Fans of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers have reason to celebrate as the long-lost documentary, Tom Petty: Heartbreakers Beach Party, is set to stream on Paramount+ starting March 11, 2025. Originally aired on MTV in 1983, the film was pulled from the airwaves due to its experimental nature and has remained largely unseen for decades.
Directed by Oscar-winner Cameron Crowe, the documentary offers an intimate glimpse into the band’s 1982-83 tour supporting their album Long After Dark. The newly restored version includes a fresh introduction by Crowe and features 20 minutes of previously unreleased footage, providing fans with deeper insights into the band’s dynamics and on-the-road experiences.
Crowe reflects on the project, stating, “Heartbreakers Beach Party occupies a special place in my heart. Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers leaned into the making of the film with a kind of hilarious music-filled honesty that still feels fresh forty years later.” He adds, “The fact that the original film was yanked from MTV after only one airing shows that it was, and still is, an outlandish feast for fans in the best ways. Turn it up!!”
This release not only honors Tom Petty’s enduring legacy but also offers both longtime fans and newcomers a unique window into the band’s history during a pivotal era in their career.
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