Tom Petty has one of the most popular and recognizable song catalogs and a legion of fans of all ages. Hear how Tom climbed his way to the top despite a difficult childhood, a series of heartbreaking music failures, and even a lawsuit that ended up changing the entire music industry forever. In this episode:

• How Tom overcame a difficult home life in Florida
• How Tom participated in events as a teenager with Lynryd Skynryd and The Allman Brothers Band
• The details behind the groundbreaking Petty lawsuit that changed the music industry forever
• Why Tom was chosen by Bob Dylan & George Harrison into a supergroup
• How Tom's relationship with Stevie Nicks turned into a successful music formula
• The interesting second career as a cartoon voice on a popular show
• The details behind Tom's battle with a heroin addiction

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Guest Bio - Warren Zanes

Warren is the author of Petty: The Biography, a New York Times bestseller. He is also an Oscar-winning and Grammy-nominated producer of music documentaries. Earlier in his career, Warren was a member of the Del Fuegos rock band, recording three albums with Warner Brothers. The band served as an opening act for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers on a few tours.

After his time in music, Warren earned a PhD in Visual and Cultural Studies and now teaches at NYU. He has also served as Vice President of Education at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He was a producer on the Oscar-winning documentary 20 Feet from Stardom, which explores the lives of backup singers. His book on Bruce Springsteen's Nebraska album is the basis for an upcoming biopic starring Jeremy Allen White, where Warren also serves as a producer.

A top 5% of podcasts in the world, Garage to Stadiums is a podcast for true music fans — the ones who want more than just headlines and hype. This show is for listeners who care about the full story behind the artists: their childhoods, musical influences, early gigs, personal battles, journey to stadium-level fame and the drama in between.

Why are we different? In each episode host Dave Anthony features guests who know their stuff and bring real insights from their time with the performers — from respected rock journalists to documentary filmmakers.

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Witness the rise of Pink Floyd from 1960s psychedelic early architects to experimenting with grand, cinematic soundscapes, deeply philosophical themes and live shows that felt more like journeys to the human mind than concerts. Prepare for an absolute roller coaster ride from the London Underground clubs to global domination, heartbreaking losses and dramatic fireworks from within. You'll learn:

1) How university students who could barely play instruments became a global phenomenon
2) How an early tragedy involving their primary song writer nearly derailed the band
3) The staggering evolution of sound this band executed
4) The interpersonal drama that produced incredible albums and significant tension
5) The final battles that ended up in litigation

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Subscribe to our bonus Garage to Stadium content across our social, podcast & web channels

Guest Bio
Pink Floyd is one of the most successful acts of all time, selling over 250 million albums, and here to tell their story is our returning guest Mark Blake, acclaimed rock journalist and author of books on Queen, Fleetwood Mac and his latest book, Pink Floyd Shine On: The Definitive Oral History has just been released. Welcome to garage. Welcome back to garage. To stadiums. Mark