Before Mudcrutch hit the road for a new round of shows in 2016, Matt Cord caught up with Tom Petty and the rest of the band for a memorable WMMR interview. With their second album, 2, set to arrive on May 20, the group was ready to revisit its Gainesville roots, share some new music, and bring Mudcrutch to Philadelphia.
The conversation took place on May 18, 2016, just a few weeks before Mudcrutch’s June 7 show at the new Fillmore Philadelphia. And if you thought getting the band back together was all about nostalgia, Tom Petty had a different take.
When Matt brought up the familiar idea of musicians reuniting, Petty joked that he had never heard of it before, calling it an absurd pop culture concept. The truth was that Mudcrutch had already reunited once, in 2008, and this second get-together was giving the band a chance to do things a little differently.
The members were older, of course, and Petty and his bandmates wasted no time poking fun at themselves. Between jokes about medication schedules and the prospect of an interview from an old folks home, the conversation quickly established that Mudcrutch was still very much a band that enjoyed spending time together.
Mudcrutch Takes More Time With 2
One of the biggest differences between Mudcrutch’s first album and its 2016 follow-up was the time spent recording. Petty explained that the original record had come together in about 10 days, while 2 took roughly a month to complete.
The extra time allowed the group to work on the sounds, arrangements, and production they wanted. Petty said the band was happy with how the album turned out, and the collaborative approach extended to the songwriting and vocals.
All five members contributed songs and took turns singing lead. Petty, who was best known to many fans as the frontman of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, was back playing bass in Mudcrutch, the instrument he started playing as a teenager.
He told Matt that singing and playing bass together was a different experience, but one he was enjoying. With Randall Marsh on drums, the combination felt natural, and Petty was getting back to the role he had occupied when he was 14 years old.
The band’s country-rock sound also remained a key part of its identity. Petty recalled how Mudcrutch had embraced that style early on, drawing inspiration from music that was making its way back from the West Coast, including the Flying Burrito Brothers.
Tom Petty and Mudcrutch Wanted to Keep It Intimate
The 2016 tour was a chance for Mudcrutch to take its music beyond the West Coast and into the Midwest and East Coast. Philadelphia was among the stops, with the band scheduled to play the Fillmore on June 7.
But Petty made it clear that Mudcrutch was not looking to play massive arenas. The group wanted the shows to be about the band itself, and Petty said they had asked for venues with a capacity of around 2,000 people.
“We don’t really want to be in arenas,” Petty explained during the interview. “It’s not that kind of show. It’s not that kind of band.”
The tour was about getting in front of audiences in smaller rooms and playing the music the way Mudcrutch wanted to play it. The band was also looking forward to performing at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, a venue with a special place in country music history.
For Philadelphia, Matt gave the group a rundown of the Fillmore’s history as a former factory, its renovated interior, and its reputation as a new destination for live music. Petty and the other members sounded excited about the venue and about returning to a city they had played many times over the years.
Tom Petty’s Love for WMMR and Philadelphia
The conversation was filled with affection for Philadelphia and WMMR. Petty told Matt that the station had been one of his favorites since the 1970s, and he credited WMMR with playing an important role in the band’s history.
Mudcrutch and the Heartbreakers had a long relationship with the station, including memorable station IDs that listeners still requested. Petty even offered to record more whenever WMMR needed them.
The band also reminisced about its first Philadelphia appearances, including a show at the Tower Theater opening for Rush. The memory brought laughs, with one member joking about what a divided audience that must have been.
As the interview wrapped up, Petty and the band reiterated how excited they were to come to Philadelphia. The new album 2 was due out that Friday, May 20, and the group was looking forward to seeing fans at the Fillmore on June 7.
Matt Cord’s 2016 conversation captured Mudcrutch at a moment when the band was doing more than revisiting its past. It was making a new record, heading out on the road, and enjoying the chance to play together again, on its own terms.
And if you enjoyed this flashback, be sure to check out ‘s conversation with Tom’s daughter Adria Petty about his life and legacy.
