The Last Song Tom Petty Performed Before His Death

Thinking about the last words one would utter before leaving the world might be unsettling to many. And for rock legends like Tom Petty, his last words may remain unknown. But his final message to fans came loud and clear through a song he sang on stage—one that still resonates today.

Tom Petty’s Final Performance

Just one week before his passing, on September 25, 2017, Tom Petty took the stage with his band, the Heartbreakers, for what would be their final performance. The venue? A packed house at The Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, California. The show was the final stop on their 40th-anniversary tour. Wrapping up the night, Petty and his band played their iconic hit, “American Girl.” The energy was electric, and the crowd sang along to every word. Nobody sensed that it would be the last time they’d see Petty perform.

Petty and the Heartbreakers had three sold-out shows lined up that week in LA, and this was just one of them. No one in the audience could have predicted what was to come.

The Heartbreaking News

On the evening of October 1, 2017, Petty was found unresponsive at his home. He was rushed to the hospital but was taken off life support the next day, October 2, when doctors confirmed there was no brain activity. It was later revealed that Petty had accidentally overdosed on a mix of medications, including fentanyl, which he had been using to manage severe pain from a broken hip. The singer-songwriter was 66 years old.

While his passing was a devastating blow, Tom Petty’s music lives on and will continue to do so. His final performance, especially his rendition of “American Girl,” remains a lasting tribute to his incredible career and enduring legacy.

Watch Tom Petty’s last performance in the video below: