Mike Campbell was a member, architect and co-captain of the Heartbreakers, a band he co-founded with Tom Petty, whom he met in a Gainesville, Florida carport in 1972.

The Heartbreakers lead guitarist, Campbell co-wrote many of the Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers hits and also co-produced many of their albums – in addition to penning songs for Don Henley (“Boys of Summer”), Bob Dylan, Stevie Nicks and playing on records by Aretha Franklin, Roy Orbison and Johnny Cash.

In 2018, Campbell joined Fleetwood Mac’s World Tour on lead guitar and in 2020, Campbell released Wreckless Abandon, the first album by The Dirty Knobs, a group that was Campbell’s longtime side project but is now his primary musical focus. They released their second LP External Combustion in 2022 and toured the USA, including runs opening for both Chris Stapleton and The Who. Their third album Vagabonds, Virgins & Misfits is out now on BMG featuring appearances from artists including Graham Nash, Lucinda Williams, Chris Stapleton and fellow Heartbreaker Benmont Tench.

In addition to Campbell, The Dirty Knobs features fellow Heartbreaker Steve Ferrone on drums, Chris Holt (Don Henley, The Eagles) on guitar and Lance Morrison (Don Henley) on bass.

Mike Campbell recently released his memoir Heartbreaker, a fast-paced, tender-hearted rock ’n’ roll memoir for the ages and a New York Times bestseller. Part rags-to-riches story and part raucous, seat-of-the-pants adventure, it recounts Campbell’s life and times as lead guitarist of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.