Another Legend Gone

I don't know if it's the age I'm at or if it's just a pile of really terrible coincidences, but the man to the left, Mr. Tom Petty, passed away today. He is probably best known for his song "Free Fallin'", but he had a pile of hits with his band, The Heartbreakers, and even had a string of hits in the supergroup known as The Traveling Wilburys. He was an outspoken anti-war advocate, and his politics were never far away from his music. Regardless of what you think about Tom petty, there's no denying his importance and his legacy that has been left on the world of music.

So why am I writing about Tom Petty on HBIC? Well, he wasn't a hockey fan or supporter in any way, but one Canadian team decided to use a song of his when they pitched the NHL in their expansion presentation!

Bruce Firestone's ownership group, upon applying for an expansion franchise for the Ottawa Senators, decided to adopt Tom Petty's "I Won't Back Down" as an unofficial theme song for their expansion campaign, and later that song title became the title of his book, Don't Back Down: The Real Story Behind the Founding of the Ottawa Senators according to Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun.

Here is Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers singing "I Won't Back Down" in honour of the events listed above.

Rest in peace, Mr. Petty. Your music will live on forever.

Until next time, raise your sticks high in honour of Mr. Petty!