Jimmy Iovine came in to produce it, and we had a big hit (Refugee). Youve said that it was kind of cool for you personally because it didnt carry the pressure of being the front man, so you got to sit back and play. But theyre also both inspiring in their own way. The bulk of his sound comes from a 1963 Fender Princeton and a 1954 Fender tweed Deluxe. On the single, Saving Grace. He used a Vox for that for the slide part, and actually I played the rhythm part on it. No,I had a three-speed turntable, so I could slow down 45s to 33 r.p.m., and 33s down to 16. Mike Campbell is a personal hero of mine. As much as the music of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers is identified by Pettys singular voice, the tone and licks of guitarist Mike Campbell have left an indelible signature on the bands work over the last 30 years theyre as much a part of the musics voice as is Pettys. There are some very desirable amps going on sale, including the very first amp Campbell got a Heathkit TA-16. Whose idea was it? Thanks a lot! I bought this Rickenbacker six-string bass from the 60s. No, we were pals. Blair resumed the role soon afterward.). Mike Campbell Gets Candid About Why Tom Petty Passed on - AceShowbiz Many of the axes he has are used have a one specific purpose, so we'll only be looking at his main guitar, which is the Duesenberg Mike Campbell signature. No matter what you hit, it sounds beautiful.. And weve gone full circle back to using them again. But there were others. Campbell has been at Pettys side throughout. We still have that kind of awe about what we do.. Well, I kinda instigated getting Rick into the fold because one time on tour I got a message that he wanted to know if I had any songs that I would want to give to Mick Jagger, who was working on a solo record at the time. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. If the Heartbreakers are tracking, and all playing at the same time and trying to get a performance on the song a live performance and theres a call for a guitar solo, I like to try to get it within the performance of the band or at least get the essence of it. "It was Toms guitar in the early years for quite a while. Re: Mike Campbell Playing Rickenbacker Mando with the Heartbreake. So it has the same wiring and sound as Georges. "I believe strongly that you just take whatever the gift has given you that day. It was funny how the song went around the corner and came back to where it shouldve been. Jonathan Horsley has been writing about guitars since 2005, playing them since 1990, and regularly contributes to publications including Guitar World, MusicRadar and Total Guitar. Some were iconic, on his wish list from his earliest days playing the guitar. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers' Mike Campbell - Premier Guitar In the course of making that record, we realized that we were so green. Well, I thought it was kind of a strange call, but interesting. Taylor Swift 6 Guitar Picks RED Concert Tour Souvenir Set . Yes, I always loved Luther Perkins. So, many of the solos are on a tiny amp in a big room. Or why not treat yourself? Those two bottles and an old tshirt will get your D-28 looking great. Released via BMG, the band's latest studio effort is due to land on March 4 this year and was recorded during the Summer months last year. All rights reserved. Jimi Hendrix compared to George Harrison is a way other universe, but still equally inspiring. Absolutely. I use the 67 on [So You Want To Be A] Rock N Roll Star. I don't know. My approach to guitar, I think, is probably a lot like his in terms of fitting into the song and not overplaying. I Walk The Line. He also played Buddy Hollys Thatll Be the Day, Fools Paradise, and lots of Elvis all the great Elvis/Scotty Moore records. Those days are kind of gone now, but still, collecting guitars is about loving the sound and liking instruments, you know? Campbell himself mentions the Rat in this September 1999 "Spotlight on a Heartbreaker" interview from the official Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers website. I just try to write a good song, which requires enough effort. "On I Wont Back Down, I have the Gretsch Clipper tuned to an open tuning that I use for that slide part. And even years before the Beatles played on Ed Sullivan, your aunt took you to a movie set, where you saw Elvis. There were some long friendships made there. Well, like the best of us, Campbell is a long-term sufferer of Gear Acquisition Syndrome, and they're running out of storage at the Heartbreaker Clubhouse. And it was a coincidence that the Martins all showed up right then, but we were so pleased with them. In your early days, did you buy guitars more out of necessity rather than an Oh, Ive gotta have that! mentality? So in my spare time, I would just try to invent them. As for effects, there is a Boss GT6 multi-effects unit on sale, but don't spend all your money on that until you've considered the MKII Watkins Copicat tape echo, which would look nice in your home studio, right? You pushed it and it just got this great overdrive buzz. This thing is loud, says Campbell. Guitarist Mike Campbell spent four decades as Tom Petty's co-captain, co-writing hits like "Refugee," "Runnin' Down a Dream," and "Here Comes My Girl." The Florida-born musician also co-wrote "Boys of Summer" with Don Henley, "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around" for Stevie Nicks, produced Roy Orbison, recorded with Bob Dylan, and in 2018, became a . I wanna give you my guitar. I thought he was crazy on drugs or something. . What are you waiting for. Explore Mike Campbell's incredible vintage guitar 'carousel' in new He augments that with a custom Fender Excelsior and a Fender Vibrotane for Leslie-type effects. So Ive been really lucky that way. So when I got back to town, I called him and said, Ive got some tracks that Tom doesnt want to use, and said he could listen to those if he liked. And of course, the Broadcaster I used on the first two albums, I still use. We get them because we love them as pieces of art and we use them on our records. The afternoon after the emotional interview at his house, Campbell is at an enormous soundstage at Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City, California. We think somebody wanted it to look like John Lennons, so they had somebody carve that top horn. That Excelsior, because they have the green one and other ones, but Nate White, at Fender, when these came out Mike did something with Danny Harrison at A&M and that Green Fender amp was there and he asked about getting it. Featuring a Laminated Flame Maple back and sides with a Laminate Spruce top, this semi hollow design with sustain block allows for a stable, rich, resonant and dynamic tone. Usually, but not on Highway Companion; Jeff Lynne played bass on this one. Mike Campbell's Life After Heartbreak - Rolling Stone Blair has a different kind of tone very clear. And Dunlop was going to do a version put out by Dunlop called Campbell Toe for Mike Campbell - a smaller version. Tom was in interesting head space at that time we were young and idealistic, so there are a lot of songs about hope. Mike Campbell Reflects on His Long Career as the Rock Guitarist's Guitarist By Joe Bosso published April 23, 2020 From his 40+ years as Tom Petty's right-hand man to his current roles in Fleetwood Mac and his own group, The Dirty Knobs, Campbell looks back on an incredible career (Image credit: Kevin Scanlon) This is called Little Ricky. Wed love to stay in touch, sign up for The Pick team to contact you with great news, content and offers. Then Mick got stuck with it, and when we started working with Rick, we needed a song. Effects Except for the signature models, were talking 60s guitars, or. A new episode of Gibson TV's The Collection hosted by Mark Agnesi explores Campbell's literal "carousel" of stunning guitars, how he came to own some of them, and what role those magical instruments played in his lengthy, incredible career. Wake is easily my favorite album of all time. Well, it got me interested in the music, but it didnt make me want to play guitar. I got it for $120. We just discovered things as we went along. I think I gave it to a friend when I got a Stratocaster. I want to play good instruments, and I dont have much patience with new instruments. The effects currently in the setup are: A Digitech Whammy II pedal, a Boss TU-2 Tuner, a Boss RC-20 Looper, a Line 6 DL4 . Mike Campbell on his many guitars, Heartbreakers and more Its a little-body one. What are you waiting for. Campbell should be proud. Highway Companion I think I wrote entirely on guitar. I still use mine in the show. Key Features Fender Custom Shop Mike Campbell Limited Edition "Heartbreaker" Nocaster Body Ash Finish Nitrocellulose Lacquer Neck Rift Sawn Flame Maple With a Custom Back Shape and 7.25 Radius Frets Vintage Hardware Nickel guitar pick jewelry, which is proving to be a big seller. So he brought it back, and sure enough it was a mid-60s J-45, which I still use a lot. Pictured here is a sort of reissue Firebird V. On pgs. I think its the last one for a while, simply because theres a lot of recording projects I want to finish, and they dont get finished when we put half of each year into touring. would be able to answer every individual question.) Well, its mostly about the groove, isnt it? The Official Mike Campbell Reverb Shop | Reverb We have an Ovation 12-string that we made into a high-string we took off six regular strings and just kept the high strings its called Nashville tuning. 24) Mark in GA asked: What kind of guitar, pick-ups, amps, any effects pedals, et Campbell himself mentions the Daddy O in this September 1999 "Spotlight on a Heartbreaker" interview from the official Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers website. $11.15 shipping. Well, its an interesting record because theres really only three people playing on it me and Tom and Jeff. I don't hear a fuzz on this track. They were a huge influence on me and everybody in my generation it was a great time for guitar inspiration. Paul Gray - Slipknot. Loves the long road and on through the set," says Mike Campbell's guitar tech ab "That's a custom tweed. We go inside Mike Campbell's drool-inducing lineup of vintage guitars and amps he brings on the road. The Garden has always been one of my favourite places. And, like any guitar lover, he remembers it all via the guitars he crossed paths with along the way My dad always used to play Elvis records, Campbell recalls of his first musical inspirations. So far, has everything on tour gone as planned in terms of crowd response, especially to the new tracks? His reluctance, and his clearly busy schedule, leads to an obvious question: with the Heartbreakers on such a high after Hypnotic Eye and a successful tour, how long does he think it will go on? Note: Epstein replaced Blair in 1982, and passed away in 2003. We made some demos, sent them out to a bunch of record companies, and got rejected by almost everybody except for London and Denny Cordells label, Shelter. Well, I have complete control of a solo album; the democratic process is gone. So, when I have time to listen to a song and digest where the spaces are and what it might need, the guitar solo will get some thought. They still make them, and theyre really good, actually. In the Refugee video, you play a red Tele with a humbucker? Well, they all make a different sound, you know? Yeah, its about time, you know? Were you paying attention to guitar tones, or more focused on sounding good as a group? Great great, I've been waiting a long time for a Premier Guitar rig rundown of Campbell's rig.