It’s Good to Be King

Zoo Freaks, your favorite hippie DJs at THE ZOO are spinning the soulful vibes of Tom Petty's "It’s Good to Be King" from his 1994 masterpiece Wildflowers. This track, one of Petty’s most introspective, was the third single from the album and hit No. 68 on the Billboard Hot 100 while climbing to No. 6 on the Mainstream Rock chart. According to AllMusic’s Matthew Greenwald, the song is one of the most self-effacing and personal tracks to crack the Top Ten in the '90s, tackling the highs and lows of rock stardom with an elegant, folk-rock melody and a stunning string arrangement by Michael Kamen. Producer Rick Rubin, who worked closely with Petty on Wildflowers, noted in the documentary Somewhere You Feel Free: The Making of Wildflowers that the song’s devastating string outro creates some of the most gorgeous 60 seconds in Petty’s catalog. Interestingly, Rubin revealed that when work on Wildflowers began, “It’s Good to Be King” was the only song Petty had ready, setting the tone for the album’s reflective vibe. The song’s sarcastic yet wistful take on fame, with lines like “It’s good to be king, if just for a while,” resonated deeply, and its live performances often stretched into epic 12-minute jams, showcasing Petty and the Heartbreakers’ versatility.

Another cool tidbit comes from the Rolling Stone coverage of Wildflowers’ 25th anniversary, which shared that Petty’s decision to make Wildflowers a solo album gave him creative freedom to explore personal themes, though he still leaned on Heartbreakers like Mike Campbell and Benmont Tench. The song’s music video, directed by Peter Care in 1995, captures its dreamy essence with surreal imagery, as noted in a post from the official Tom Petty X account. Fans on the Tom Petty Nation Facebook group often rave about how the song’s bittersweet lyrics mirror Petty’s own struggles with fame and personal turmoil during the early '90s, including his crumbling marriage. The Wildflowers & All the Rest box set, released in 2020, included live versions of the song, giving Zoo Freaks a chance to hear how it evolved on stage over decades.

Now, let’s rewind to how Tom Petty got his start. Born Thomas Earl Petty on October 20, 1950, in Gainesville, Florida, he was just 10 when a chance encounter with Elvis Presley, filming Follow That Dream in Florida, sparked his love for music. By 12, he was strumming a guitar and soon formed a band called the Epics, later renamed Mudcrutch, while still in high school. Petty was so dedicated he skipped his graduation to play a gig! Mudcrutch moved to Los Angeles in the early '70s but fizzled out, leading Petty to team up with fellow Floridians Mike Campbell, Benmont Tench, Ron Blair, and Stan Lynch to form Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Their 1976 self-titled debut, with hits like “Breakdown,” was a slow burn in the U.S. but a smash in Britain, cementing their place in rock. Petty’s raw, rootsy sound, influenced by the Byrds and Bob Dylan, carried them through decades of hits, from Damn the Torpedoes to Full Moon Fever.

Zoo Freaks can keep up with Petty’s legacy through his official channels: the Tom Petty website, Facebook, Instagram, and X. For fan communities, check out the Tom Petty Nation Facebook group, a lively hub for fans sharing stories and rare tracks, or visit The Wildflowers, a tribute band site celebrating Petty’s music. Whether you’re grooving to “It’s Good to Be King” or diving into Petty’s storied career, keep it locked to THE ZOO for more rockin’ vibes!