The Dirty Knobs served as a fun diversion for Campbell over the past 15 years for whenever Tom Petty wasn’t keeping him busy. With Petty’s passing in 2017 eased Campbell’s time restraints and “Wreckless Abandon” was written and recorded in 2019. As a Petty follower I was naturally very interested in Wreckless Abandon, When it was finally released on November 20th, I streamed it right away, and enjoyed what I heard.
The first track, Wreckless Abandon is fine enough. It feels like something that Tom Petty would have easily approved of. The most glaring element of The Dirty Knobs is how Campbell’s cadence on vocals is very close to Tom Petty’s. October 2017 gave Campbell the chance to focus on The Dirty Knobs for the first time – until he received an offer from Fleetwood Mac co-founder Mick Fleetwood to join the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers as a full-fledged member less than four months later. Ultimately, Campbell embarked upon a Fleetwood Mac world tour which took him through the end of 2019, one of the longest outings of his career.
The Dirty Knobs with Mike Campbell “Pistol Packin’ Mama” Live From The Troubadour
The Dirty Knobs is led by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers lead guitarist and co-writer on many tunes, Mike Campbell. The line up includes:
Mike Campbell – Lead vocals, Guitar Jason Sinay – Guitar Matt Laug – Drums Lance Morrison – Bass
While 2020’s “Wreckless Abandon” is their first official release and occasion to tour, The Dirty Knobs first came together 15 years ago after Mike Campbell met guitarist Jason Sinay at a session and liked the way their guitars sounded together. More than a decade ago, Campbell took the helm of his own band, the Dirty Knobs—an irreverent, spontaneous unit that veered from originals to a grab bag of ’60s and ’70s deep-cut covers and curiosities. But with the Heartbreakers and Fleetwood Mac taking the lion’s share of Campbell’s time, there was rarely time to accomplish much until now. Wreckless Abandon was whittled down from a backlog of eclectic originals to a slab of boisterous, rockin’ economy that reflects the rowdiest and most irreverent side of the band.
After adding the acclaimed rhythm section of bassist Lance Morrison and drummer Matt Laug, The Dirty Knobs became an outlet for Campbell to work on some of the other songs he was writing between Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers records and touring. they got together when schedules permitted, playing music without an agenda, expectations or deadlines, without worrying about outcome or hits, pushing boundaries of taste, imagination, and genres and creating some of the most brutally confident yet psychically dangerous rock and roll since sonic-renegade juggernauts the Yardbirds first sauntered onto a London stage and ripped into “For Your Love.” they recorded the album at Campbell’s home studio, hocus pocus recorders, in just three weeks’ time, before the guitarist went out on the road in 2018 as a member of Fleetwood Mac.
‘Wreckless Abandon’, the highly anticipated debut album guitarist and songwriter Mike Campbell (Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers, Fleetwood Mac) and his band The Dirty Knobs. Of the project, Campbell explains, ‘The Dirty Knobs first got together almost fifteen years ago but ‘Wreckless Abandon’ is our first album. The Knobs became an outlet for me to play some of the other songs I was writing and to keep the creative juices flowing in between working on albums and tours with Tom and The Heartbreakers’.
The Dirty Knobs tapped legendary producer George Drakoulias, who had also produced Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ 2002 album The Last DJ, to co-produce, with all songs written by Campbell. the album features further contributions from grammy-winning singer, songwriter and guitarist Chris Stapleton as well as fellow Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers founding-member, Benmont Tench. and additionally renonwed bassist , Klaus Voormann, who is best known for doing the art for the Beatles’ Revolver, created the album artwork
The Dirty Knobs, “Wreckless Abandon” available on BMG Records 20th November 2020.
The Heartbreakers’ Mike Campbell has released the video for “F**k That Guy,” from the debut album with his longtime side band, The Dirty Knobs. We all know “that guy.” Watch the clip, featuring a cameo from actor Jeff Garlin, below.
The Dirty Knobs’ album, Wreckless Abandon, was scheduled to arrive March 20th 2021 via BMG Records; it’ll now arrive on November. 20th. Their tour, originally scheduled to begin in March, has been delayed due to “some health issues” as well as the pandemic. It’s since be rescheduled to 2021.
Of the new song, written with Chris Stapleton, Campbell says, “‘Fuck That Guy’ is a simple song that could really be about anyone you know. The video is a bizarre and darkly humorous take on 2020. It’s been a hard year. It helps to just laugh. We shot the video just last month. Sometimes life ends up imitating art in almost unimaginable ways.”
Doctors discovered Campbell’s undisclosed health issues in March . In a March 6th Facebook post, he wrote, “while fully treatable, [the health issues] need to be addressed before going out on tour. The good news, well really it’s great news, is that I’m going to be just fine.”
Fans that purchased tickets to the original dates but are unable to make the new date, can obtain a refund at their point of purchase.
The celebrated guitarist, songwriter, and founding member of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, has been playing with the Dirty Knobs for well over a decade. The original announcement of the album and tour made no mention of any upcoming plans with Fleetwood Mac, whom Campbell joined for their extensive 2018-2019 tour.
On October 23rd, Campbell and fellow Heartbreaker, Benmont Tench, performed several songs for the Tom Petty 70th Birthday Bash. In additional to Campbell, the Dirty Knobs are Jason Sinay on guitar and vocals, Lance Morrison on bass, and Matt Laug on drums.
The album was produced by Campbell and George Drakoulias (the Black Crowes, the Jayhawks), with all songs written by Campbell. It features further contributions from fellow Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers founding member Benmont Tench as well as Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter and guitarist Chris Stapleton. Klaus Voormann, who is well known for doing the cover art for the Beatles’ Revolver, created the album artwork.
The album’s title track, with Campbell’s familiar guitar sound, was released in January. Of the project, Campbell, who turned 70 on February. 1st, explains, “The Dirty Knobs first got together almost 15 years ago but Wreckless Abandon is our first album and occasion to tour. Over the years, the Knobs became an outlet for me to play some of the other songs I was writing and to keep the creative juices flowing in between working on albums and tours with Tom and the Heartbreakers.”
After Petty’s death in 2017, one week after completing the Heartbreakers’ 40th anniversary tour, Campbell knew the only way to heal some of the pain was to throw himself wholeheartedly back into his music. Mike Campbell’s guitar playing and song writing come from a place of joy — from his long career with Tom Petty & The Heartbreaks, to joining Fleetwood Mac in 2018, to his new band The Dirty Knobs. Fascinated by the mystery of song writing, his creative process is sparked by the world (and guitars) around him as he brings elegant riffs to themes of love and redemption. Campbell showed us the three guitars that mean the most him, shared the story of his new song Irish Girl, and spoke about the unique ways music can transport you in time.
“Losing Tom was earth-shattering for me. It was a total shock,” Campbell continues. “It had felt like we would be playing together forever. For a while it was hard to imagine playing in my own band again, let alone one where I’m the frontman. Tom was always my beacon. But everything I’ve been doing since Tom passed, including this album with the Dirty Knobs, is in the spirit of honouring what we did together.”
Ex Heartbreakers and Fleetwood Mac guitarist Mike Campbell is turning his attention to his band the Dirty Knobs. The group of Los Angeles-based musicians, led by the Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers guitarist, is releasing their debut album “Wreckless Abandon” on March 20th.
Mike Campbell formed the Dirty Knobs 15 years ago, but they have never gigged outside of Los Angeles or released an album. In addition to Campbell, the group features singer-guitarist Jason Sinay, bassist Lance Morrison and drummer Matt Laug.
“Over the years, The Knobs became an outlet for me to play some of the other songs I was writing,” Campbell says in a statement, “and to keep the creative juices flowing in between working on albums and tours with Tom and The Heartbreakers.”
Background Vocals: George Drakoulias Background Vocals: Jason Sinay Bass: Lance Morrison Drums, Percussion: Matt Laug Keyboards, Percussion, Lead Vocals: Mike Campbell
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