Mike Campbell of Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers - “Refugee"

The Story Behind the Song returns for Season 4 to dive deep with legendary guitarist Mike Campbell of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers who joins host Peter Chatty to explore the iconic song "Refugee" from Damn The Torpedoes . Mike discusses his musical beginnings in Florida, from early rock influences to forming Mud Crutch with Tom Petty. He recounts the journey leading to the creation of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, a Hall of Fame band. The guitarist reveals the unexpected origin of "Refugee"'s music and shares how Tom Petty then wrote the song's timeless and powerful lyrics. Mike also touches on the recording process with Jimmy Iovine. In this episode, Mike reflects on the immense success of Damn The Torpedoes and the lasting impact of their music and provides insights into his songwriting partnership with Tom Petty. Also in this episode, beyond reflecting on his iconic work with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Mike briefly touches upon his ongoing musical journey with his band, The Dirty Knobs , and their recent projects. Listen to Mike Campbell talk about “Refugee” and more. Then, make sure to follow The Story Behind the Song , and rate and review on Apple Podcasts . Fans can also check out the new TSBTS merch -- including a killer poster and jigsaw puzzle -- available now at the Consequence Shop or via the buy now buttons below! You can keep an eye on the Consequence Podcast Network for updates on all our series, and follow host Peter Csathy on Threads at @pcsathy and at Deep Cuts Media . Support The Story Behind the Song by checking out StubHub: Advertising Inquiries: Privacy & Opt-Out:

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Mike Campbell of Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers - “Refugee" is an episode from The Story Behind The Song by Consequence Podcast Network.

This episode is 45:26 long.

This episode was published on Apr 14, 2025.

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