The Waiting

The Zoo Crew is spinning Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers' classic tune "The Waiting" at THE ZOO, and the Zoo Freaks are loving it! This song, the lead single from the 1981 album Hard Promises, has a fascinating backstory. Frontman Tom Petty revealed that the song’s title was inspired by a quote from Janis Joplin, who said of touring, "I love being onstage and everything else is just waiting." Petty recalled, "That’s where I think I got it from ... [Roger] McGuinn swears that he said it to me. Maybe he did. I don’t think so. I think I got it from the Janis Joplin quote." The song’s creation wasn’t without drama—Petty fought his label, MCA Records, to keep the album’s price at $8.98 instead of the proposed "superstar pricing" of $9.98, a battle he won by threatening to title the album Eight Ninety-Eight. This standoff delayed Hard Promises, but "The Waiting" still soared, hitting #19 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on the Rock Tracks chart for six weeks. Fans on Reddit have shared their love for its timeless vibe, with one noting, "It’s the hardest part!" The song even popped up in pop culture, like in The Simpsons episode "The Cartridge Family," where Homer anxiously waits for a gun while the tune plays.

Another tidbit comes from a 2023 post on Tom Petty’s official X account, which shared a clip from the restored 1982 documentary Heartbreakers Beach Party, directed by Cameron Crowe. In it, Petty describes the grueling weeks-long process of writing "The Waiting," saying, "People start banging on the wall saying, ‘Don’t play that anymore!’" The song’s universal theme of anticipation resonates deeply, with lyrics like "The waiting is the hardest part" striking a chord. It’s been covered by country artist Jon Pardi in 2020 and used in everything from Philadelphia Flyers games to a 1995 Chicago news segment about Michael Jordan’s NBA return. Fans on Last.fm call it a beauty that never gets old, with one user noting its similarity to The Byrds’ "Turn Turn Turn" in its iconic intro.

Tom Petty, born Thomas Earl Petty on October 20, 1950, in Gainesville, Florida, kicked off his musical journey early. At age 10, he met Elvis Presley while his uncle worked on the set of Presley’s film Follow That Dream, sparking his love for music. By 12, Petty was playing guitar, and as a teen, he was already gigging with his band Mudcrutch (originally called the Epics), skipping his high school graduation for a show. After moving to Los Angeles, Mudcrutch fell apart, but in 1975, Petty teamed up with former bandmates Mike Campbell and Benmont Tench, plus Ron Blair and Stan Lynch, to form Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Their 1976 self-titled debut album, featuring hits like "Breakdown" and "American Girl," initially flopped in the U.S. but caught fire in Britain, leading to a U.S. re-release that cracked the Top 40. This launched a career that sold over 80 million records, blending heartland rock with a Southern edge, earning them a 2002 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Petty’s fierce independence shaped his path. He famously battled record labels, filing for bankruptcy in 1979 to avoid being transferred to MCA without consent and fighting the $9.98 price hike for Hard Promises in 1981. His music, backed by the Heartbreakers’ tight sound, defined an era with hits like "Refugee," "Free Fallin’," and "Learning to Fly." Beyond the Heartbreakers, Petty co-founded the supergroup Traveling Wilburys with Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Roy Orbison, and Jeff Lynne, nabbing a Grammy in 1989. Despite personal struggles, including a 1984 hand injury from punching a wall and a heroin battle in the ‘90s, Petty’s dedication to his craft never wavered. His legacy lives on through the official Tom Petty website, where fans can find news, music, and merch, and social media like Facebook, Instagram, and X.

Fans keep Petty’s spirit alive online. The official Tom Petty Fan Club offers exclusive updates, while communities like the Tom Petty Nation Facebook group connect Zoo Freaks and beyond, sharing memories and tributes. Sites like Songfacts and Genius dive deep into song meanings, and Hypergallery sells iconic Petty prints, like Ed Caraeff’s 1976 shot from the debut album era. Whether you’re a longtime fan or a new Zoo Freak, Petty’s music and story continue to rock, proving, as he sang, that the waiting might be hard, but the payoff is worth it.