At the same time Petty was cutting his teeth, however, the singer-songwriter scene was also being flooded with newer acts. He had a mentor in Leon Russell in his early days, but everyone from Joni Mitchell to Don Henley had begun to make a name for themselves as potential leaders of what the next form of American music would look like.

On the other hand, no one really planned that the next phase of American rock would come from a long-running British blues band. Because after Fleetwood Mac reached the end of the line with Bob Welch, bringing in Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham was just what they needed to see chart success. As they lived through the blues dealing with their partners breaking up, rumors became one of the best-selling albums for a damn good reason, especially with Nicks’ beautiful songs like “Dreams.”

After losing interest in his own band during tusk, Nicks saw herself as a potential Heartbreaker, saying she would have gladly left as well JOINED the group had the opportunity. While Nicks would provide some backing vocals on the album heavy promises, It wasn’t until “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around” that she actually had the same Heartbreakers muscle behind her music.

Although Petty has always been a little coy about Nicks’ role in the group, she recalled being given a gift from the heartthrob rocker that cemented her status. saying“Tom made me a little platinum sheriff’s badge that had 24 karat gold and diamonds on the top and said ‘For our honorary end, Stevie Nicks.’ On the back it says “The only girls in our band”. I keep it on my black velvet hat. It goes with me everywhere.”

Then again, Nicks didn’t have to be defined by her connection to Petty to strike out on her own. Although she still lends a hand to Petty’s records when she gets the chance, records like The other side of the mirror it gave her the kind of credibility that separated her from her old band and friends alike.

Still, the missed opportunity to never get a Petty and Nicks duet album is one of rock and roll’s few tragedies. Because even though they were always sonically adjacent, no one could deny that Petty and Nicks were kindred spirits beyond the occasional catchy tune.

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