Mike Campbell’s guitar Mishap: A Legendary Moment with Bob Dylan
As the lead guitarist for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Mike Campbell played a pivotal role in crafting numerous timeless tracks that define the heartland rock genre.
Today, several of the electric guitars he wielded during those iconic sessions have gained fame of their own. Among them is his beloved Broadcaster, which he claims is indispensable, prominently featured on the band’s classic “American Girl.” Then there’s the renowned Red Dog Telecaster, which graced their 1980 anthem “Refugee” and has recently inspired two new Fender Tribute models.
While each guitar has its unique story, none compare to the tales surrounding Campbell’s 1962 Gibson Les Paul “SG” Junior, famously showcased in the outro solo of “Runnin’ Down a Dream,” the second single from Tom Petty’s 1989 solo album, Full Moon Fever.
(Image credit: Aaron Rapoport/Corbis/Getty Images)
A Chance Encounter with a Guitar
“Here’s a great story,” Campbell shared with Gibson TV. “While on tour in Hartford, Connecticut, I decided to take a stroll and stumbled upon a video rental store. Surprisingly, there were no guitars in sight, but I ventured inside anyway.”
“During our conversation, they mentioned they had a couple of guitars in the back, and one of them was this SG Junior,” he recalled. “I ended up buying both for around $120. I guess I was just lucky!”
Despite the SG’s minimal electronics, Campbell praises its playability and sound quality. “These guitars are fantastic because they feature just one pickup and one volume knob,” he explained. “They’re lightweight and play beautifully.”
By sheer coincidence, Campbell had the SG Junior on hand while he, Petty, and producer Jeff Lynne were working on “Runnin’ Down a Dream.”
“Tom,Jeff,and I were in the studio,and we decided to create an extended ending for the song,” he explained.”I pulled out this guitar, plugged it into an Ampeg amp, and started playing a lick for the solo. I remember Jeff’s reaction; he was genuinely impressed, which is rare!”
“That was the moment for this guitar. It was just there, and I picked it up without any prior intention.”
A Memorable Mishap
Though, not all stories involving this guitar are positive. In 1986, during the True Confessions tour with Bob Dylan, a mishap occurred at the L.A. Forum on august 3. As Campbell recalls, the band was in between songs while Dylan engaged the audience.
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“I was trying to look cool with the guitar on, and as I scratched my ear, the strap slipped off, and the volume was cranked up,” Campbell recounted. “Suddenly, it went ka-blam! It was deafening!”
“Bob turned around, clearly annoyed, and said, ‘What the hell are you doing back there? I’m trying to talk!’”
To his dismay, campbell looked down to find the headstock had fully separated from the neck.
“My heart sank as I cherished that guitar. I thought it would be repaired, but it would never be the same,” he lamented. “But surprisingly, it was restored beautifully. You can’t even tell it was damaged. It stays in tune and plays wonderfully, and I still rely on it.”
Interestingly, this wasn’t Campbell’s only memorable interaction with Bob Dylan. Two years prior, Dylan had approached him for advice on purchasing a drum machine after hearing Campbell’s use of a LinnDrum on “The Boys of Summer,” a hit he co-wrote with Don Henley in 1984. However, Campbell noted that the technology left Dylan perplexed.
