Since 1976, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers have been one of America’s finest rock & roll bands ever, combining the ringing guitars of the Byrds with the gritty rhythmic drive of the Rolling Stones. Petty’s tales of American losers and dreamers were simple and direct, but emotionally charged. The Heartbreakers were a lean, tight band that could handle hard rock & roll and melodic pop equally well. The group gained critical attention and solid sales with their first album, but 1979’s Damn the Torpedos was their commercial breakthrough, selling over two million copies.