2008 Woodie Awards
Movie review: "Code: Legend of the Gamers"
A.j Focht
Issue date: 2/1/08 Section: Entertainment
Petty Says Super Bowl Gig a No Brainer
By The Associated Press
AP National Writer Paul Newberry is covering the sights and sounds surrounding Super Bowl XLII in Phoenix and filing daily reports:
THURSDAY, Jan. 30:
PHOENIX _ TomPetty has spent a good chuck of his impressive musical career railing against corporate America, so this one was a little tough to take:
The aging rock rebel, flanked by longtime band ''The Heartbreakers,'' sitting in on a news conference to discuss his upcoming halftime performance at the ultimate corporate spectacle, the Super Bowl.
A show sponsored by Bridgestone, no less.
One could only imagine Petty cringing behind the curtain, waiting to be introduced, while a Bridgestone official babbled on about how proud the tire company was to be paying the tab for the 12-minute show.
Then again, if Petty feels any regret about leaving himself open to charges of selling out, he quickly put them to rest with a rather lame explanation.
"When you play on TV, you have sponsors. That's just the way it is," Petty says in that distinctive drawl of his. "We'll just try to entertain the people and be sweet boys."
Remember, this is the guy who wrote "When Money Wasn't King," who refuses to have commercial sponsors for his concert tours, who crows to his fans, "We're brought to you by you?"
And now he's playing the Super Bowl halftime show, sponsored by Bridgestone?
Petty says it was a no-brainer to accept the high-profile gig, and it certainly makes good business sense. After all, he's got a new album coming out this year, with plans for a summer concert tour. Playing a mini-gig before tens of millions of people should help to move CDs and spur ticket sales.
But the 57-year-old Petty has always played the role of maverick, insisting on full artistic control even when it if it costs him money, consistently bucking those who would like to use his music to shill for beer, or soft drinks ... or tires.
This just doesn't fit.
As for Alicia Keys, who will headline the Super Bowl pregame show, there are no such pretensions.
She started her time at the mike by proudly announcing the dates for her North American tour, to be sponsored by Lexus (now that's a car of the people!) and accessorized by Giorgio Armani (no comment necessary).
By The Associated Press
AP National Writer Paul Newberry is covering the sights and sounds surrounding Super Bowl XLII in Phoenix and filing daily reports:
THURSDAY, Jan. 30:
PHOENIX _ TomPetty has spent a good chuck of his impressive musical career railing against corporate America, so this one was a little tough to take:
The aging rock rebel, flanked by longtime band ''The Heartbreakers,'' sitting in on a news conference to discuss his upcoming halftime performance at the ultimate corporate spectacle, the Super Bowl.
A show sponsored by Bridgestone, no less.
One could only imagine Petty cringing behind the curtain, waiting to be introduced, while a Bridgestone official babbled on about how proud the tire company was to be paying the tab for the 12-minute show.
Then again, if Petty feels any regret about leaving himself open to charges of selling out, he quickly put them to rest with a rather lame explanation.
"When you play on TV, you have sponsors. That's just the way it is," Petty says in that distinctive drawl of his. "We'll just try to entertain the people and be sweet boys."
Remember, this is the guy who wrote "When Money Wasn't King," who refuses to have commercial sponsors for his concert tours, who crows to his fans, "We're brought to you by you?"
And now he's playing the Super Bowl halftime show, sponsored by Bridgestone?
Petty says it was a no-brainer to accept the high-profile gig, and it certainly makes good business sense. After all, he's got a new album coming out this year, with plans for a summer concert tour. Playing a mini-gig before tens of millions of people should help to move CDs and spur ticket sales.
But the 57-year-old Petty has always played the role of maverick, insisting on full artistic control even when it if it costs him money, consistently bucking those who would like to use his music to shill for beer, or soft drinks ... or tires.
This just doesn't fit.
As for Alicia Keys, who will headline the Super Bowl pregame show, there are no such pretensions.
She started her time at the mike by proudly announcing the dates for her North American tour, to be sponsored by Lexus (now that's a car of the people!) and accessorized by Giorgio Armani (no comment necessary).
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