Tom Petty discusses his groups Mudcrutch and the Heartbreakers in the new issue of Uncut, out now.

The singer and guitarist, who is currently promoting the second album with his reunited early band, Mudcrutch 2, explains in the piece that he’s got used to hard work over his years in the music business.

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“I’ve come to realise that I’m always pushing the rock up the hill,” he says. “Because we don’t take the easy way. But that’s who we are and that’s the way we do it and it’s always worked out fine. And I’m going to keep doing it.

“We’ve had a lot of fun,” Petty says, discussing the current Mudcrutch tour. “I wouldn’t say we were pursuing a career. We’re just enjoying playing music, and it’s convenient to have an audience. I don’t know about everybody else, but I have a lot of music in me yet. I have a lot in my head and I want to get it out. It keeps me young.”

Unlike its predecessor – a product of speed and instinct – Mudcrutch’s second album turned out to be a more involved affair. “The first album has its own vibe, but it’s hard to do that more than once,” admits Petty. “10-day albums don’t happen very often. The second one took months. Not steady work, but still…”

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Read more from Tom Petty and Mudcrutch in the new issue out Uncut, out now.

Photo by Brantley Gutierrez

The September 2016 issue of Uncut is now on sale in the UK – featuring our cover story on Tom Waits, plus Tom Petty, Teenage Fanclub, Pink Floyd, Aaron Neville, Bat For Lashes, De La Soul, Chet Baker, Cass McCombs, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Ryley Walker, Kendrick Lamar, Lord Buckley, Sex Pistols, Brexit and more plus 40 pages of reviews and our free 15-track CD

Uncut: the spiritual home of great rock music.