Tom Petty Receives Billboard's Highest Honor

Asked early in his career who his influences were, Tom Petty replied "The Radio". What a great answer. And now he is the influence of so many bands who are becoming popular today.

During last night's acceptance speech, Tom mentioned that people come up to him and say that he has been the soundtrack to their lives. I'm sure that is as true for many of you as it is for me. Tom Petty has been my "Elvis" (Bob Dylan, John Lennon, Insert Generation Icon Here") since I bought Damn the Torpedoes in '79. It was great to see my favorite song writer honored in such a way last night. Congrats Tom! Here are some more blurbs from last night...

Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong was additionally charged with presenting the Century Award, Billboard magazine's highest honor, to Tom Petty.

"I love music, I love rock and roll, therefore I love Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers," Armstrong said. "If you're going to come up [on stage] and thank God, thank God for Tom Petty."

"We haven't always been boy scouts, but we never lost sight of the music," Petty said in accepting the honor. After thanking many who have been involved in his 30-year career, he added, "Let me remind you that this ain't the end. I can still kick some ass."

Still Kicking Ass!

Acknowledging that awards shows aren't exactly his cup of tea, Billboard Century Award winner Tom Petty said of his storied career: "I've had to think about it more today than I've had in years. It has been a big long blur."

"This is nothing I've ever done before," he continued. "[But] I do feel honored that somebody has gone to this trouble to notice the work we've done all this time. In the world of gimmicks and sound bytes, it's nice to be noticed and honored this way."

The artist will continue to have to put his memory to the test next year, as work progresses on a comprehensive Petty and the Heartbreakers documentary that will be directed by Peter Bogdanovich ("The Last Picture Show," "Mask"). "There's probably some new music we'll do for that," he said.