“Tom Would Be Proud”: Watch George Strait Unite With Longtime Tom Petty Guitarist for Heartbreakers Classic

With hits like “Free Fallin’” and “Runnin’ Down a Dream,” Tom Petty became one of the most effortlessly cool acts in 20th century American rock music. The Florida native died in October 2017 at age 66, but his legacy still reverberates throughout the culture. Recently, Mike Campbell, longtime guitarist for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, teamed up with country icon George Strait for a cover that would have lit the GRAMMY winner up with pride.

George Strait Covers “You Wreck Me” With Mike Campbell

Petty Country: A Country Music Celebration of Tom Petty dropped in June, featuring everyone from Chris Stapleton to Dolly Parton paying tribute to the “You Got Lucky” singer. The iconic George Strait contributed his live cover of Petty’s 1994 hit “You Wreck Me.” Recently, Strait welcomed Mike Campbell onstage at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey for a performance of the song.

Videos by American Songwriter

“Mike Campbell, everybody,” Strait says to raucous applause as Campbell takes the stage.

Campbell furiously strums along as the 72-year-old Strait sings: Now and again / I get the feeling / Well, if I don’t win / I’m a-gonna break even.

A video of the vigorous performance circulated on X/Twitter Friday (Aug. 16,) and fans were in awe. “Tom would be proud,” one X/Twitter user wrote. It was a simple but powerful compliment.

Another used added, “I miss Tom Petty but George Strait did him justice here.”

“The King paying homage to another great…” agreed one fan.

The Song Was Originally Titled “You Wreck Me”

Mike Campbell wrote the music to “You Wreck Me,” with Tom Petty filling in the words. Initially, Petty titled the song “You Rock Me,” which Campbell found “kind of ordinary.” Still, the pair proceeded in recording the track.

[RELATED: Heartbreakers’ Mike Campbell Reveals Why Tom Petty Would Be “Really, Really Happy” with New ‘Petty Country’ Tribute Album]

“Then one day [Petty] came back and goes, “I’ve got it, I’ll just change it to ‘You Wreck Me,’” and the whole thing took on a new meaning,” Campbell said. “It’s an example of one little word changing the whole thing.”

From there, “You Wreck Me” became a touring mainstay for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. The band even performed it during their final show at the Hollywood Bowl.

Featured image by Dara-Michelle Farr/Shutterstock