Mudcrutch featuring Tom Petty

Mudcrutch was a rock band from Gainesville, FL best known for being the forerunner of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.

Mudcrutch was formed in 1970 by Tom Petty (bass and vocals), Tom Leadon(guitar and vocals), Randall Marsh (drums) and Mike Campbell (guitar). Leadon left the band in 1972 and was replaced by guitarist/vocalist Danny Roberts. The line-up was completed with addition of keyboardist Benmont Tench. In 1974, Mudcrutch signed with Shelter Records and re-located to LA. They released one single, "Depot Street", in 1975 which failed to chart. The band broke up later that year. Petty, Campbell and Tench went on to form the Heartbreakers in 1976 with fellow Gainesville natives Stan Lynch and Ron Blair.

In August 2007, the original members of Mudcrutch reunited and recorded an album for release in 2008. Mudcrutch will be released on April 29th, by Reprise Records, and contains 14 old and new tracks. "We would play and then we would just talk about the old days," says Tom Leadon, who left the band in 1972. The band will embark on a small tour in California to promote the album on April 12th.

I was lucky enough to get a pre-release copy today and I am quite happy with the results. Tom Petty has still got "it"; whatever it is that makes him so appealing.