Few moments in music history shook the world like the death of John Lennon on December 8th, 1980. Shot outside his New York apartment by Mark David Chapman, the former Beatle’s passing sent shockwaves across the globe. For millions, it was one of those tragic events that etched itself in memory forever.
Among those deeply affected was Tom Petty, who not only idolized Lennon but also considered him a guiding influence. At the time of Lennon’s death, Petty was in the studio recording his second solo album, Hard Promises. The tragedy left a lasting scar on the Heartbreakers’ frontman, one he would later describe as one of the darkest periods of his life.
The moment Tom Petty heard the news
Speaking in Conversations with Tom Petty, the musician recalled how he learned of Lennon’s murder while working on the song “A Woman In Love.”
“We just thought it was nonsense,” Petty remembered. “And then a call came right back in about 15 minutes that said that John’s dead.”
Petty’s producer at the time, Jimmy Iovine, had worked with Lennon previously. To make matters eerier, Ringo Starr was recording just down the hall. Petty even recalled hearing that Lennon might stop by the studio to see Ringo the very next day. The sudden news of his death devastated everyone present.
“We went on working for a while, then stopped. The spark was gone. It hurt for so long, it fucked me up.”
Lennon’s influence on Petty
In a 1982 interview with Playboy, Petty admitted that Lennon was one of the very few people he truly idolized, alongside Elvis Presley.
“His death hurt real bad, still hurts. Each time I see his picture or hear him sing, I immediately get pissed off that some fucking jerk could just blow him away. In fact, the only two people I have ever looked up to, idolized — Lennon and Elvis — are both dead. And I’m not someone into idols.”
That same year was particularly brutal for Petty, who also lost his mother. He later described 1980 as a “black year,” one that forced him to keep going despite the grief.
A hidden tribute on Hard Promises
Although the sessions were marred by tragedy, Petty found a quiet way to pay tribute to Lennon. On the original vinyl pressing of Hard Promises (1981), fans who looked closely at the run-out groove would find a secret etching.
“If you ever see a vinyl copy of Hard Promises,” Petty revealed, “Etched in the run-out groove, you’ll see, ‘We love you, J.L.’ We etched it in the groove at the mastering plant.”
It was a subtle but heartfelt gesture — a permanent dedication to one of Petty’s greatest inspirations.
The spark that Lennon left behind
In later reflections, Petty often expressed anger at the senselessness of Lennon’s murder. But he also adopted a kind of defiance toward violence in rock and roll. Recalling a moment when a fan once rushed the stage at a Rolling Stones concert, Petty remembered cheering as Keith Richards struck the intruder with his guitar:
“Fucking A, no one’s gonna shoot Keith. It’s the attitude you have to take.”
For Petty, Lennon’s death was not just a personal loss, but a reminder of music’s fragility — and its enduring power.
