The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has unveiled a newly expanded display honoring 2002 inductees Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, inviting music lovers to trace the making—and myth—of the band’s pivotal 1982 album, Long After Dark. Housed in the Museum’s Main Exhibit Hall, the installation gathers an intimate trove of studio notes, handwritten lyrics, backstage passes, ticket stubs, and other never‑before‑seen artifacts that illuminate a record critics once hailed as Petty’s “most accomplished.”
Anchoring the exhibit is the acoustic guitar Petty strummed at home, in the studio, and on the road, emblematic of a golden stretch when the Heartbreakers were performing at the peak of their powers. Visitors can pore over the original script for the “You Got Lucky” music video, peel back cassette tapes from a 1982 tour stop in Edinburgh, and witness the sonic fingerprints of new bassist and harmony specialist Howie Epstein, whose arrival lent fresh edge to the Heartbreakers’ trademark roar.
Produced by legendary hit‑maker Jimmy Iovine—his third and final collaboration with the group—Long After Dark may be the Heartbreakers’ most misunderstood success, an album of razor‑sharp rock ballads and anthems that continues to reverberate through generations of fans. Its folklore was first captured in the cult‑classic documentary TOM PETTY: HEARTBREAKERS BEACH PARTY, directed by Oscar‑winner Cameron Crowe. Originally broadcast only once on MTV in February 1983, the film enjoyed a celebrated theatrical and streaming revival last year and will receive a special screening at the Rock Hall later this year.
The revamped Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers exhibit is open now and included with general Museum admission. Through the CLE*VIP program, powered by KeyBank, City of Cleveland residents can visit free of charge every day.
Museum Hours & Location
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
1100 Rock & Roll Blvd., Cleveland, OH 44114
Previews began Friday, July 11; the full exhibit opens to the public today, Tuesday, July 15. For tickets and more information, visit rockhall.com.
Grateful Web readers are encouraged to make the pilgrimage and experience firsthand the artifacts—and the spirit—that keep Tom Petty’s enduring legacy burning long after dark.
