The Grammys are irrelevant and unwatchable to most Rock fans, but the MusiCares Person of the Year event that takes place a couple of nights before them proved outstanding this year. Tom Petty was the recipient this year, and on Friday night (2/10) the honoree reunited his Heartbreakers. Sliding into Don't Come Around Here Anymore, Petty invited those gathered to come on down and dance in front of the stage. Among those taking him up on the invitation was actress Helen Mirren. Stevie Nicks then joined Petty and his band on Stop Draggin' My Heart Around before inviting fellow Traveling Wilbury and ELO leader Jeff Lynne and George Harrison's son DhAni to the stage for a version of I Won't Back Down. The evening ended with a roaring rendition of Runnin' Down a Dream.
Tributes to Petty included Jackson Browne doing The Waiting and Learning to Fly, the Foo Fighters covering Honey Bee and were joined by Guy Clark Jr. on Beakdown. Don Henley performed Free Fallin', Randy Newman did a solo piano version of Refugee.
ktar.com
