Template talk:Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

TfD debate
This template survived a discussion on TfD. See Templates for deletion/Log/2006 February 13. -Splash talk 01:10, 23 February 2006 (UTC)

Listing of band members order
Can you guys discuss this before continuing this senseless edit warring? All four of you should really know better than to just revert and say discuss it without you discussing it further. That being said, old band members are normally placed on the second row, despite their status in their band prior. See Queen, The Beatles, and The Rolling Stones as just a few examples. Now, can this be discussed before continuing? Nihlus 14:02, 26 October 2017 (UTC)
 * Thank you Nihlus for (re-)starting this discussion. I had already started a discussion at Talk:Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers which is a more visible location. Perhaps we can keep the discussion in one place? 28bytes (talk) 14:52, 26 October 2017 (UTC)
 * It's been archived (perhaps a bit too quickly); nonetheless, I think it would be best to have to discussion on the template's talk page since it is about the template. Additionally, the discussion that was had obviously didn't so much since you and others were just edit warring on it today. Nihlus  14:55, 26 October 2017 (UTC)
 * I've restored the discussion from the archive, since the archiving was premature. I hope you will read the discussion, as your comparison to bands like Queen, which carried on despite their singer's death, is more than a bit off-base, unless you've got some indication I haven't seen that Mike Campbell et al have announced they're going to do something similar. If so, please share your source. 28bytes (talk) 15:04, 26 October 2017 (UTC)
 * I don't care either way about Petty as that is a unique case. However, Stan Lynch and Howie Epstein should probably be in the second row. Nihlus  15:13, 26 October 2017 (UTC)
 * I agree on that point, since the band continued after their departure. 28bytes (talk) 15:25, 26 October 2017 (UTC)

This is not difficult. Look at (e.g.--choosing randomly, altho they are template that I'm sure I've edited before) Template:Grateful Dead or Template:Led Zeppelin, the members of this defunct band are all listed in alphabetical order. Having some random order is not helpful, so I don't understand why others are insistent on imposing some unique sorting scheme. ―Justin ( koavf ) ❤T☮C☺M☯ 17:16, 26 October 2017 (UTC)
 * What makes you think listing "Tom Petty" as the first member of "Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers" is random? 28bytes (talk) 17:26, 26 October 2017 (UTC)
 * Those are not analogs to this, as those are not bands that are (some guy) and (his band). Closer example is Huey Lewis and the News where Huey Lewis is listed first. He dies, is there a band going around just called The News with Huey Lewis as a former member? No, don't be ridiculous. --Spike Wilbury (talk) 17:27, 26 October 2017 (UTC)

This is on its way to getting listed among the WP:LAMEest editing wars ever. (Right up there with T/the Beatles). Tom Petty formed this band, they have never recorded independently of Petty (though he has recorded independently of them) and it would be WP:CRYSTAL at this point to treat this band as if it they might continue to put out albums just as "The Heartbreakers," which they have not done so far. If they do so at some point, at that point they would basically be a different band altogether. Another comparison is Template:Bruce_Springsteen, where the E Street Band has a separate article, in part because they HAVE recorded with other musicians independent of Springsteen. (see E_Street_Band)  Montanabw (talk) 17:30, 26 October 2017 (UTC)
 * Seems pretty straightforward that it should be this:


 * That goes in order of debut with the band on both levels, and puts the former members underneath the current ones. Obviously, this would change upon news about the bands future plans. There's no reason to jump the gun on moving Petty himself. Nihlus  20:44, 26 October 2017 (UTC)


 * That looks good to me, Nihlus. 28bytes (talk) 21:49, 26 October 2017 (UTC)
 * Agreed. --Spike Wilbury (talk) 22:19, 26 October 2017 (UTC)
 * Agree. -  FlightTime  ( open channel ) 22:27, 26 October 2017 (UTC)
 * Tom Petty is a former member of this band. The Band were created as a backing band for Ronnie Hawkins but I don't think anyone would suggest putting his name first. Even if we put Petty's first (sure, go for it), just do alphabetical order afterward. ―Justin ( koavf ) ❤T☮C☺M☯ 08:12, 27 October 2017 (UTC)
 * No, the current order (with Campbell second and Tench third) makes more sense. That's the way they present themselves on their album notes, and that's the way the template's been forever. I see no benefit in changing it. 28bytes (talk) 11:51, 27 October 2017 (UTC)