Entertainment

Stevie Nicks joins Tom Petty at British Summer Time

Stevie Nicks joined Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers to sing Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around.
Stevie Nicks joined Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers to sing Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around. Stevie Nicks joined Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers to sing Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around.

Singer Stevie Nicks joined Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers on stage as the American rockers, and long-time friends, brought this year’s British Summer Time festival in London to a close.

The sellout show on Sunday marked a rare visit to the UK for both artists, as well as the Heartbreakers’ 40th anniversary.

Halfway through the headline set, which saw the band play hits from throughout their career, front man Petty introduced the “honourary” member of the group to the Great Oak stage for a rendition of their 1981 collaboration Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around.

As The Heartbreakers took a break from their milestone US anniversary tour to make their first UK appearance in 18 years, Petty promised to “drop the needle up and down” the group’s repertoire since their 1976 debut self-titled record.

The 66-year-old singer, and former backing musician for Bob Dylan, also led the packed crowd in singalongs to hits I Won’t Back Down, Free Fallin’ and Learning To Fly.

“It’s great to be here,” Petty told the audience. “It has been far too long, and this beautiful London summer is amazing.


“We are celebrating our 40th year together…these people (bandmates) have been in my life a long time and somehow we are still together. We are probably closer than family.”

The band rounded off the two-hour show, and British Summer Time 2017, with an encore performance of tracks You Wreck Me and American Girl.

“Thank you so much, this is such a thrill for us to finally come back,” Petty told screaming fans before the group lined up for a final bow.

Ticket-holders for this year’s Barclaycard festival, which has taken over a chunk of the central London park for the last 10 days, have enjoyed a range of events in scorching sunshine, as well as headline gigs from the likes of Phil Collins, Justin Bieber, Green Day, The Killers and Kings Of Leon.

Earlier on Sunday, Nicks delivered her own upbeat set as she visited the city following her 24 Karat Gold tour in the US.

The Fleetwood Mac star’s hour-long show included 1973 hit Crying In The Night, the song she recorded with Lindsey Buckingham and described as a venture that meant she “didn’t have to be a waitress anymore.”

“And 44 years later…” she told the crowd, “so if you ever fear that dreams don’t come true, they do.”

Closing her show, the 69-year-old added: “This is one big, heartfelt memory that I, Stevie, will take with me forever.”

Sunday’s event also included support performances from The Lumineers, The Shelters and James Hunter Six.