Chapter 10: Tom Petty

My senior year in high school I started dating a girl who was a sophomore and looked like Malin Akerman. Her name was Sierra. Sierra liked to drink and dance. Her best friend Tasha was my neighbor and hosted regular high school house parties when her father was out of town. I met Sierra at one of Tasha's parties.

Tasha was dating this older guy who was in his twenties. On New Years Eve he invited the three of us to come watch him perform a DJ gig at a private party in North Hollywood. He had actually told me I could bring Jason as well, but Jason ended up chickening out and staying home. 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, Tasha and I 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. The DJ 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.

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. 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.

At the top of his stairwell in his living room 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. Tom’s living room was so big there was enough space for a band to set up and everyone to watch. They played a few songs right in front of the real band. Then all the guests started chanting Tom’s name over and over.

Tom Petty gets up and picks up a guitar and started playing right there in his living room with the cover band. American girl. Last dance with Mary Jane. I can tell you with no lie that I’ve seen Tom Petty play 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 was a virgin, and it would have made a great story to lose my virginity in Tom Petty's house. I know people saw us go in there and I was determined not to get kicked out of the party, so I talked her out of it.

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:

“Darling Boyfriend, 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 11: A friend of the Devil