Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers are an American rock band from Gainesville, Florida. In 1976, the band's original lineup was
Tom Petty as the lead singer and
guitar player,
Mike Campbell as the
lead guitarist,
Ron Blair on
bass,
Stan Lynch on
drums, and
Benmont Tench on
keyboards. The band has largely maintained this lineup, with a few exceptions. In 1981, Blair, who was tired of the touring lifestyle, left the band. Blair's replacement,
Howie Epstein, was with the band for the next twenty years. Blair returned to the Heartbreakers in 2002, the year before Epstein's death. In 1994,
Steve Ferrone replaced Lynch.