Chapter 10: Tom Petty
Updated: Aug 2
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. He had a very familiar face. He was older, with curly hair and a well-trimmed mustache.
"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.
"Let me pack you guys a rip while you roll your joint, so you can try my stuff." I told them.
As they were rolling their joint, I packed a bowl in Jason’s bong and passed it around. They all took a hit. Everyone agreed it was good shit.
"Stick around and hit this joint." one of them told me.
When the joint was rolled, they included me in the rotation.
"Where you from?" someone asked me.
"Redondo Beach." I replied.
"How did you get all the way out here?" another asked.
"I am friends with the D.J." I told them.
When it was done we all parted ways and went inside. I quickly found Sierra near the entrance.
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 briefly 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 one of Tom Petty’s bedrooms. 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!”
The next afternoon I was in my usual habitat, at Jason's garage. I returned his bong and we sat and talked about the night before. I had just finished up telling him about the amazing adventure he missed.
"Dude, you missed out big time!"
"I can't believe you went to Tom Petty's house!" Jason replied.
"I even sold some weed too. Made a little money and partied with Tom Petty." I bragged.
I knew Jason would be extra sour knowing he could have sold weed if he came with.
"Did you see anyone else famous at the party?" Jason asked.
"There were a few people who looked familiar, but I am not sure who they were or if they were actually famous. Tom Petty's band, the Heart Breakers were there." I told him.
"My mom has a box of records behind the couch. I know one of them is Tom Petty. You should look and see if you recognize the band mates." Jason suggested.
"Good idea." I told Jason.
I turned around and leaned over the couch to look for the box of records. As I shuffled through the dusty pile, I came across a Bob Dylan record. Suddenly that familiar face from the night before looked even more recognizable.
"Get your phone out and look up Bob Dylan 2004." I said to Jason.
"Why?" Jason asked.
"Just do it really quick." I replied.
Jason got his phone out and looked up Bob Dylan. He handed me the phone. I took a long careful look.
"You think Bob Dylan was at the party?" Jason asked.
"Dude! Bob Dylan is the guy I sold the weed to. Bob Dylan hit your bong!" I told Jason.
"You smoked with Bob Dylan? And you did not even know who he was?" Jason asked while chuckling to himself.
"How the fuck am I supposed to know what Bob Dylan looks like?" I replied.
Jason laughed.
"That is awesome! Smoked with Bob Dylan and didn't even know it. I bet the other guys were famous too. Probably smoked with Van Halen and The Beatles too." Jason said sarcastically.
"I know what The Beatles look like. It wasn't them." I told him.
"You know what that means?" Jason replied.
"I get it, I am an idiot who didn't know he was smoking with Bob Dylan." I replied.
"Well yes, but I was going to say, my bong is now a collector's item!" Jason said with excitement.
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