Runnin' Down a Dream (film)
Encyclopedia
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: Runnin' Down A Dream is a 2007 documentary
about Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers
, directed by Peter Bogdanovich
. The 4-hour documentary chronicles the history of the band, from its inception as Mudcrutch
, right up to the 30th anniversary concert in Petty's home town of Gainesville, Florida
. The movie features interviews with George Harrison
, Eddie Vedder
, Stevie Nicks
, Dave Grohl
, Jeff Lynne
, Rick Rubin
, Johnny Depp
, Jackson Browne
and more. Petty's solo career is also touched on, as is his time with The Traveling Wilburys. The film was commercially released as part of a four disc boxset. The film was spread over the first two discs, while the 30th anniversary concert and a CD of rare tracks were the components of the remaining two discs. On October 28, 2008, a two disc set of the film, featuring previously unreleased bonus performances, but not the Gainesville concert or audio CD, was released to the public. According to the promotional video for the upcoming Deluxe Edition release of Damn The Torpedoes (being released November 9, 2010 on 1CD, 2CD, Blu-ray and 180g Vinyl editions) Runnin' Down A Dream will be released on Blu-ray Disc exclusively through Amazon on November 15.
Recorded September 21, 2006 at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center
at the University of Florida
, Gainesville, Florida
got 100% on Rotten Tomatoes out of 5 reviews. Nick Schager of Slant Magazine
reviewed the documentary saying, "Employs a warm and leisurely, though never sluggish, pace that's upfront about Bogdanovich's intention to take his sweet time tackling every topic of relevant interest." Ronnie Schreib of Variety
, reviewed the documentary saying "A feast for Petty fans and a joyous confirmation of the vitality of the collective creative process." Dan Lybarger, of eFilmCritic.com reviewed the documentary saying, "Peter Bogdanovich’s new documentary about the life and career of Florida-born rocker Tom Petty runs nearly four hours and never fails to engage or entertain."
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
about Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers
Tom Petty
Thomas Earl "Tom" Petty is an American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He is the frontman of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and was a founding member of the late 1980s supergroup Traveling Wilburys and Mudcrutch. He has also performed under the pseudonyms of Charlie T...
, directed by Peter Bogdanovich
Peter Bogdanovich
Peter Bogdanovich is an American film historian, director, writer, actor, producer, and critic. He was part of the wave of "New Hollywood" directors, which included William Friedkin, Brian De Palma, George Lucas, Martin Scorsese, Michael Cimino, and Francis Ford Coppola...
. The 4-hour documentary chronicles the history of the band, from its inception as Mudcrutch
Mudcrutch
Mudcrutch is a Southern rock band from Gainesville, Florida best known for being the forerunner of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.-Early Years:Mudcrutch was formed in 1970 by Tom Petty and Tom Leadon, who had been playing together in a band called the Epics...
, right up to the 30th anniversary concert in Petty's home town of Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Alachua County, Florida, United States as well as the principal city of the Gainesville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area . The preliminary 2010 Census population count for Gainesville is 124,354. Gainesville is home to the sixth...
. The movie features interviews with George Harrison
George Harrison
George Harrison, MBE was an English musician, guitarist, singer-songwriter, actor and film producer who achieved international fame as lead guitarist of The Beatles. Often referred to as "the quiet Beatle", Harrison became over time an admirer of Indian mysticism, and introduced it to the other...
, Eddie Vedder
Eddie Vedder
Eddie Vedder is an American musician and singer-songwriter who is best known for being the lead singer and one of three guitarists of the alternative rock band Pearl Jam. He is widely considered a cultural icon of alternative rock.He is also involved in soundtrack work and contributes to albums...
, Stevie Nicks
Stevie Nicks
Stephanie Lynn "Stevie" Nicks is an American singer-songwriter, best known for her work with Fleetwood Mac and an extensive solo career, which collectively have produced over forty Top 50 hits and sold over 140 million albums...
, Dave Grohl
Dave Grohl
David Eric "Dave" Grohl is an American rock musician, multi-instrumentalist, and singer-songwriter who is the lead vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter for Foo Fighters; the former drummer for Nirvana and Scream; and the current drummer for Them Crooked Vultures...
, Jeff Lynne
Jeff Lynne
Jeffrey "Jeff" Lynne is an English songwriter, composer, arranger, singer, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer who gained fame as the leader and sole constant member of Electric Light Orchestra and was a co-founder and member of The Traveling Wilburys together with George Harrison, Bob...
, Rick Rubin
Rick Rubin
Frederick Jay "Rick" Rubin is an American record producer and the co-president of Columbia Records. Along with Russell Simmons, Rubin was the co-founder of Def Jam Records and also established American Recordings...
, Johnny Depp
Johnny Depp
John Christopher "Johnny" Depp II is an American actor, producer and musician. He has won the Golden Globe Award and Screen Actors Guild award for Best Actor. Depp rose to prominence on the 1980s television series 21 Jump Street, becoming a teen idol...
, Jackson Browne
Jackson Browne
Jackson Browne is an American singer-songwriter and musician who has sold over 17 million albums in the United States alone....
and more. Petty's solo career is also touched on, as is his time with The Traveling Wilburys. The film was commercially released as part of a four disc boxset. The film was spread over the first two discs, while the 30th anniversary concert and a CD of rare tracks were the components of the remaining two discs. On October 28, 2008, a two disc set of the film, featuring previously unreleased bonus performances, but not the Gainesville concert or audio CD, was released to the public. According to the promotional video for the upcoming Deluxe Edition release of Damn The Torpedoes (being released November 9, 2010 on 1CD, 2CD, Blu-ray and 180g Vinyl editions) Runnin' Down A Dream will be released on Blu-ray Disc exclusively through Amazon on November 15.
Disc 1
"Main Feature DVD (Part 1)"- Gainesville 2006
- Elvis
- What’s In A Name
- Mike
- Benmont
- B.Y.O.F. (Build Your Own Festival)
- Fast Forward
- Deals
- A Broken Bond
- Ron & Stan
- Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
- Third
- Fuel
- Howie
- Poet
Disc 2
"Main Feature DVD (Part 2)"- Bob Dylan
- Strange Coincidences
- Scott
- The Bottom Line
- Steve
- John
- Round Trip
- Rock & Roll Heaven
- Runnin’ Down a Dream (End credits)
Disc 3
"One 30th Anniversary Concert DVD"Recorded September 21, 2006 at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center
Stephen C. O'Connell Center
The Stephen C. O'Connell Center, also known as the O'Dome, is a 12,000-seat multi-purpose arena located on the University of Florida campus in Gainesville, Florida. The facility is named for the sixth president of the university, Stephen C. O'Connell, who served from 1967 to 1973...
at the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
, Gainesville, Florida
- "Listen to Her Heart" (Tom Petty)
- "Mary Jane's Last DanceMary Jane's Last Dance"Mary Jane's Last Dance" is the title of a song written by Tom Petty and recorded song by American rock band Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. It was recorded on July 22, 1993 while Petty was recording his Wildflowers album, and was produced by Rick Rubin, guitarist Mike Campbell, and Tom Petty...
" (Tom Petty) - "I Won't Back DownI Won't Back Down"I Won't Back Down" is the first single from Tom Petty's first solo album, Full Moon Fever released in 1989. The song was written by Petty and his writing partner for the album, Jeff Lynne...
" (Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne) - "Free Fallin'Free Fallin'"Free Fallin" is the opening track from Tom Petty's 1989 solo album, Full Moon Fever. The song was written by Petty and his writing partner for the album, Jeff Lynne...
" (Tom Petty, Jeff LynneJeff LynneJeffrey "Jeff" Lynne is an English songwriter, composer, arranger, singer, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer who gained fame as the leader and sole constant member of Electric Light Orchestra and was a co-founder and member of The Traveling Wilburys together with George Harrison, Bob...
) - "Saving Grace" (Tom Petty)
- "I'm a ManI'm A Man (Bo Diddley song)"I'm a Man" is a song written and recorded by Bo Diddley in 1955. A moderately slow blues with a stop-time figure, it was inspired by an earlier blues song and became a #1 R&B chart hit. "I'm a Man" has been acknowledged by Rolling Stone magazine and has been recorded by a variety of artists,...
" (Ellas McDaniel) - "Oh WellOh Well (song)"Oh Well" is a song recorded by Fleetwood Mac in 1969, and composed by vocalist and lead guitarist Peter Green. It first appeared as a Fleetwood Mac single in various countries in 1969, subsequently appearing on the Greatest Hits album in 1971...
" (Peter GreenPeter Green (musician)Peter Green is a British blues-rock guitarist and the founder of the band Fleetwood Mac...
) - "Handle With CareHandle with Care (song)"Handle with Care" is the first track from the Traveling Wilburys 1988 album, Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1, and the group's biggest hit. Writing credits are shared by all five band members, George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, Roy Orbison, Tom Petty, and Bob Dylan....
" (Bob DylanBob DylanBob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
, George HarrisonGeorge HarrisonGeorge Harrison, MBE was an English musician, guitarist, singer-songwriter, actor and film producer who achieved international fame as lead guitarist of The Beatles. Often referred to as "the quiet Beatle", Harrison became over time an admirer of Indian mysticism, and introduced it to the other...
, Jeff Lynne, Roy OrbisonRoy OrbisonRoy Kelton Orbison was an American singer-songwriter, well known for his distinctive, powerful voice, complex compositions, and dark emotional ballads. Orbison grew up in Texas and began singing in a rockabilly/country & western band in high school until he was signed by Sun Records in Memphis...
, Tom Petty) - "Stop Draggin' My Heart AroundStop Draggin' My Heart Around"Stop Draggin' My Heart Around" was the first single from Stevie Nicks' debut solo album Bella Donna. It was written by Tom Petty and Mike Campbell as a Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers song, but Jimmy Iovine, who was also working Stevie Nicks at the time, arranged for her to sing on it...
" (with Stevie NicksStevie NicksStephanie Lynn "Stevie" Nicks is an American singer-songwriter, best known for her work with Fleetwood Mac and an extensive solo career, which collectively have produced over forty Top 50 hits and sold over 140 million albums...
) (Tom Petty, Mike Campbell) - "I Need to KnowI Need to Know (Tom Petty song)"I Need to Know" is the title of a song written and recorded by American rock band Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. It was released in 1978 as the second single from their second album You're Gonna Get It!...
" (with Stevie Nicks) (Tom Petty) - "It's Good to Be King" (Tom Petty)
- "Down South" (Tom Petty)
- "Southern AccentsSouthern AccentsSouthern Accents is the sixth album by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, released in 1985.The album's first single, "Don't Come Around Here No More," cowritten by Dave Stewart of Eurythmics, peaked at #13 on the Billboard Hot 100. Its music video featured Alice in Wonderland imagery...
" (Tom Petty) - "Insider" (with Stevie Nicks) (Tom Petty)
- "Learning to Fly" (Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne)
- "Don't Come Around Here No MoreDon't Come Around Here No More"Don't Come Around Here No More" is the title of a song written by Tom Petty of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and David A. Stewart of the Eurythmics...
" (Tom Petty, Dave Stewart) - "Runnin' Down a DreamRunnin' Down a Dream"Runnin' Down a Dream" is the title of a song co-written and recorded by Tom Petty. It was released in July 1989 as the second single from his first solo album Full Moon Fever. "Runnin' Down a Dream" achieved reasonable chart success, reaching number 23 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and the top of...
" (Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne, Mike Campbell) - "You Wreck Me" (Tom Petty, Mike Campbell)
- "Mystic EyesMystic Eyes"Mystic Eyes" is a song written by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison when he was leader of the band Them. It was the opening tune for the band's first album, The Angry Young Them that was released in June 1965. It was released as a single in the US and UK on November 12, 1965 and ...
" (Van MorrisonVan MorrisonVan Morrison, OBE is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter and musician. His live performances at their best are regarded as transcendental and inspired; while some of his recordings, such as the studio albums Astral Weeks and Moondance, and the live album It's Too Late to Stop Now, are widely...
) - "American GirlAmerican Girl (song)"American Girl" is the second single from Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers' self-titled debut album. The single did not chart in the U.S., but in the UK it peaked at #40 the week ending August 27, 1977...
" (Tom Petty)
Disc 4
"Bonus Soundtrack CD"- "Breakdown" (Tom Petty) – Rehearsal 1977, Los Angeles, CA
- "Anything That's Rock 'n' Roll" (Tom Petty) – Top Of The Pops, UK, June 16, 1977
- "Fooled Again (I Don’t Like It)" (Tom Petty) – Old Grey Whistle Test, UK, June 20, 1978
- "American Girl" (Tom Petty) – Fridays, June 6, 1980
- "Shadow of a Doubt (A Complex Kid)" (Tom Petty) – Fridays, June 6, 1980
- "Stories We Could Tell" (John Sebastian) – Recorded at the Record Plant, Hollywood, CA, 1982
- "Keeping Me Alive" (Tom Petty) – Recorded at the Record Plant, Hollywood, CA, 1982
- "Honey Bee" (Tom Petty) – Saturday Night Live, November 19, 1994
- "Lost Highway" (Leon Payne) – Rehearsal at CenterStaging, Burbank, CA, May 19, 2006
Reception
The documentaryDocumentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
got 100% on Rotten Tomatoes out of 5 reviews. Nick Schager of Slant Magazine
Slant Magazine
Slant Magazine is an online publication that features reviews of movies, music, TV, DVDs, theater, and video games, as well as interviews with actors, directors, and musicians. The site covers various film festivals like the New York Film Festival.- History :...
reviewed the documentary saying, "Employs a warm and leisurely, though never sluggish, pace that's upfront about Bogdanovich's intention to take his sweet time tackling every topic of relevant interest." Ronnie Schreib of Variety
Variety (magazine)
Variety is an American weekly entertainment-trade magazine founded in New York City, New York, in 1905 by Sime Silverman. With the rise of the importance of the motion-picture industry, Daily Variety, a daily edition based in Los Angeles, California, was founded by Silverman in 1933. In 1998, the...
, reviewed the documentary saying "A feast for Petty fans and a joyous confirmation of the vitality of the collective creative process." Dan Lybarger, of eFilmCritic.com reviewed the documentary saying, "Peter Bogdanovich’s new documentary about the life and career of Florida-born rocker Tom Petty runs nearly four hours and never fails to engage or entertain."
Personnel
- Tom PettyTom PettyThomas Earl "Tom" Petty is an American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He is the frontman of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and was a founding member of the late 1980s supergroup Traveling Wilburys and Mudcrutch. He has also performed under the pseudonyms of Charlie T...
: Vocals, Guitar - Mike Campbell: Guitar
- Benmont TenchBenmont TenchBenjamin Montmorency Tench, III is an American keyboardist best known as a founding member of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.-Early years:...
: Keyboards, Vocals - Ron BlairRon BlairRon Blair is the original bassist for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. He was the band's bassist from 1976 to 1981. In 2002, he returned to the group after a 21-year hiatus, replacing his own replacement, the late Howie Epstein.His father was a Navy man, so the family relocated every few years...
: Bass, Vocals (on Disc 3, and Disc 4, tracks 1-5 & 9) - Scott ThurstonScott ThurstonScott Troy Thurston is an American guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter, and session musician. He is currently a member of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, in which he sings harmony vocals and plays guitar, keyboards, and harmonica....
: Guitar, Harmonica, Keyboards, Vocals (on Disc 3, and Disc 4, tracks 8 & 9) - Steve FerroneSteve FerroneSteven "Steve" Ferrone is a British drummer.He was a member of the Average White Band, and has recorded and performed with numerous other high-profile acts, including Slash, Chaka Khan, Eric Clapton, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and Scritti Politti...
: Drums, Percussion (on Disc 3, and Disc 4, track 9) - Stevie NicksStevie NicksStephanie Lynn "Stevie" Nicks is an American singer-songwriter, best known for her work with Fleetwood Mac and an extensive solo career, which collectively have produced over forty Top 50 hits and sold over 140 million albums...
: Vocals, Tambourine on "Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around", "I Need To Know", "Insider", "Learning To Fly", "Don’t Come Around Here No More" & "American Girl" (on Disc 3) - Howie EpsteinHowie EpsteinHoward Norman Epstein , was a musician best known for his work with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.-Early life:...
: Bass, Backing Vocals (on Disc 4, tracks 6-8) - Stan LynchStan LynchStanley Joseph "Stan" Lynch is an American songwriter and record producer. He was the original drummer for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers for 18 years until his departure in 1994.- Early years :...
: Drums, Percussion (on Disc 4, tracks 1-7) - Phil Jones: Percussion (on Disc 4, tracks 6 & 7)
- Dave GrohlDave GrohlDavid Eric "Dave" Grohl is an American rock musician, multi-instrumentalist, and singer-songwriter who is the lead vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter for Foo Fighters; the former drummer for Nirvana and Scream; and the current drummer for Them Crooked Vultures...
: Drums (on Disc 4, track 8)