Tom Petty and Stevie Nicks’ Iconic Collaborations Revisited in New Documentary

LOS ANGELES, March 17, 2025 – A new documentary sheds light on the enduring musical bond between Tom Petty and Stevie Nicks, focusing on their collaborative efforts on the 1981 songs ‘Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around’ and ‘Insider.’ The film features insights from Petty, who spoke about their partnership during a resurfaced interview.

In the documentary ‘Tom Petty: Heartbreakers Beach Party,’ which aired on MTV in 1983 and has recently been made available on Paramount+, Cameron Crowe recounts conversations he had with Petty about Nicks. ‘Stevie’s a fan of the band and she just had been for a long time. She wanted to come and hang out and sing some,’ Petty states, recalling how Nicks expressed her interest in working together.

Petty reminisced about a particular dinner where Nicks insisted on him writing a song for her. ‘She was asking me one night at dinner for a song, saying, ‘Would you write a song?’ When she got adamant about it, I said, ‘Okay, I’ll write the song,’’ he said.

Petty described how inspiration struck him the following day. ‘I went home and the next afternoon, I wrote this… ‘Insider,’ referring to the track that would appear on his 1981 album, `Hard Promises.` ‘It’s where I got the whole ‘hard promises’ line; the whole thing just hit me in the head all at once,’ he added.

The lyrics of ‘Insider’ poignantly reflect deeper themes: ‘I’m an insider, I’ve been burned by the fire/Oh, and I’ve had to live with some hard promises.’ Petty continued to share that Nicks, recognizing his passion for the song, encouraged him to keep it, suggesting he write another song instead.

Following ‘Insider,’ the pair went on to collaborate on ‘Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around,’ which Nicks included in her debut solo album, `Bella Donna.` Petty noted the ease with which they worked together: ‘I think it took us a few hours. We went down and learned it and sang it, and the rest is history.’ He expressed the thrill of creating music, saying, ‘It’s like… it’s fun. It’s fun for four people to play and tape rolls and then you can play it back. I’m still fascinated by that.’

Nicks and Petty’s collaboration was not limited to the 1980s; the duo reunited in 2009 to perform ‘I Need to Know’ in the concert film, `From Gainesville – The 30th Anniversary Concert,` showcasing their enduring chemistry.

‘Tom Petty: Heartbreakers Beach Party’ provides a nostalgic look at the band’s journey, particularly during the promotion of their groundbreaking album, `Long After Dark.` The documentary is described as a ‘fun, candid, fast-paced, and musically rich ride’ that captures the essence of Petty’s creative genius.

Fans of Petty and Nicks can stream the documentary on Paramount+ to witness a unique glimpse into their collaboration and the vibrant era of rock.