are neither for spamming stories. Since there seems to be no more questions to the pettyologist,

Moderator Action: Thread closed.

Do not start a new one, I'll get back at this this afternoon.