Finally confirmed, Rock legend Tom Petty is dead

No sooner we put up the report of Tom Petty’s death as premature and false, we are sharing the latest news coming from Tony Dimitriades, the longtime manager of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, who has now confirmed that Petty passed away on Monday evening. 

“On behalf of the Tom Petty family, we are devastated to announce the untimely death of our father, husband, brother, leader and friend Tom Petty. He suffered cardiac arrest at his home in Malibu in the early hours of this morning and was taken to UCLA Medical Center but could not be revived. He died peacefully at 8:40 pm. PT surrounded by family, his bandmates and friends.”

The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer breathed his last at his Malibu home.

Also read: Tom Petty death: False death report of star rocker has industry in a tizzy, daughter Violette lashes out at Rolling Stone

Petty struggled with heroin addiction during the '90s.

Petty was one of rock genre's most revered legacy acts, earning a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in 2002.

Interestingly, Petty staged a sprawling 40th-anniversary tour in 2017 but had said that the tour, which ended up being his last, would likely be his "last big one."

Tributes have been pouring in from musicians and Hollywood icons:

"I covered his songs because I wanted to know what it felt like to fly," John Mayer tweeted.

Paul Stanley wrote, "From our opening act in the seventies to becoming a brilliant songwriter and performer, I have loved his music."

Sheryl Crow said, "I feel like today, the music truly died. Can't go see/hear music and be safe and one of the greats just passed."

"Sending love to Tom Petty and his family at this difficult time," Beatles drummer Ringo Starr tweeted.

Paul McCartney wrote, "Just when I thought today could not get any worse..."

Author Stephen King posted, "Tom Petty gone? That's just so wrong. What a bad day this has been, in so many ways." 

"Today America lost one of its musical giants. Thank you Tom Petty for all the music. To me you will live forever," wrote Kiefer Sutherland.

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers has sold more than 80 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling music artists of all time.