This Thursday (March 17th) at 3:30pm: Mike Campbell, formerly of Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers, will join Pierre Robert live in-studio for an exclusive chat ahead of Mike Campbell & The Dirty Knob’s performance at World Café Live later that evening.

This special conversation will mark Pierre’s first in studio interview in two years! Don’t miss it. Tune in live on Thursday right here on WMMR.com, or ask your smart speaker to “Open MMR.”

Mike Campbell & The Dirty Knobs are riding high following the release of their sophomore record, External Combustion (now available via BMG). The band, consisting of Jason Sinay (guitars, Matt Laug (drums), and Lance Morrison (bass) are currently embarking on a two month tour in support of the record prior to their run of arena and amphitheater shows with Chris Stapleton this summer.

Campbell is of course known for his almost 50 year tenure playing with Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers prior to Petty’s unexpected passing; co-writing and recording some of the band’s most popular tracks including “Here Comes My Girl”, “Runnin’ Down A Dream”, “You Got Lucky”, and many more. Aside from his illustrious work with Petty, Campbell has also collaborated with Stevie Nicks, Don Henley, and most recently Fleetwood Mac; filling in for Lindsay Buckingham after his virulent departure from the band in 2018.

The Dirty Knobs, “…a classic rock portmanteau, invoking eastward-looking Beatles, the Who, the Byrds, and the Rolling Stones” (The New York Times), is the perfect addition to Campbell’s ever evolving and long lasting career.

Check out the video for Mike Campbell & The Dirty Knobs most recent single, ‘Wicked Mind’, here:

Get show details, including where to purchase tickets, HERE!

'Full Moon Fever': Every Song Ranked

• 12. “Alright For Now”

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  If you're looking for evidence as to just how great 'Full Moon Fever' is, "Alright For Now" kicks off this list. (Sorry! Something had to rank 12th!) A two-minute acoustic tune, it's beautiful in its simplicity and earnestness.

• 11. “Depending on You”

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  A straight-forward love song, "Depending On You" cuts right to the chase: Stop trying to change yourself for other people! You're pretty great already!

• 10. “The Apartment Song”

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  There's not a lot to "The Apartment Song," but its infectious, jaunty nature is absolutely undeniable. After one listen, it'll likely get stuck in your head, and that certainly isn't a bad thing.

• 9. “A Mind with a Heart of its Own”

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  Holy Bo Diddley, Batman! Between the energetic Diddley-inspired riff and the hooky chorus, perhaps "A Mind with a Heart of its Own" is the most underrated earworm of 'Full Moon Fever.' (No offense to the previously mentioned "The Apartment Song.")
• 8. “Zombie Zoo”

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  Delightfully tongue in cheek, "Zombie Zoo" has a little fun at the expense of goths. Even those who went through a goth phase in all its pale, black eyeliner glory have to admit this song's pretty on-point. Roy Orbison providing backing vocals doesn't hurt either.

• 7. “Feel a Whole Lot Better”

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  A cover of The Byrds "I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better," this track kicks off side two of the LP/cassette version of 'Full Moon Fever.' Those listening to the album were drolly greeted with this information via the hidden track "Hello, CD listeners..." The backing vocals on this track come via Jeff Lynne, and they are just sublime.

• 6. “A Face in the Crowd”

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  "A Face in the Crowd" poignantly demonstrates how love can seemingly come out of nowhere. Or, in the case of its lyrics, "Out of a dream, out of the sky. Into my heart, into my life"

• 5. “Yer So Bad”

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  Easily the darkest song on the album, "Yer So Bad" tells the common tale of the aftermath of divorce. Of course, the tale is told from the perspective of a brother whose sister "married a yuppie" and "took him for all he was worth." Good thing the brother has someone to save him and is the "best thing I ever had."
• 4. “Love Is a Long Road”

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  Ever given a relationship chance after chance to get better only to realize that you just need to get out? "Love Is a Long Road" is the perfect soundtrack for that situation.

• 3. “Free Fallin'”

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  Petty said in an interview with 'Billboard' "...really just to amuse Jeff, honestly, I just sang that first verse. Then he starts laughing. Honestly, I thought I was just amusing Jeff but then I got to the chorus of the song and he leaned over to me and said the word, ‘freefalling.’" And that's how Petty's highest-charting hit was born!

• 2. “I Won’t Back Down”

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  Of all of the running themes in rock and roll over its decades-long existence, defiance and rebellion are certainly among the most beloved. With "I Won't Back Down," those themes are front and center, and thirty years later, the song continues to be one of the greatest anthems of all time.

• 1. “Runnin’ Down a Dream”

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  From its open riff to the fading out guitar solo, "Runnin' Down a Dream" is 4:23 of rock and roll perfection on an album packed with incredible songs. Co-written by Petty, Lynne and Heartbreakers guitarist Mike Campbell, "Runnin' Down A Dream" might just be one of the simplest and yet most profound allegory about life itself. All of us have hopes and dreams, and every single day, we get a chance to work on that mystery and go wherever it leads to make them happen. If you by chance have Del Shannon's "Runaway" playing as all of this is going down, consider it a bonus.

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