LAPD not able to confirm Tom Petty's death; TMZ says rockstar still clinging to life

LAPD not able to confirm Tom Petty's death; TMZ says rockstar still clinging to life

Tom Petty is still reportedly clinging to life after reports of his death were said to have been confirmed by the Los Angeles Police Department and CBS News.

LAPD tweeted that they did not confirm the rockstar’s death, as reported.

“The LAPD has no information about the passing of singer Tom Petty. Initial information was inadvertantly provided to some media sources,” tweeted the LAPD official account. “However, the LAPD has no investigative role in this matter. We apologize for any inconvenience in this reporting.”

(1/2)The LAPD has no information about the passing of singer Tom Petty. Initial information was inadvertantly provided to some media sources — LAPD HQ (@LAPDHQ) October 2, 2017

(2/2) However, the LAPD has no investigative role in this matter. We apologize for any inconvenience in this reporting. — LAPD HQ (@LAPDHQ) October 2, 2017

CBS News posted that Petty’s death was confirmed but TMZ reported that its sources are claiming that Petty is still clinging to life. TMZ said the family of Petty had a do not resuscitate order and did not expect him to live throughout the day.

Petty was born on October 20, 1950 in Gainesville, Florida. He dropped out of school at the age of 17 to start his music career. Petty, Mike Campbell and Benmont Tench first came together in the early seventies as “Mudcrutch” in their hometown of Gainesville, Florida. The group first signed onto the Tulsa, Oklahoma-based Shelter Records.

After recording a couple of singles as Mudcrutch, the group disbanded but later came together and renamed themselves as Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.

He was best known for songs such as “Free Fallin,’” “American Girl,” “Don’t do me like that” and “The Waiting” to name a few.

Petty once said, “I’d like to see us break some new ground and leave some sort of mark on the music. That would be the nicest thing—to give something back, as noble as it sounds. If you could make some little dent in rock, where that little area is yours—that’s what I’m striving for now.”

Overall, Petty has sold more than 80 million records worldwide. In 2002, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.