Tom Petty shocked his fans by dropping dead at the age of 66 — but the struggling star had hidden away a heroin addiction that ravaged the rocker’s body!
1 of 5
Photo credit: Getty Images
2 of 5
Photo credit: Getty Images
In a tragic twist, Tom developed his heroin addiction late in life — giving in to the needle in 1996, while struggling through a painful divorce. He had shamefully explained to pals that "he did not know what to do with the pain he was feeling." But he was also covering up his own hypocrisy, after the band leader fired his Heartbreaker's bass player for the same addiction!
3 of 5
Photo credit: Getty Images
Howie Epstein made headlines when he was busted with
Johnny Cash's troubled
daughter Carlene for heroin possession in 2001 — and was fired from The Heartbreakers in 2002, dying from an overdose the next year. "He was just degenerating on us," said Tom at the time, with Howie leaving the band after performing at their induction in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
4 of 5
Photo credit: Getty Images
Tom had spent years insisting that his only drug of choice was marijuana — but finally came clean about his heroin addiction to biographer Warren Zanes in 2015. Tom had finally given up drugs with the help of second wife Dana York — and made Zanes promise the book would be a "cautionary tale" that wouldn't make his addiction seem appealing.
5 of 5
Photo credit: Getty Images
Sadly, after a triumphant 2017 40th anniversary summer tour with The Heartbreakers, the rocker's health suddenly experienced a shocking downward spiral. His unexpected
death from cardiac arrest served as the final cautionary tale from the beloved star.
Photo credit: Getty Images
In a tragic twist, Tom developed his heroin addiction late in life — giving in to the needle in 1996, while struggling through a painful divorce. He had shamefully explained to pals that "he did not know what to do with the pain he was feeling." But he was also covering up his own hypocrisy, after the band leader fired his Heartbreaker's bass player for the same addiction!
Photo credit: Getty Images
Howie Epstein made headlines when he was busted with
Johnny Cash's troubled
daughter Carlene for heroin possession in 2001 — and was fired from The Heartbreakers in 2002, dying from an overdose the next year. "He was just degenerating on us," said Tom at the time, with Howie leaving the band after performing at their induction in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Photo credit: Getty Images
Tom had spent years insisting that his only drug of choice was marijuana — but finally came clean about his heroin addiction to biographer Warren Zanes in 2015. Tom had finally given up drugs with the help of second wife Dana York — and made Zanes promise the book would be a "cautionary tale" that wouldn't make his addiction seem appealing.
Photo credit: Getty Images
Sadly, after a triumphant 2017 40th anniversary summer tour with The Heartbreakers, the rocker's health suddenly experienced a shocking downward spiral. His unexpected
death from cardiac arrest served as the final cautionary tale from the beloved star.
Photo credit: Getty Images
