Mike Campbell will tell the story of his life and career in a new memoir, the guitarist announced on the social platform X.
Hachette will publish Campbell’s Heartbreaker next spring. The press describes the book as “a fast-paced, tender-hearted rock ’n’ roll memoir for the ages” and “part rags-to-riches story and part raucous, seat-of-the-pants adventure.”
Campbell, a Florida native, was an original member of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, which was founded by singer-songwriter Petty in 1976. Campbell played guitar on and co-produced some of the band’s most memorable albums, including Southern Accents, Into the Great Wide Open, and The Last DJ.
After Petty died in 2017, Campbell turned his attention to his other band, The Dirty Knobs, which had been a side project of his for years. That band released its third album, Vagabonds, Virgins & Misfits, in June.
In Campbell’s book, Hachette says, the guitarist “opens up within these pages for the first time, revealing himself to be an astute observer of triumphs, tragedies and absurdities alike, with a songwriter’s eye for the telling detail and a voice as direct and unpretentious as his music.”
In Campbell’s post on X announcing the book, he wrote, “Playing guitar and writing songs has been my inspiration and purpose. It’s a story of hope, redemption, and gratitude, a testimonial that dreams can come true if you believe in yourself and follow your truth. It took two years to write, and it’s a labor of love. I hope you enjoy the ride!”
This is my book. It’s the story of a poor kid from Jacksonville, Florida, who realized a dream through music. It’s a long journey through hard work, dedication, and luck. Playing guitar and writing songs has been my inspiration and purpose. It’s a story of hope, redemption, and… pic.twitter.com/gG99FSdEpT
— Mike Campbell // The Dirty Knobs (@MikeCampbellHQ) October 30, 2024
Michael Schaub is a contributing writer.