Let's get something straight, right up front. I count Tom Petty among my top 15 favorite artists of all time. I was at his triumphant return to Florida at Curtis Hixon Hall in 1985. I devoured everything I could read about the making of Southern Accents. I've even been told that I talk like Tom Petty. At one time I knew the whole story about the guitar player who returned to Florida from LA, thinking the band would never make it. It turned out to be his own tale of woe... I held my breath waiting for news to come in about Pettys' health and then his death. I found both sympathy and empathy for him. Then I began retracing some history, and it raised more questions than answers. The death of bass player Howie Epstein, his connection to Carlene Carter, and the whole bunch recording with John Prine. No real answers, just trivia questions. Truth is, I don't think about Tom Petty very much these days – until someone in his camp reached out and snatched some bread off my table. I design images that get printed on T-shirts and other types of swag. I'm more of an editor and packager than an “artist.” I get paid a small commission for each item sold, and have nothing to do with the printing or fulfillment. I search the internet for old images that are in the public domain, to avoid any kind of conflict. But a reference to the “Mad Hatter” from Alice in Wonderland, got someones attention and the ghost of Tom Petty had it pulled down from a site where I place art. Hi Michael, We’re sorry, but we had to remove your artwork from the marketplace under our IP & Publicity Rights Policy, because we received a complaint from someone alleging that your artwork violates their rights. Rights holder: Red Light Mgmt /Tom Petty Subject matter: Tom Petty Trademark So. A dead Tom Petty holds the rights to a figure that has existed in the public domain for years? Based on a character he plays in an MTV video? Lewis Carroll is probably rolling over in his own grave. Me? I just want to get this off my chest....
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AuthorIt's no lie. Sunshine Boy is the proverbial starving artist doing his very best to make good. Archives
November 2022
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