Tom Petty Responds to Accusations

STUDIO CITY, CA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 10/11/2004 -- Tom Petty responded to the recent suit filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court against him and KLOS-FM disc jockey Jim Ladd over Petty's composition, "The Last DJ," by vigorously denying the accusations in the suit.

Tony Dimitriades, Petty's longtime manager, says, "The lawsuit, which does not even allege that the songs have the same or similar words or music, will be strongly defended. The allegation that Tom Petty and Jim Ladd somehow conspired to rob the plaintiff of a business opportunity is both ludicrous and insulting."

Tom Petty, long seen as one of the key standard bearers of integrity in the music business, not only believes the suit is completely without merit, but also stretches the limits of credulity. He says, "My song, 'The Last DJ,' was written completely without any outside influence. It is a wholly original composition. Claiming that Jim Ladd ever gave me another piece of music or discussed the plaintiff or his song with me in any way whatsoever is a total falsehood. Nothing of the kind ever happened. I write my own music, and if I collaborate with anyone, I always share the credit. It's been that way since I began writing thirty years ago, and it will always be that way. That's the way I work.

"To this date, I have never heard the recording the lawsuit claims influenced my song. The plaintiff is accusing me of stealing. I do not take kindly to such accusations, as the plaintiff and his attorney-for-hire will find out."