Chapter 9: Tom Petty

My senior year in high school there was a house on my block that became the official high school party house. As the nearest weed dealer I eventually got invited to one of their parties.

A sophomore girl from my school named Tasha lived there with her father. Her father was constantly traveling for work and never home.

At one of their quieter parties, I met Sierra. Sierra was a petite blond who loved to dance and drink. She was Tasha’s best friend and an absolute bitch to any guy that hit on her. My friends and I used to call her the Ice Queen behind her back.

I am ashamed to admit I seem to be drawn to mean women. I have also always had a thing for blonds.

I became a regular at Tasha’s house even when they were not hosting parties. I casually flirted with Sierra for months. At first, she always responded negatively or ignored me. Over time she seemed to soften up and almost enjoy my compliments.

One night Sierra and I sat together and talked for hours. I felt like we had a very deep conversation where we really bonded. At the end of the night before I left, Sierra asked me:

“Why do you always bug me?”

“Maybe I am lonely...” I responded.

It was meant to be a joke but also partly true.

I will never understand why but for some reason that one line melted the Ice Queen. After that it was like a switch was flipped and she treated me completely different. Sierra and I started dating. When she got off school each day, I was there outside waiting for her. She was constantly at my side while I did business at Jason’s garage.

Tasha was dating this older guy who was in his twenties. On New Years Eve he invited Tasha, Sierra and I to come watch him perform a DJ gig at a private party in North Hollywood. He even invited Jason as well, but Jason ended up chickening out and staying home.

Jason made the excuse he did not want to be unreachable to his weed customers on a holiday like New Year’s Eve. I had no pipe or bong on me when Tasha's boyfriend came to pick us up at Jason's house, so Jason loaned me this pocket-sized bong he had.

We all piled into the DJ’s car and headed out to North Hollywood. As we were about ten minutes away, getting off the freeway, Tasha's boyfriend tells us the party we are going to is at this old musician’s house.

"He's actually pretty famous but I think this is more of a family friendly party!"

"Is it someone we have heard of? Who is it?" Sierra and Tasha questioned.

"Have you kids heard of Tom Petty and the Heart breakers?" Tasha's boyfriend asked.

I was/am a big Tom Petty fan. I partly did not believe we were really going to his house at first. I thought for sure it was a mistake or we would not be allowed inside once we got there.

We go through security for this gated community. Tasha’s boyfriend checks in, he is on the list, and the security guards gives us instructions to reach the address from the gate. After driving down some winding roads we make it to a mansion at the end of a cul-de-sac. Outside there was a huge half pipe for skateboarding. Then we notice a circle of people smoking cigarettes outside. One of them sees us walking up and asks:

"Does anyone have any weed for sale?"

It was hard to make out what he said at first. He kind of mumbled.

"Hey man, you got any pot?" he repeated.

“Looks like I have found some new friends!” I told Sierra.

I had about an ounce on me and headed over to the group and offered to sell them some.

"How much you do need?" I said acting professional.

"I thought this was a family thing, but I see all these young cats smoking up. All I've got is a hundred-dollar bill, I just need enough to roll a few joints to pass around. Whatever you can give me." He clarified, still mumbling.

I eyed out $100 worth, but I gave them a good deal and overestimated since I had no scale on me.

At the time I did not know who everyone in the group was but now retrospectively I can tell you Bob Dylan was apparently the mumbling man. Brian Setzer, and a few members of the Heart Breakers were also in the group.

I am embarrassed to tell you I stood about five feet from Bob Dylan and sold him and several other legendary musicians weed without knowing it.

As they were rolling their joint, I packed a bowl in Jason’s bong and passed it around. They all took a hit. When the joint was rolled, they included me in the rotation. The following day when I was telling Jason the story, there just happened to be one of his sister’s Bob Dylan CDs in his garage.

“Dude that is totally the guy who hit your bong!” I said when I realized who Bob Dylan was.

We looked him up on my cell phone. Suddenly I realized the guys I sold and smoked weed with were all famous musicians. Jason claimed his bong was now a collector’s item.

Inside Tom Petty’s house was like a dream. It was easily one of the nicest houses I have ever been in. Tom’s living room was so big there was enough space for a band to set up and everyone to watch. There was a massive stairwell in one corner of the room. At the top of his stairwell, he had Jimi Hendrix’s guitar on the wall. When no one was looking I went up there and touched it.

One of Tom’s kids was high school age and a few of their friends had put together a Tom Petty and the Heart breaker’s cover band. They played a few songs in the living room right in front of the real band. Tom complimented them on their tribute. Then all the guests started chanting Tom’s name over and over.

Tom Petty stands up and picks up one of the teenager’s guitars and started playing right there in his living room with the cover band. American girl. Last dance with Mary Jane. He even harmonized with the teenage lead singer. I can tell you with no lie that I’ve seen Tom Petty play two of his biggest hits in his own living room. It was fucking amazing!

Sierra ended up getting really drunk. She wanted to have sex in Tom Petty’s bedroom. She dragged me by the collar down the hall and pushed me through the closed door onto his bed. I thought to myself I am a virgin, and it would make a great story to lose my virginity in Tom Petty's house. No one would believe me.

I know other guests saw and we were probably in area that was off limits. I was determined not to get kicked out of the party, so like the lamest man on the planet, I tried talking her out of it. I did not succeed.

Towards the end of the night Sierra was telling me I should go try and talk to Tom Petty. I was way too embarrassed or shy to even think about doing that. I preferred to be the mysterious fly on the wall that came with the DJ.

I left Sierra alone for five minutes to use the bathroom and when I came back, she was standing with Tom Petty and his wife.

She sees me coming over and says:

“Jordan Gerrard, meet Tom Petty!”

As if she's introducing two old friends. He put his hand out and I shook his hand.

All I could think of was how drunk my girlfriend was acting so I just smiled at him and said:

“I am a lucky guy huh?”

Tom and his wife laughed.

"Your wife is hot!" My girlfriend told Tom.

I said, “Ok that’s enough.” and started to walk my girlfriend away from them.

I turned back around and said,

“Mr. Petty I am huge fan, love your song writing, you have a beautiful home, thanks for not kicking us out!”

Tom looks me right in the eyes and says:

“Thanks for the weed!”

Chapter 10: A friend of the Devil