Dick Dale

I don’t know about Petty, but his guitarist Mike Campbell sure is (not was. The music lives on.). It was Campbell who arranged to have Los Straitjackets (a contemporary instro-band) open for TP & THB when they played the Pacific Amphitheater in Orange County in the early-2000’s. LS bassist Pete Curry (an old friend/bandmate of mine) told me Campbell came to their dressing room before the show to see if they needed anything (cool guy), while Petty accidentally walked in, looked around, and left without saying a word (not a cool guy. For proof watch the Scorsese documentary on George Harrison. At one point in his interview, Petty says about George "He liked to surround himself with people who are good at what they do", a self-satisfied smile then appearing on his face. Yes, Tom was referring to himself.). Some people really let stardom go to their head ;-) .

Another fan of Surf music is Conan O’Brien. He had The Straitjackets on his old show about once a year, and would jam with them (Conan plays guitar) for about an hour on the afternoons of their appearances.