Mudcrutch

Mudcrutch
Mudcrutch in 2008. From left to right: Benmont Tench, Randall Marsh, Mike Campbell, Tom Petty and Tom Leadon
Background information
Origin	Gainesville, Florida, United States
Genres	Southern rock, country rock
Years active	1970–1975, 2007–present
Labels	Shelter, Reprise
Associated acts	Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers Traveling Wilburys
Members	Tom Petty Tom Leadon Randall Marsh Mike Campbell Benmont Tench
Past members	Jim Lenahan Danny Roberts Charlie Souza

Mudcrutch is an American southern and country rock band from Gainesville, Florida; best known for being the band that introduced Tom Petty to fame. They were initially active in the early 1970s, then broke up after Tom Petty and several members formed The Heartbreakers. Mudcrutch reformed in 2007 with most of the original lineup.

Mudcrutch was formed in 1970 by Tom Petty and Tom Leadon, who had been playing together in a band called the Epics. Mudcrutch's lineup consisted of Tom Petty (bass and vocals), Tom Leadon (guitar and vocals), Jim Lenehan (lead vocals), Randy Marsh (drums) and Mike Campbell (guitar). Leadon and Lenehan left the band in 1972 and were replaced by bassist/guitarist/vocalist Danny Roberts. Keyboardist Benmont Tench also joined the band. Ricky Rucker was a part of the band for a short time. Mudcrutch served as the house band at Dub's Lounge in its hometown of Gainesville, Florida.

In 1974, Mudcrutch signed with Shelter Records and re-located to Los Angeles, California. The band released one single, "Depot Street" in 1975, which failed to chart. After Danny Roberts left the group, Petty invited Charlie Souza to take over on bass guitar and the band continued recording in Leon Russell's Tulsa Studio, and later at Leon's Encino California home. The band's record company broke them up in late 1975. Petty, Campbell and Tench went on to form The Heartbreakers in 1976 with fellow Gainesville natives Stan Lynch and Ron Blair.

In August 2007, Tom Petty invited Randall Marsh and Tom Leadon, original members of Mudcrutch, to reunite with Heartbreakers Benmont Tench and Mike Campbell to reform Mudcrutch. They recorded an album, Mudcrutch, which was released on April 29, 2008, by Reprise Records, and contains 14 old and new tracks. "We would play and then we would just talk about the old days," said Tom Leadon. The band toured briefly in California to promote the album throughout April and the beginning of May 2008. The album hit number 8 on the Billboard 200 albums chart.