​Rockstar Tom Petty Dies At The Age Of 66

Rockstar Tom Petty has died at the age of 66 after suffering a cardiac arrest.

The musician's passing was confirmed in a statement at approximately 5.30am BST on Tuesday by Tony Dimitriades, who was the manager of Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers.

Premature stories of Petty's death had emerged on Monday evening following an inaccurate report that the LAPD had confirmed the news.

However, it was announced that the musician was still 'clinging to life' on Monday having suffered the cardiac arrest at his home in Malibu before the official statement in the early hours of Tuesday BST.

Tom Petty

Credit PA Images

The 'Free Fallin' singer, who had been a star since the 1970s, had recently wrapped up a world tour, which included 53 shows in the US, Canada and the UK. He had two shows left to complete in November in New York.

There has since been an outpouring of emotion on social media as Rock n Roll Hall of Fame member Petty's fans pay tribute to his talents.

After recently playing a show at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, a tweet on Petty's official account read: "Thanks to everyone for supporting us for the last 40 years! Without YOU there'd be no US!"

Fellow legendary musician Bob Dylan, who co-founded the rock supergroup Traveling Wilburys along with Petty, former Beatle George Harrison, Jeff Lynne and Roy Orbison, is also mourning his friend's passing.

Dylan said in a statement to Rolling Stone: "It's shocking, crushing news. I thought the world of Tom. He was great performer, full of the light, a friend, and I'll never forget him."

James Dawson

James Dawson is a Journalist at LADbible. He has contributed articles to LADbible’s ‘Knowing Me, Knowing EU’ series on the EU referendum, the 'Electoral Dysfunction' series on the 2017 general election, the ‘U OK M8?’ series tackling mental health amongst young men, and for its ‘Climate Change’ initiative in partnership with National Geographic.

@thejaytoday