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Petty Theft is an American tribute band formed in San Rafael, California in 2003. The band is based in the San Francisco Bay Area and plays the music of Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers. Steve Ferrone, drummer for Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers has performed with the band on three separate occasions. Petty Theft performs around sixty shows per year throughout the United States. On September 22, 2022, Petty Theft shared the Concord Pavilion stage opening for Lynyrd Skynyrd and Tesla at KSAN FM 107.7 FM The Bone "Bone Bash XVIII"

History
The band was founded by Dan Durkin and Django Bayless in 2003 at first performing original songs and covers. As Tom Petty songs were so well received, the band decided to focus only on performing the music of Tom Petty in 2005. Dan Durkin had first joined as a keyboards player and guitarist after answering a Craig’s List ad and become the lead singer and front man for the group. Monroe Grisman (American Drag), son of mandolinist and composer David Grisman, joined in 2008. Chris Collins who was playing both keyboards and guitars left to join Super Diamond in Oct, 2009. Mike Emerson on keyboards and Michael Papenburg on slide and 2nd guitar player. Adam “Bagel” Berkowitz joined on drums in 2009 replacing Rory Judge. Mike Emerson left to join Tommy Castro in February, 2015 and was replaced by John Robin Varn (The Neal Schon Band, Thriving Ivory, Mother Truckers). In 2018, Varn was replaced by Steven Seydler Petty Theft currently has the same lineup of six musicians as The Heartbreakers.

Petty Theft does not emulate the look and dress up like Tom Petty & The Heartbreaks as some tribute bands do. Grisman has stated "Dressing up in a costume seems like an Un-Tom Petty-like thing to do".

Dan Durkin founded Marin County bands Frontline and East of Eden. East of Eden released their first album, East of Eden in 1997 and has performed with Michael McDonald, Chris Isaak, Bruce Hornsby and drummer Pete Best. Dan Durkin plays guitar left-handed, upside-down with strings backwards. (i.e. an unaltered right-handed guitar held left handed with the high string on the top side of the neck) Durkin watched the Ed Sullivan Show growing up and saw that Paul McCartney was playing his bass left-handed. Durkin stated he would "mime to the songs in front of the mirror and hold a guitar left-handed with the strings backwards. As I started to teach myself how to play, it felt natural to play left-handed upside down even though I’m right handed."

Petty Theft was voted Best Band in the North Bay Bohemian Readers Poll in 2011, 2012, 2013. CBS named them one of the Best Cover Bands in the Bay Area in 2014. Pacific Sun named Petty Theft the “Best Local Band” calling it “the most beloved Tom Petty Tribute Band in the Bay Area.” in 2015. Pacific Sun named them "Best Cover Band" in the Best of Marin Readers’ Poll for 2018, 2019, and 2020. In 2021, they were voted Best Cover Band in Sonoma in the North Bay Bohemian Best of the North Bay 2021 Reader's Picks.

Petty Theft has had several notable musicians in the past including: Mike Emerson (Elvin Bishop, Carlene Carter[6], Tommy Castro), Eric Levy (Garaj Mahal, Night Ranger), Pete McCrae (The Rembrandts, Mr. Mister) and Chris Collins (Super Diamond)

Petty Theft performs a mix of studio and live versions of Tom Petty’s catalog. About forty percent replicates studio material, forty percent live material and twenty percent is the musicians in Petty Theft being themselves. The band made a name for itself by playing cover-tunes, hits and rarities from the Tom Petty’s songbook and is lauded by critics for adding its own touches.

Petty Theft was registered as a service mark with the United States Patent and Trademark Office on December 3, 2013

Touring


Petty Theft perform around sixty shows per year throughout the United States. Since 2014, Petty Theft has named their tours each year: “Mofo Tour 2014”, “Mofo Tour 2015” (a clear nod to Tom Petty’ s 2010 album “Mojo”), “Oh Hell Yes Tour 2016" (a lyric in "Mary Jane’s Last Dance"), "Runnin' Down A Dream Tour 2017" , "Learning To Fly Tour 2018" , "Full Moon Thievery Tour 2019" , "Makin' Some Noise Tour 2020" and "Rockin' Around Tour 2022".

On November 25, 2016 Petty Theft opened for The Kenneth Brian Band which features Steve Ferrone drummer for Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers Steve Ferrone surprised the audience and sat in with Petty Theft during their opening set. .

On May 28, 2018 at a Memorial Day event in Mill Valley, California, Steve Ferrone joined on the final four songs of Petty Theft’s set, “I Won’t Back Down”, “Runnin' Down A Dream”, “Don’t Come Around Here No More” and “It’s Good To Be King”. Kenneth Brian of The Kenneth Brian Band joining on “It’s Good To Be King” with Steve Ferrone and Petty Theft

On October 20, 2018 at Petty Theft's annual Tom Petty Birthday Celebration show at the Cornerstone in Berkeley, California, Steve Ferrone joined on six songs, "You Wreck Me", "Refugee", “I Won’t Back Down”, “Runnin' Down A Dream”, “Don’t Come Around Here No More” and “It’s Good To Be King”. Kenneth Brian of The Kenneth Brian Band joining on “It’s Good To Be King”

On September 22, 2022, Petty Theft will share the Concord Pavilion stage with Lynyrd Skynyrd and Tesla at KSAN FM 107.7 FM The Bone "Bone Bash XVIII"

Logo
In 2003 the band’s logo was a "guitar with handcuffs around the guitar neck". In 2009, they created a Heartbreakers-style logo

Equipment
Drummer Adam Berkowitz endorses Soultone Cymbals and Porter & Davies tactile drum thrones.

Current

 * Django Bayless – bass, vocals (2003 - present)
 * Adam Berkowitz – drums (2009 - present)
 * Dan Durkin – lead vocals, guitars (2005 - present)
 * Monroe Grisman – guitars, vocals (2008 - present)
 * Michael Papenburg – guitars ( 2009 - present)
 * Steven Seydler – keyboards (2018 - present)

Former

 * Chris Collins – guitars, keyboards, vocals (2009)
 * Mike Emerson – keyboards (2009 - 2015)
 * Rory Judge – drums (2005 - 2009)
 * Eric Levy – keyboards (2010)
 * Pete McCrae – guitars (2007)
 * James 'Ozzie' Osswald – guitars, vocals (2003 - 2007)
 * Bob Spector – guitars (2006 - 2009)
 * John Robin Varn – keyboards (2015 - 2018)

Awards
“Best of the North Bay 2023 : Best Tribute Band” – The Bohemian

"Best of the North Bay 2021, 2022 : Best Cover Band" - North Bay Bohemian

"Best of Marin 2018, 2019 , 2020 , 2022 : Best Cover Band" - Pacific Sun

“Best of Marin 2015: Best Local Band” - Pacific Sun

"Best Band of the North Bay (Marin) - 2011, 2012 , 2013 " - North Bay Bohemian