Mudcrutch April 26, 2008

Tom Petty, Tom Leadon, Randall March, Mike Campbell and Benmont Tench, all part of a now-legendary Florida band called Mudcrutch in the early '70s, will celebrate the release of their debut album with a short run of shows. In the early '70s, Mudcrutch earned itself a loyal following in its hometown of Gainesville, Fla., through a series of festivals hosted at its base, Mudcrutch Farm. The festivals were eventually closed down by authorities, but remained a thing of local legend. The band moved to California and released one single on Shelter Records, 'Depot Street' b/w 'Wild Eyes.' The band never cracked the national music scene or made a full album and its members all went on to other ventures. But out of the ashes of Mudcrutch came the formation of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, who celebrate their 30th anniversary in 2008.