Tom Petty's Last Dance

Have you heard the Red Hot Chili Peppers song "Dani California" yet, because obviously it sounds a lot like "Mary Jane's Last Dance."
Yes, I have. Everyone everywhere is stopping me. The truth is, I seriously doubt that there is any negative intent there. And a lot of rock & roll songs sound alike. Ask Chuck Berry. The Strokes took "American Girl" [for their song "Last Nite"], and I saw an interview with them where they actually admitted it. That made me laugh out loud. I was like, "OK, good for you." It doesn't bother me.

There have been news reports that you were going to sue the Chili Peppers.
If someone took my song note for note and stole it maliciously, then maybe. But I don't believe in lawsuits much. I think there are enough frivolous lawsuits in this country without people fighting over pop songs.

How did you end up getting back together with former Traveling Wilburys bandmate Jeff Lynne to produce "Highway Companion"?
Olivia Harrison asked me and Jeff if we would induct George Harrison into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame [in 2004]. And Jeff doesn't perform live ever, which I don't understand, because he's really good at it. So it took a little bit of arm-bending to convince him to play. The show went great, and then we were coming back on the plane and we said, "Look, let's get together and cut a track." That's how it always begins -- with "a track." So we got a track, and then it went so good that I just said, "We're pitching tent here."

And what made you decide that this was going to be a solo album and not a Heartbreakers record?
Well, they weren't there. We started on the Christmas holiday, and I just wanted the three of us [Lynne, Petty and Campbell] to make a solo record. I probably hurt Benmont [Tench's] feelings, but I think the world of Benmont. He is really the best piano player there is anywhere. I just thought for this record, I'd rather bang it out myself and make a different kind of record. And I am really proud of the record. I think it's one of my better ones in a long time.

"Square One" stands among your most beautiful songs.
Thank you. I think it's one of my best songs ever. I mean, you always like your new record. But I really think that one is particularly good.

Did you record it in the studio in the other room here at your house?
There used to be a studio there. But right now they got it all packed up, because we have termites in the walls. So they just emptied everything out and covered the wall with plastic, and they were going to blast this place with insecticides. Of course, out of the whole home, the only room to have termites would be the studio.

You're probably in an interesting relationship with the record right now because you're in the middle of it. When you hear it, what do you feel?
I finished a lot of this a long time ago. I went away from it for a long time. I didn't want to wear myself out on it. So when I came back to it, I was really pleasantly surprised.

How long is a long time?
A year. I went on the road. I did one more track ["Saving Grace"] when I came back, and then I started listening again. I haven't given it to the record company yet. I don't want to send it to them out of sequence. I set out not to make a theme-oriented album, because I did that last time. But when I sat back and looked at it, there were themes creeping into it.