Tom Petty Opens Up About Abusive Father
- Posted on Nov 30th 2009 11:30AM by John D. Luerssen
- Comments (118)
T
om Petty has come clean about his upbringing and says he still has nightmares about his violent father. According to Petty, his old man didn't understand his love of the arts and thought he was homosexual because he had no interest in playing football or baseball. Petty also says he loathed joining his dad, an outdoorsman, on hunting trips.
"(My father) was scary and violent," Petty said in the new issue of Rolling Stone. "He beat the living hell out of me, and there was constant verbal abuse."
"Looking back on it, he probably was disappointed that I was so drawn to the arts," the rocker added. "He probably thought I was gay. I wasn't interested in sports. I didn't know the names of any baseball players. I liked films and books and records."
"He liked to fish and hunt," Petty explained. "He'd drag me on these trips, and it was a nightmare. Shooting something repelled me."
om Petty has come clean about his upbringing and says he still has nightmares about his violent father. According to Petty, his old man didn't understand his love of the arts and thought he was homosexual because he had no interest in playing football or baseball. Petty also says he loathed joining his dad, an outdoorsman, on hunting trips."(My father) was scary and violent," Petty said in the new issue of Rolling Stone. "He beat the living hell out of me, and there was constant verbal abuse."
"Looking back on it, he probably was disappointed that I was so drawn to the arts," the rocker added. "He probably thought I was gay. I wasn't interested in sports. I didn't know the names of any baseball players. I liked films and books and records."
"He liked to fish and hunt," Petty explained. "He'd drag me on these trips, and it was a nightmare. Shooting something repelled me."
Reader Comments(1 of 6)
KIMBERLYat 11-30-2009
I THINK TOM PETTY IS ONE OF THE MOST TALENTED AND HUMBLE
MUSICIANS I HAVE EVER LISTENED TOO. MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE SEEN HIM MANY TIMES AND I HAVE BEEN LISTENING TO HIM FOR YEARS. THANK GOD HE WAS HIS OWN PERSON AND FOLLOWED HIS DREAMS. ONE OF THE BEST
KIM
Robin Teetersat 11-30-2009
Ditto Kimberly!! How correct you are! Robin
Nancyat 11-30-2009
did anybody catch on his DVD set from a couple years ago -- how Petty is in good company as a musician, being the child of an abusive father and a mother who died? that there is a long long line of super talented rockers with exactly that combination.
this news is only now hitting the "mainstream". true tom petty fans have known these facts for years.
ericat 11-30-2009
kim, i totally agree. i just bough the live anthology deluxe box set. i watch 'running down a dream ' a least twice a month. you can never have too much petty. he sounds as good now as he did in 1976. rock on !
deerslayerat 11-30-2009
Hmmm...where do i start. First off hunting rocks. Most of us are ethical hunters and can feed ourselves by taking game rather than relying solely on factory farms to get your meat from, like supermaket and fast food. Maybe tom didnt give hunting a chance. Im not excusing having an ahole for a father. I would rather have had a father that was harsh than have not know who your father is, I know first hand. That being said, i love football and baseball and an avid bowhunter so i prob would have gotten along with his old man.. oh the irony.
Tom despises killing? bet hes had more than one hamburger. Having others slaughter his meat is ok but he despises it?
Taraat 11-30-2009
I believe it. My grandfather was friends with Mr. Petty, still has an insurance policy from him actually. My grandfather told me that Mr. Petty really did love Tom, just didn't understand him in the earlier years and had an awful way of communicating it. I'm sure Mr. Petty had regrets before he passed away. At least Tom had a great mother. From what I was told by my grandfather, Kitty was a real gem.
As you hear all the time, children don't come with manuals when they are born. It's only natural to make mistakes. Of course abuse is not tolerated, but Mr. Petty was raising his children in a completely different time than when he was a child.
bradat 11-30-2009
You sound like the Church. A different time? People didn't know that beating kids wasn't wrong? Certainly Dickens knew back long, long long ago when he wrote Oliver Twist. People knew right from wrong since 20 AD if not before... Tom should have been told that eating chickens and hamburger didn't just happen. Having a respect for the animal hunted would have been the tac. ..and not going overboard on the slaughter. Men both lay or churchmen ...are not very good with tapping into the fears, hopes, concerns and welfare of children... some women aren't also.
Barbara Neffat 11-30-2009
Great comments, Tara. Children do NOT come with instructions and we parents often repeat mistakes that seem to run through families. I admire Tom Petty for his music and his opening up. He has, no doubt, sparked important dialogue about raising children to be who they are, rather than who we wish. Good on you, Tom Petty. You rock!
Aliat 11-30-2009
I have to comment on this. The fact that it was just a different 'time' in which Mr. Petty was raising his son sounds like an excuse. Regardless of the time and era that it was, no child deserves to be treated like he was and like so many were. I agree, children do not come with a manual..... it should not even have to be written that you should be nice to a child. Duh, this should go unspoken. Hurting people hurt. It takes someone very strong to stand up to abusers, and end the family cycle of abuse.
Fayeat 11-30-2009
Tara,
It doesn't matter what in era a child is raised. Abuse is abuse and that does not change over time.
pmooreat 11-30-2009
That's a cop out in my book Tara. People who physically or mentally abuse their children no matter the time line 30's 40's or the 50's its still abuse which affects the child for the rest of their lives. I was abused mentally, physically molested and verbally abused on a daily basis and though i have forgiven I cannot forget. My childhood was stolen from me and unfortunately all the counseling in the world cannot return it. Obviously and thankfully you had a better time of it than some of us did. For that I am thankful!!!
Perryat 11-30-2009
Did you grow up in Gainesville? I did and my brothers were in bands at the time Tom Petty formed his band called Mudcrutch. We would go to the 'Battle of the Bands' to see them compete.
Rachelat 11-30-2009
Make mistakes? Mistakes are one thing, abuse is quite another and can't be classed as a mistake not in this generation nor any previous or subsequent.
Rickat 11-30-2009
Tara- My kids didn't come with a manual either but I didn't beat them or verbally abuse them. I encouraged in whatever they were interested in. They may not come with a manual but, if you really care, there are plenty around to read and you can always ask someone who may know more than you. He wanted a son like him and when he didn't get it, it pissed him off. What a man! Thank God Tom was able to get passed it and give the world some of the best music ever recorded. Tom - you truly rock!!
henryat 11-30-2009
Doesnt matter what time it is..... there is never a time nor a need to abuse a child.,.... ever!!!!!!!!!
Hattie Crabtreeat 11-30-2009
I's sure the old coot was happy when his son got married and gave him two granddaughters.This reminds me of Clay Aiken coz his bio Dad and step-Dad most likely knew Clay was gay and couldn't accept it.
Tyat 11-30-2009
If children don't get beaten in the home they'll end up in places where they can get it, like the principal's office or street gangs :b
Pamat 11-30-2009
LOL! Give Tara a break. She really just wanted to drop a few names (sic) - cause, ya know, she's tight with the Petty's. Get a clue Tara!
susieat 11-30-2009
First of all PMOORE I am sorry you had to live that way.It helps when celebs share their stories of abuse.It seems it gets investigated more,for the less fortunate ones.CHILD ABUSERS should burn in hell!
If anyone even suspects abuse or neglect it should be reported to authorities.
You go Tom Petty! LOVE YOUR MUSIC!
Al Schraderat 11-30-2009
In a world that keeps on pushing me aroud, you know I wont back down. Hey baby. There aint no easy way out.
And I wont back down...Tom Petty words.