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Mike Campbell was a member, architect and co-captain of The Heartbreakers, a band he co-founded with Tom Petty, whom he met in a Gainesville, FL carport in 1972. The Heartbreakers lead guitarist, Campbell co-wrote many of the Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers hits and also co-produced many of their albums, in addition to penning songs for Don Henley (“Boys of Summer”), Bob Dylan, Stevie Nicks and playing on records by Aretha Franklin, Roy Orbison and Johnny Cash. In 2018, Campbell joined Fleetwood Mac’s World Tour on lead guitar and in 2020, Campbell released Wreckless Abandon, the first album by The Dirty Knobs, a group that was Campbell’s longtime side project but is now his primary musical focus. They released their second LP, External Combustion, in 2022 and toured the USA, including runs opening for both Chris Stapleton and The Who. In additional to Campbell, The Dirty Knobs features fellow Heartbreaker Steve Ferrone on drums, Chris Holt (Don Henley, The Eagles) on guitar and Lance Morrison (Don Henley) on bass. Their third album, Vagabonds, Virgins & Misfits, featured appearances from Graham Nash, Lucinda Williams, Chris Stapleton and fellow Heartbreaker Benmont Tench. Their fourth and latest album, Mission of Mercy, explores and expands the sound and style that Campbell helped pioneer. A collection of beautifully played guitar-driven rockers and reflections, the album finds them loosening their grip on the boogie with forays into bongos, jazzbos and even strings.
