Legendary rocker Tom Petty has died. 

  • Legendary rocker Tom Petty dead at 66
  • Suffered cardiac arrest at his home in Malibu early Monday
  • Petty and his group the Heartbreakers spawned classic radio hits throughout the 70s and 80s
  • Remembrances on TomPetty.com

According to Tom Petty's website, the rocker suffered cardiac arrest at his home in Malibu early Monday and was taken to UCLA Medical Center but could not be revived.

He died at 8:40 p.m. Los Angeles time surrounded by family, his bandmates and friends.

He was 66.

After determining that Petty had no brain activity, the decision was made to pull life support. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers recently wrapped a 40th anniversary tour at the Hollywood Bowl last Monday. 

Petty, born and raised in Gainesville, found his future when he met Elvis Presley on a movie set at age 11. By age 14, he had formed his first band and by 1975 Petty had teamed up with the Heartbreakers. 

The rest is rock and roll history. 

The group churned out an instantly recognizable brand of sturdy, heartland rock that made them a classic-radio staple for decades. Petty, along with the band, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002.

By Petty's third album, "Damn the Torpedoes," he and the band broke through to the mainstream. That 1980 album won critical raves, went platinum and spawned the hits "Don't Do Me Like That" and "Refugee." 

More hits followed for Petty and his group across the decades, including "Free Fallin'," "American Girl" and "I Won't Back Down."

Fellow musician Sheryl Crow tweeted about Petty on Monday afternoon, saying “I love you so much. You are in my prayers."

Former promoter shares memories

Tony Michaelides, along with the business card logo he says was inspired by Tom Petty. (Josh Rojas, staff)

St. Pete resident Tony Michaelides, 64, has a room full of memorabilia from rock stars he worked with during his days as a record promoter.

“Worked with a lot of major artists, like from Whitney Houston to The Police to David Bowie to U2,” Michaelides said.

The news of Petty's passing hit hard, especially within the context of the news out of Las Vegas the night before.

“As if like what happened in Las Vegas wasn’t enough," he said. "You finish the day with Tom Petty’s dead and you’re kind of in shell shock.”

Michaelides told us he met Petty in England, before the rocker made it big in the U.S.

“I got to know him enough to know what kind of a guy he is," Michaelides said. "He’s very authentic. He’s very humble and he’s very smart.”

“He was one of those artists who was consistent through his career," he continued. "He was the epitome of a rock star, ‘cause so many people are like false rock stars.”

Michaelides said the logo for his business card -- a Stratocaster guitar dipped in bourbon -- was inspired by Petty.

"Every time I look at that I’ll think fondly of Tom Petty and probably reach out and put a record on," Michaelides said.