Heartbreaker: A Memoir

This has got to be one of the best books about struggle, friendship, life in a band, success and gratitude that I have ever read. As a big fan of the Heartbreakers, I had some clue about the story of the band and I have always loved Mike Campbell's guitar playing. This book helped fill in some great details. The stories behind the songs are very cool. To me, they were the CLASSIC classic rock band. This story is told in plain spoken fashion with such candor, emotion and love that I it brought me to tears more than once. The story is told, warts and all, but always in a strait forward manner, no hidden agendas, no sordid details, just a great telling of an inspirational life story. Go Knobs!

I just finished Heartbreaker a few minutes ago, and I was so moved that I had to share my thoughts. As a notoriously slow reader, I can say that Mike Campbell's Heartbreaker, A Memoir was difficult to put down. From the sample pages on Amazon, I was immediately captivated, and once it arrived, I dove right in (right after finishing Neal Young's 700+ page biography, "Shakey"). Mike's story is the quintessential tale of relentlessly pursuing a dream with passion and determination, despite facing countless hurdles along the way. His honesty in recalling his struggles, whether as a guitarist, husband, or friend, is both endearing and humbling for such a talented musician. What makes this memoir so special is not only Mike’s unparalleled musical journey with Mudcrutch and the Heartbreakers, but his raw honesty about the trials, heartbreaks, and triumphs of his decades-long career. It’s a beautiful testament to the power of music to heal and inspire—not just for the artist, but for the entire world. I believe Tom Petty's family, bandmates, friends, and fans are still grieving his sudden loss and may never fully come to terms with it. But at least we have his music in his absence and thank all our lucky stars that we do! Mike takes us through the highs and lows, providing an intimate, behind-the-scenes look at the making of some of the most iconic music of our time. I recommend listening to the albums he discusses in the book to remind yourself of the magic you felt the first time you heard Damn the Torpedoes or any of the other Heartbreaker, Traveling Wilburys or Tom Petty solo albums. I knew it was coming. Every fan knows how the story goes. I almost dreaded reading where Marcie, Mike's wife, receives the call in the middle of the night. "It's Tom," she says as they rush to the hospital. The goodbye that follows is heart-wrenching, but Mike handles it with such grace. The bond they shared—not just as bandmates but as brothers—comes through so powerfully. Mike's resilience shines through in his journey after Tom’s passing. He found a new sense of purpose playing with Fleetwood Mac, even taking voice lessons from Stevie Nicks' vocal coach. Then, with his band Mike Campbell and the Dirty Knobs, he truly found his creative voice. Even after playing huge stadiums as a Heartbreaker, he was able turn around and open for other bands as a Dirty Knob and even liking the feeling of not being a headliner. The way he describes fine-tuning his band and creating something entirely his own while staying true to his roots is inspiring. It’s a reminder that even after great loss, there are new beginnings, new sounds, and new dreams. A special mention must go to Ari Surdoval, who collaborated with Mike on this memoir. Surdoval did an incredible job of capturing Mike's voice, making every page feel like it came directly from Mike himself. The authenticity and flow of the narrative are a testament to the work they put into publishing this wonderful book. It’s clear that Surdoval understood Mike’s story deeply, bringing it to life with the same heartfelt intensity that Mike conveys through his guitar playing and his music. For anyone who loves music and the real stories behind the legends, Heartbreaker is an essential read. Mike Campbell’s voice is as compelling on the page as it is in his music. His perseverance and triumphs remind us all of the power of chasing our dreams, no matter the obstacles. Highly recommended!

Mike is quite a special person. His story ropes you in and keeps you there and all the while, he is not consciously doing that. Yes, Tom Petty; I get it but this is a book written by one of the Heartbreakers. What an amazing band. This is what I was digging for, not so much about Tom. Stan, Mike and Benmont; MONSTER musicians. I'm a guitarist and bassist and this band, The Heartbreakers is about as good as there ever was. Mike's story is definitely not your typical Rock Star Memoir; hey Michael, that's a catchy title. No, this one is unique. He brings you along when he is working with Dylan, George Harrison, Jeff Lynne and so many others. I know how much Mike is attached to Tom and I would never think otherwise but this man was a magnet. Mike's songs just reel you in until you're flopping around. Listening to those songs; I can understand what Dylan saw in Mike. Mike Campbell always plays to the song. In a band, frequencies are so critical. You have Sub-Low, Low, Low-Mid, Mid and Highs. Each instrument and the vocals occupy a part of that spread and if they clash, it's ugly. Mike understands that and that is why the Petty records were always the best, sonically. He didn't know that he was the Musical Director, but all along, Mike knew these things and had a way of distributing head space. Mike is the kind of guy that you could have a beer with and talk about the pH balance of a swimming pool. I've always loved his tone. I can't begin to number all of his work while I was in cover bands. Mike is Tasteful. That's it, Tasteful. He can be soft and then be aggressive. I know he likes his FX but when he plays organic, it is an amazing sound. He's not a gear nut but he knows what sounds good. Mike gives the reader some access to his private life. Just enough to get the idea but not over the top. Mike has a way of sharing his success with the rest of us without anybody trying to do that. This is a fun book to read like the part about Dylan's dog and then Mike's 150lb Newfie jumping into Dylan's Cadillac and shaking or drool and pool water. Well written and very hard to put down. You get enough Petty (God rest his Soul) and you get a ton of Heartbreakers. To me, they were always a Band, not Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers. I understand why it had to be that way but look at that lineup.

I was excited to read this book, in hardcover, and just finished it today. I chose a hardcover edition, almost a lost art with all of our screen time, because I it felt it would be more intimate and satisfying. I was right. . I thoroughly enjoyed it, but I also feel a reverence, or sense of loss now that I have completed it. . I had a long, comprehensive review written in my head but noticed that many others were touched and inspired by the same things I was going to write about, and already did an excellent job in doing so. . Regardless, for my own satisfaction, I must say that what touched me the most was the humbleness, compassion, the love of music, family and friends, that I found within these pages. . All of the inside stories were also fascinating to read, concerning the other band members, as well as the collaborations with other musicians. It's like you got to know them a little bit too. . I've always been a fan of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, but I would never have known the love and appreciation I now have for Mike Campbell, if I had not read this book. . In summary, the beautiful honesty of this book moved me. I suspect it will move you too.

Wow. What a great book. I read a LOT, and have read many memoirs and biographies, but this one tops them all--SO well written and interesting. It was certainly the only one to make me laugh out loud many times, but also weep like a baby near the end. I really didn't know what to expect from this book, as I just didn't know much about Mike Campbell, other than the fact that he's a great guitarist and was in one of my favorite bands. But I learned that he's an amazing, multi-talented guy, with a very special spirit & voice that shines through in his writing. He has this ability to write as if he were just a fan, still in awe of things he did and people he met & worked with, rather than a famous 'star' who's a bit jaded by all he's seen. It's a unique, humble and refreshing perspective that made the book thoroughly enjoyable. And it was packed with so much interesting information that I never found myself bored or hoping it was almost finished; I was actually sad when I got to the end because I just enjoyed it so much. It was great to read all his insights on bandmates and all the people he met/worked with over the years. And never once did he say a bad word about anyone--even though he certainly would have had plenty he could have said. He really came across as a gentle, grateful person who is passionate about music, and felt lucky to have the life he's had. I could go on & on, but instead, I'll say: Just read it--you'll be glad you did.

I’ve read a lot of band biographies and Mike Campbell’s is undoubtedly the most personal and heartfelt of them. His stories of hard scrabble beginnings and his playing with Tom Petty, Belmont Tench, Stan Lynch, Ron Blair and others in the early Gainesville days are vivid and of course kinda crazy. The shift to LA and years-long struggle to make a dent in the music biz are equally well told. Mike’s just a real good honest dude and family man who happened to co-write some of the most popular and memorable rock songs ever with Tom Petty. Great stories of playing backing band to Dylan, hanging with George Harrison and many others. A lot of inside baseball about recording techniques and, for us guitarists, how and what he selected for instruments and tone. Can’t recommend it enough. Read it. Thank me later.

This is a good book, well written and well researched. But you must know that Mike Campbell is taking a LOT OF LIBERTY here, and taking credit for a lot more than he should. Tom Petty Was The Man. Read Jeff Rollo.

I LOVED this book. I'm not much of a reader but I was curious about Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, one of my favorite bands. I saw them a month or two before Tom's end. Mike Campbell did an excellent job writing the book. Each chapter told a different, very interesting story. The band started out poor and sometimes one of them would live in a garage or a room in someone's house but their love for music and Tom's perseverance toward being a successful group kept the artist's direction going. Tom *knew* they'd be a success. Benmont Tench's musical prodigy was also a contributor in the early days. Scott joined in much later and was a multi-instrumental artist as well as a great singer with the band. However, Mike and Tom were the drive behind the music and lyrics with Mike writing music, handing a cassette to Tom and sometimes Tom would pair it up with lyrics. The two had a symbiotic relationship that accelerated creativity in The Heartbreakers and Mudcrutch's music. The chapters were relatively short (generally 2-8 pages) and sometimes ended with a "surprise". Each chapter had a meaning and was an explanation of "how they got there from here". Also notable was the series of meeting people who loved music. First from Gainsville then progressing through the business to the end where Mike Campbell caught himself on stage with George Harrison, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr. He couldn't believe he was standing there with them, in contrast to playing smoky bars and strip joints. Thank you, Mike for writing such a great book describing how The Heartbreakers came about and how their music developed to be one of the best bands around.