On November 11th, 2021, Tom Petty & Rick Rubin’s documentary, “Tom Petty: Somewhere You Feel Free – The Making of Wildflowers,” premiered on YouTube, giving viewers an intimate masterclass in songwriting, production, and collaboration from behind the creator’s lens. The documentary shows never-before-seen footage of the making of Petty’s seminal album, Wildflowers, filmed on 16mm film from 1993 – 1995. It’s a snapshot into the creation of a slice of rock n roll history and a chance for viewers to appreciate the blood, sweat, and alchemic chemistry that formed one of the most revered records of all time.
- The film captures the making of Tom Petty’s favorite album, Wildflowers, produced by Rick Rubin, during one of Petty’s most prolific phases of songwriting.
- It explores the collaborative process between Petty and his band members, his producer, and countless others that contributed to the iconic album.
- The film is a rare intimate window into Tom Petty’s creativity, passion for music, and personal life that had previously gone undisclosed.
- The documentary has received rave reviews from critics, with Variety dubbing it as “an enthralling experience”.
A few weeks on from the premiere, it is well on its way to racking up 1 million streams on YouTube. For musos and Tom Petty fans alike, it is 90 minutes of sheer nostalgia and awe-inspiring content. It manages to do what few rock documentaries can do today; show us something new while letting us revel in the past.
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