Wildflowers – I think it’s maybe my favourite. It’s the album I’m most proud of. I mean, there’s a few that I’m really proud of, but I think that was one was a really special one ; it’s the one that hangs over my head. I feel like I’m competing with that record to this day.’ – Tom Petty
Visit the exhibition at the Gibson Garage London: 61-62 Eastcastle St, London W1W 8NQ
Mon-Fri 11am-7pm / Sat 10am-7pm / Sun 12-6pm
In the year marking what would have been Tom Petty’s 75th birthday, Adria Petty, daughter of the Grammy award-winning singer-songwriter, producer, and defining voice in American rock and roll, appeared at the Gibson Garage London to preview the exclusive exhibition of the upcoming Wildflowers book.
At the private Q&A hosted by Matt Everitt, attended by Olivia Harrison and the book’s publishers Nick and Catherine Roylance, and with performances by British indie-folk duo Jack & Daisy and performance artist and Brazilian Girls frontwoman Sabina Sciubba, Adria commented “When making this beautiful book there was a lot of stuff that I learned about my father that I had never known, which was really special. As well as enjoying the book, I hope fans can check out the exhibition and see, up close, some of the most iconic pieces of history that went into the creation of the Wildflowers album.”
Visitors to the Gibson Garage London will have the rare opportunity to enjoy an exclusive pop-up exhibition of artifacts, photography, ephemera, and Petty’s Firebird guitar from the ‘You Don’t Know How It Feels’ music video and Dogs With Wings 95 tour, plus facsimile material created for the upcoming Tom Petty: Wildflowers book and a one-of-a-kind advance sample of the book itself. The limited-time exhibition is free to the public from November 7th until November 14h 2025, and is presented by Genesis Publications in partnership with Gibson.
Wildflowers is a landmark publication celebrating the creation of one of Tom Petty’s most beloved and enduring albums. Limited to just 1,500 numbered copies worldwide, every copy is signed by Heartbreakers Mike Campbell and Benmont Tench.
The book includes rare ephemera and previously unseen images from the Petty archives and brings together, for the first time in one volume, handwritten lyric sheets, setlists, guitar notes, recording track sheets, and studio documentation, many shown in facsimile. This material is complemented by newly commissioned photography of Tom Petty’s personal items from the era, including his Gibson Firebird Sunburst, Blonde ‘Toru’ Telecaster, Martin D-41, and the iconic Gibson SJ-200 Acoustic built for him during the Wildflowers sessions. Wardrobe pieces from the ‘You Don’t Know How It Feels’ music video and his Rolling Stone magazine cover shoot are also featured, along with much more—all photographed at the Clubhouse, the recording studio that served as the creative base for the making of Wildflowers.
In addition to Tom Petty’s own words, the book features contributions from those who were in the room with him during the making of Wildflowers—Mike Campbell, Benmont Tench, Rick Rubin, George Drakoulias, Alan ‘Bugs’ Weidel, Steve Ferrone, and Adria Petty.
Tom Petty (1950-2017) was a Grammy-winning singer-songwriter, producer, and defining voice in American rock and roll. For over five decades, he crafted unforgettable songs as the leader of the Heartbreakers, a solo artist, and a founding member of the Traveling Wilburys.
His acclaimed album Wildflowers was released in November 1994, featuring 15 songs that marked a deeply personal and creative high point in his career. Originally conceived as a double album, Petty had written and recorded 25 songs, with the unreleased tracks becoming a subject of fascination among fans. These songs were finally unveiled in the 2020 release Wildflowers & All the Rest, and the album’s creation was further celebrated in the 2021 documentary Somewhere You Feel Free, which presented rare, behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with Petty. Now, the story of Wildflowers is being documented for the first time in print as an official signed limited edition book, entitled Wildflowers—to be published in the year of Tom Petty’s 75th birthday.
With more than 80 million records sold and a place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Tom Petty’s legacy lives on through the albums, lyrics, and melodies that continue to resonate with fans around the world.
About Gibson Garage London
With a rich history of craftsmanship and innovation, Gibson has become synonymous with music culture. A vibrant and immersive music destination, the Gibson Garage London marks the first Gibson store outside the U.S., following the successful opening of the Gibson Garage Nashville. Opened two years ago by rock royalty Jimmy Page, Sir Brian May, and Tony Iommi, the Gibson Garage London sits in the heart of historic London and is the ultimate guitar experience—a destination for music lovers worldwide and a place to explore Gibson’s over 130-year music legacy.
At the Gibson Garage London, music lovers are encouraged to plug in and play more than 300 electric and acoustic guitars. The Gibson Garage London features a dedicated Acoustic Guitar Room with one of the largest displays of Gibson acoustic guitars in the UK, as well as areas for Epiphone electric, acoustic, and bass guitars, and the biggest display of Kramer guitars in the country. Fans can pick up and play all things Gibson, Epiphone, Kramer, MESA/Boogie, Gibson Amplifiers, and Maestro pedals, and browse a massive selection of exclusive Gibson apparel, gifts, lifestyle items, gear, and accessories.
