The world of rock music is mourning the loss of a longtime performer this week after news broke that guitarist Tom Leadon, the brother of Eagles guitarist Bernie Leadon and former bandmate of Tom Petty, has died at the age of 70.
THE LEAD: Leadon reportedly died last week on March 22nd. His death was announced by his family via Tom Petty's official fan club on Facebook, where they acknowledged his passing while detailing his illustrious performing career that spanned multiple decades.
THE STATEMENTS:
“Tom Leadon was my deepest guitar soul brother,” Mike Campbell wrote in a post to Instagram. “We spent countless hours playing acoustic guitars and teaching each other things. A kinder soul never walked the earth. I will always miss his spirit and generosity. Sleep peacefully my old friend.”
“He was a dear friend of Tom and the fellas in the band and our entire family. He was part of the brotherhood,” Petty’s daughter, Adria, said. “He was an excellent and accomplished musician and was the reason Tom reformed Mudcrutch, so that the band could enjoy more time and more music together. Tom loved him deeply.”
HIS CAREER: Leadon met Petty early on while the two were growing up and helped to form Mudcrutch with the rock legend, but the young band broke apart following a fight between the two that led Leadon to move to Los Angeles.
Early in his career, Leadon performed with music icons such as Johnny Rivers, the Eagles, the Beach Boys, Martha Reeves, Linda Ronstadt, James Jamerson, and Big Mama Thornton. He then later helped form the band Silver, best known for their hit song, "Wham Bam Shang-a-lang," but that band was short-lived.
He later reunited with Petty, performing together again with a new Mudcrutch album in 2016, a year before Petty's passing.
We send our deepest condolences to Leadon's family and friends.
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