Tom Petty’s Countdown Clock Ended: What Was the Surprise?
UPDATE 9/19/24
In case you missed it, the countdown clock has ended and the surprise has been shared! Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers released a new film plus a deluxe and remastered version of their album Long After Dark. Petty revealed that they uncovered long-lost 16mm reels of Cameron Crowe’s first film Tom Petty: Heartbreakers Beach Party. It was fully restored and will now be released on the big screen on October 17 and 20, 2024. It even includes the filming of the “You Got Lucky” music video. Get your tickets at tompettyfilm.com.
If you’ve visited TomPetty.com today, you may have noticed that the website has been taken over by a countdown clock. The clock is counting down to Friday, Aug. 30, at 9am ET, but has not shared what will happen at that time. However, there are a few hints. Petty’s socials have shared, “We’ve been working on something really special for a long time for the core Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers fans. We’ve dropped a few clues along the way, but we think you’ll be delighted at what’s to come this fall. The countdown has officially started …”
While Petty sadly passed away in 2017, his estate is determined to keep his legacy alive. Now, fans are eager to figure out what is going to be released. On Petty’s Reddit page, some fans are speculating that the clock is counting down to an archival music release. In addition to the countdown clock, some audio featuring Petty and some neon graphics are on the page.
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The audio clips sound like snippets of Petty and other Heartbreakers members chatting in between recording at a studio. One fan on Reddit said, “The colors of the guitar remind me of the album art and the record sleeve for Long After Dark, which came out in the fall. Nov. 2, 1982, to be specific. Maybe we’ll see an expanded version of that underrated album!”
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If it is indeed an archive of unreleased or remastered music, this wouldn’t be the first time Petty’s estate has released something similar. Releases of unheard material came out in 2018, 2020 and 2022. Check out the website here and let us know your theories in the comments!
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