{"id":675654,"date":"2026-03-23T09:08:24","date_gmt":"2026-03-23T09:08:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/675654\/"},"modified":"2026-03-23T09:08:24","modified_gmt":"2026-03-23T09:08:24","slug":"on-this-day-in-2023-we-said-goodbye-to-the-brother-of-a-rock-hall-of-famer-who-played-in-bands-with-tom-petty-and-linda-ronstadt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/675654\/","title":{"rendered":"On This Day in 2023, We Said Goodbye to the Brother of a Rock Hall of Famer Who Played in Bands With Tom Petty and Linda Ronstadt"},"content":{"rendered":"

In 1970, Tom Petty formed the Southern-rock outfit Mudcrutch<\/a> with high school friend Tom Leadon. Eventually adding co-lead guitarist Mike Campbell and keyboardist Benmont Tench, the Gainesville, Florida-based outfit never made it to the charts before splitting up in 1975. However, Petty, Campbell, and Tench would go on to form Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, which you may have heard of.<\/p>\n

Most of the original lineup, including Leadon, would reunite in 2007, releasing two albums before Petty\u2019s death in 2017 effectively ended the group. Six years later, on this day (March 22) in 2023, Tom Leadon died at age 70.<\/p>\n

Petty Followed Tom Leadon to Los Angeles<\/p>\n

Born Sept. 16, 1952 in Rosemount, Minnesota, Tom Leadon moved with his family to San Diego before settling<\/a> in Gainesville in 1964.<\/p>\n

Growing up with two musical parents, Leadon joined a\u00a0Gainesville band called the Epics at age 13. That\u2019s where his path first crossed with Tom Petty, a member of a rival band named the Sundowners. \u201cFascinated\u201d with Petty, Leadon returned the next day and knocked on the door. After that, \u201cWe were pretty much inseparable,\u201d he told Gainesville Rock History<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In 1970, the pair formed Mudcrutch alongside Campbell, drummer Randall Marsh, and singer Jim Lenahan.\u00a0They quickly gained a cult following in town, becoming a fixture at University of Florida fraternity parties.<\/p>\n

However, after a fight with Petty, Leadon left the band in 1972. He subsequently moved to Los Angeles, following in the footsteps of older brother Bernie, who had recently joined a little band called the Eagles.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was kind of hot-headed and I had some kind of arguments with Petty,\u201d Leadon told Gainesville Rock History. \u201cI was getting where I wanted to do more bluegrass and country music, and we weren\u2019t hanging out as often any more because I was with my girlfriend and not hanging with Tom all the time like I usually had done.\u201d<\/p>\n

In California, Leadon joined <\/a>Linda Ronstadt\u2019s backing band as a guitarist, and co-wrote \u201cHollywood Waltz\u201d on the Eagles\u2019 1975 album One Of These Nights.\u00a0Soon, Petty and the remaining members of Mudcrutch came to visit him in L.A. They stayed.<\/p>\n

[RELATED: Exclusive Excerpt From \u2018Conversations with Tom Petty, Expanded Edition\u2019]<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Reuniting With Mudcrutch<\/p>\n

Eventually, Tom Leadon moved to Nashville to teach guitar. In 2007, his phone rang as he was driving home from the grocery store. It was Tom Petty, and he wanted to get the band back together. The next year, Mudcrutch released their self-titled debut album\u2014four decades after their beginning.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs soon as we started playing with them again, it felt like we were home,\u201d Leadon said.<\/p>\n

Following news of Leadon\u2019s death, Mike Campbell wrote<\/a>, \u201cA kinder soul never walked the earth. I will always miss his spirit and generosity. Sleep peacefully my old friend.\u201d<\/p>\n

Featured image by Scott Dudelson\/Getty Images<\/p>\n