Gots to have that rhythm #7

Stan Lynch/Ron Blair-Howie Epstein -- Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

When Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers first came on to the rock and roll radar, a lot of the press and music industry wanted to label them “New Wave”. Which is somewhat funny now, but just goes to prove how much their roots rock, twang-n-roll set them apart from the arena rock bands that dominated the scene of the late 1970′s. I mean who could ever forget the first time they hard those jangly opening chords of American Girl? Stan Lynch and Ron Blair were the original drummer/bassist for the Heartbreakers and their work on the first four albums is just outstanding. Howie Epstein replaced Blair in 1982, and he managed to fill Blair’s shoes and then some. I would even go a step further here and say that The Heartbreakers as a whole are one of the most under rated bands in rock and roll. Mike Campbell (guitar) and Benmont Tench (keys) rounded out a unit that could kick anyone’s ass on any given night.