Tom Petty, Somewhere You Feel Free

By: Jennifer Vintzileos

Pieced together through never-seen-before footage found after Petty’s death, fans get a glimpse into the production behind through the iconic album “Wildflowers” in Tom Petty, Somewhere You Feel Free. The tracks themselves help to drive the story as fans witness the end of The Heartbreakers relationship with drummer Stan Lynch, Petty’s divorce from Jane Benyo and an intimate look into the kind of music that Tom Petty wanted to write.

Between 1993-1995, Tom Petty was ready to have more creative freedom and started working on an album that he initially thought would be a solo project. Enlisting the help of producer Rick Rubin (Beastie Boys, LL Cool J, Public Enemy, Run-DMC) to come over his house and occasionally listen to new tracks, Petty was looking for someone new to work with. And Rubin was up to the challenge as he became a fan of Petty after the album “Full Moon Fever.” Rubin’s commentary as not only a producer but also a fan works seamlessly within the documentary. “He just loves music. He’s not a corporate man,” Rubin shares with the camera. And with Rubin’s ability to be honest with Petty on the songs themselves, their relationship through “Wildflowers” became testament to its greatness.

Yet “Wildflowers” was not going to be another Heartbreakers-style album, which becomes obvious when Stan Lynch shared his own displeasure during production. Petty ended up tapping his other band members from The Heartbreakers for work on “Wildflowers,” which included guitarist Mike Campbell, keyboardist Benmont Tench and bassist Howie Epstein. During their final work on a greatest hits album with MCA Records before the move to Warner Bros., Stan Lynch left the band and Steve Ferrone took over as drummer until Petty’s death in 2017. “Wildflowers” would go on to not only be the fastest-selling album of Petty’s career, but would go triple platinum nine months after its release in 1994.

But the music is only half the story. Through interviews with those who had the chance to know Tom Petty, he was so much more than the music. He had a vision, a dream and the ability to put his emotions into his music with eloquence. To Petty, the music for “Wildflowers” became an outlet to release what was eating away at him in his personal life and to do so through being a musician.

Director Mary Wharton had the privilege to work on another documentary about Tom Petty and his album “Wildflowers,” which shows the level of care and thoughtfulness she has placed into Tom Petty, Somewhere You Feel Free. Being given the opportunity to work with the unearthed footage, Wharton along with Editor Mari Keiko Gonzalez made sure that Petty’s dialogue shined through; the other interviews are there to enhance. The footage is grainy at times, but fits the narrative of the story. Petty does not appear to be a perfectly polished individual; he does not need to be. Instead, we are treated to impromptu performances and funny little songs. Petty’s personality is serious yet fun-loving. The audience gets to know Tom Petty on more than just a musician level, yet his love for the music comes across just the same.

We lost a rock icon the day Tom Petty died, but his songs will live on and “Wildflowers” will always be one of his greatest albums. For Petty, he believed in this simple adage: “Bring out the best in the songs and have fun while you’re doing it.” You can learn more about Tom Petty, Somewhere You Feel Free by clicking here: https://www.tompetty.com/film.