It's been nearly six years since Tom Petty passed away, but his death had a long-lasting impact on his friends and family, especially his good pal Mike Campbell
According to KPVI, the guitarist co-wrote some of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers' biggest hits like "You Got Lucky," "Runnin' Down a Dream," "Here Comes My Girl," and more.
In a recent interview with Guitar Player Magazine, the 73-year-old musician said he's still processing the death of his good friend even though it's been years since he passed away.
Last year, Campbell was preparing for the band's "Live at the Filmore 1997" compilation album and it's "bittersweet" for him to "sit there and listen to stuff and hear his voice."
One of the main reasons why he became emotional while working on the project was because it touches on some grief that he's still processing up to this very day, but he held his emotions together as he's a "big boy."
"I can deal with it. There's a lot of material and it's important, I think, because some of the young people have maybe never heard the old catalogue, so when they're re-issued there's a chance for that stuff to be re-experienced," he added.
When asked about the possibility of releasing a new album with unreleased tracks, the guitarist clarified that they have a few "extra tracks" but they're not enough to be a record as it's mostly main things that never been heard by the public.
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In a previous interview, Campbell revealed he was grateful to work with Tom Petty on their last tour together as they had a chance to "connect."
When the vocalist was in the hospital bed, the musician said he had spoken to the frontman, but he wasn't able to communicate.
"It's hard to put into words but I had an opportunity on the plane a couple of times towards the end of the last tour to connect, to say all the things I really wanted to say to him," he added.
According to NPR, Tom Petty passed away on October 2, 2017 at the age of 66, just after performing at a series of concerts with his band for their 40th-anniversary tour.
In an autopsy report by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner Jonathan Lucas, the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer died of an accidental drug overdose with a toxic mix of drugs.
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