Tom Petty guitarist Mike Campbell opens up about life after the Heartbreakers
"I just like to play music -- whether it’s in the studio or live, it’s very rewarding and I feel like I have a purpose," says Mike Campbell.
Mike Campbell is feeling grateful.
“I’ve been blessed to do what I love,” the acclaimed musician says. “And I’m going to keep on doing it — because it’s all that I know how to do, really.”
And that’s a big reason for fans to feel grateful as well, resting assured that this Rock and Roll Hall of Famer — who was enshrined as a founding member of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers in 2002 — fully intends to keep making and playing music for years to come.
The vocalist-guitarist’s primary musical focus these days is the Dirty Knobs, the ‘60s-influenced blues-garage-rock act that once was a side project but moved to the forefront after Petty died and the Heartbreakers disbanded in 2017.
Fans can check out Mike Campbell and the Dirty Knobs when they play a number of shows in the Golden State this month in support of their sophomore full-length release, 2022’s “External Combustion.”
The group performs May 17 at the Golden State Theatre in Monterey, May 19 at the Guild Theatre in Menlo Park, May 23 at the Ace of Spades in Sacramento, May 25 at the Uptown Theatre in Napa and May 26 at the BottleRock Napa Valley festival.
Information and ticket links for all those shows can be found at thedirtyknobs.com.
I recently had the chance to chat with Campbell about his not-so-new band, his legendary former Heartbreaker outfit and his stint with Fleetwood Mac.
Q: Great to talk with you, Mike. I guess I’d like to start off by just asking whether you feel a special connection to the Bay Area? You have had some pretty amazing experiences here over the years.
A: The Bay Area — San Francisco, Oakland, the Fillmore and the old Winterland, back in the day — it’s always been a place I that I have dreamed about. When I was a kid , and they were having all the great late-‘60s groups and the Haight-Ashbury and all that stuff, I was always enamored with (the Bay Area).
Every time I go there, I kind of get a flashback of dreaming about coming to the Bay Area. Of course, playing up there has been a treat — from the early days with Bill Graham with the Heartbreakers and the Fillmore.
Q: Thanks for leading me right into my next question — which indeed has to do with the Bay Area’s famed Fillmore. What was it like going back and listening to the tapes from Petty and the Heartbreakers’ legendary 20-show residency at the venue while putting together the “Live at the Fillmore 1997” set?
A: It was exciting because I remembered, in the back of my mind, those were really magical gigs. So, of all the archive stuff, that was the one thing that I was looking forward to digging into.
And I was pleased to hear it was as good as I remembered it — between the sound, the band and the crowd. I think that is some of the best Heartbreakers live stuff you’ll find.
Q: I was at the Fillmore show where the venue had to be suddenly evacuated.
A: The first show — yeah, somebody let off teargas or something in the crowd. I do remember that. I just remember getting this weird feeling in my eyes — like something was burning. Then the security was saying, “Get off the stage.” So, we all came running off.
The crowd left the room — as I guess you remember — for about 30 minutes or so. Then we came back and did the show. That was freaky. Such a horrible feeling — I couldn’t breathe, I couldn’t see.
Fortunately, nobody got hurt and we finished the show.
That was the only time that ever happened to us.
Q: A lot of people probably think of the Dirty Knobs as a new band, likely because the debut album didn’t come out until 2020 and the group was overshadowed by your Heartbreakers work for years. But it’s not new — it’s been around well over a decade. Still, just to get everybody up to speed, would you be willing to give readers a quick little Dirty Knobs history lesson?
A: The Dirty Knobs started out as me and some friends in the studio, trying out songs and recording them. Then we thought, “Let’s take these to a couple of clubs and try some of these songs live.”
So, it became a workshop for me to try songs out and then go out and play little places and try my hand at fronting the band, which I really like now.
It’s still kind of an organic thing we do mostly for fun. We have been around for awhile and we’ve had a few personnel changes, but the group we have right now I think is really solid. Actually, on this tour Steve Ferrone from the Heartbreakers is going to fill in on the drums for us.
Q: Did you have any initial thoughts that this could turn into a career back when you were first putting the band together?
A: There were never any designs that this was going to be anything. As it went on, at some point it did cross my mind, “Well, if the Heartbreakers ever retired this is something that I would like to do.” Unfortunately, the Heartbreakers ended unexpectedly. But then my time opened up and so this is what I am focused on now.
Q: You’re one of the best guitarists in the business. Yet, singing — at least in front of a crowd — is relatively new for you. What was it like for you to first step up to microphone with the Dirty Knobs?
A: It was kind of like walking the gangplank. I thought I was going to fall off the end and drown. (Laughs)
It was scary, because I had never really sung before. But I only started singing because I had all these songs — more than Tom could deal with — and I wanted to hear what they might sound like.
Then when we went onstage, surprisingly, it was relatively comfortable. I just had to get used to being at the microphone and connecting with the audience and trying to sing in pitch, you know?
But I found I really like it. I’m really comfortable doing it now.
Q: Similar question — what was it like recording that first Dirty Knobs album (2020’s “Wreckless Abandon”) as the bandleader?
A: It was fun. It wasn’t hard at all — because I do have a lot of experience. In the Heartbreakers, although Tom was the leader of the band, a lot of the times I was kind of the musical director and leader. So, I felt pretty comfortable fronting the band.
The (Dirty Knobs) band is so good and we had great sounds. We didn’t (mess) around. We just did it real quick. And I love to record that way — here’s the song, here are the chords, just play it once or twice until everybody gets the notes right. And if the groove is good, move onto the next song.
Q: Sounds like the way to do it.
A: I wanted to keep it live. The new record that is going to be coming out, it’s built around everyone playing together at once and keeping as much of the live performance as you can.
Q: Wait — Are we talking about a third Dirty Knobs record here? Because the last one is only a year old.
A: Yeah, I’ve got one that is basically finished except for a couple of guest vocalists who are going to come in and add some vocals for me.
In two weeks, we cut like 24 songs. The hard part was narrowing it down. I finally got it down to 10 songs. And the other songs will be on the following record.
But it’s basically done. I’m really happy with it. It picks up where the last record left out and then kind of ventures into some more lyrical territory.
Q: That’s a lot of music to produce in just a few years.
A: Well, I’m a writing fanatic. I was writing this morning before you called. I have a lot of songs — I just love the process — and they start to pile up on me. So, it’s nice to finally get them recorded and get them out.
This record will be out probably at the end of the year. And then we will go out and tour next year behind that.
Q: You apparently love touring as well.
A: I do. I love to play. I love to play in front of people. It’s hard to say if I love the studio more or not. They are two different things. I just like to play music — whether it’s in the studio or live, it’s very rewarding and I feel like I have a purpose.
Q: You weren’t able to tour the way you wanted to in support of “Wreckless Abandon.” So, instead of hitting the road, you went back into the studio and recorded “External Combustion.” In what ways can the whole pandemic experience be felt on that record?
A: There’s nothing specifically that refers to the pandemic. But a lot of my songs, I’m noticing, are about desperate people — misfits who are trying to get out of a bad situation into a better place of hope and redemption. So, maybe, subconsciously, some of (pandemic experience) crept in. But I did not address it specifically.
Q: Was it fun touring as a member of Fleetwood Mac during that 2018-19 run?
A: It was. It was tricky at first. I am not used to copying other people’s songs, per se. So, I had to dig in and do a little work to fill the hole there on the guitar. So, that was new for me. But it was a challenge and I learned a lot. Then once we got out on the road, though, we had a blast.
Q: Would you do it again?
A: I don’t think they are going to do it again. I don’t really see it, because Christine (McVie) is gone now and Stevie (Nicks) is really busy. So, I have my doubts that they would crank that up again.
I don’t really see that ship leaving the port again. But if they asked me, and my time was open, I would certainly do it because I love the people and their songs are really good.
Q: You have undergone so much in the last six years — Tom’s death and the corresponding loss of your Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band, the Fleetwood Mac tour, the pandemic, the Dirty Knobs albums, etc. Are you exhausted? Or are you energized?
A: I feel totally energized. I’m surprised, Jim, honestly. I’m not a spring chicken, but, physically, I’m in really good shape. I eat well. I’ve got a lot of energy. I’ve got a lot of creative energy.
And I’m really grateful to be able to do what I do for a living. I’m pretty jazzed up.
I love my life.