Tom Petty left his native Gainesville for the West Coast on April Fool's Day, 1974, his then-band Mudcrutch having gone as far as they could go locally. After several rejections, they signed with Leon Russell's independent Shelter Records. The band released one single, an unofficial promo release "Depot Street" in 1975, which failed to chart. At that time Petty played bass along with future Heartbreakers Mike Campbell and Benmont Tench. Discouraged by the group's lack of success, the record company broke up Mudcrutch in late 1975, keeping only Petty under contract. Several months later, Petty regrouped with former Mudcrutch members Mike Campbell and Benmont Tench to form The Heartbreakers along with fellow Gainesville natives Stan Lynch (drums) and Ron Blair (bass). Mudcrutch had previously issued a locally-distributed single in Gainesville ("Up In Mississippi"/"Cause Is Understood") in 1971. [Here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bl4VeidzKos) is a soundboard recording of 7 songs including those from 1971 at University Auditorium, Gainesville, Florida. As the bookend at the end of his career, his daughter is releasing his last project: https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/tom-petty-wildflowers-reissue-1057237/