Rumours of the former Heartbreakers and Travelling Wilburys member’s death initially spread yesterday, upon the initial confirmation of his heart attack. Now, Petty’s death has sadly been confirmed by his longtime manager Tony Dimitriades, on behalf of his family.

“On behalf of the Tom Petty family, we are devastated to announce the untimely death of of our father, husband, brother, leader and friend Tom Petty. He suffered cardiac arrest at his home in Malibu in the early hours of this morning and was taken to UCLA Medical Center but could not be revived. He died peacefully at 8:40 p.m. PT surrounded by family, his bandmates and friends,” Dimitriades wrote.

Petty’s rise came through his work with in Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, forming in 1976. The band released several seminal albums and tracks that are still revered to this day, with songs like ‘American Girl’ and later ‘Free Fallin” proving huge hits both critically and commercially.

The band kept a steady output of albums, even in recent times, with their last album coming in 2014, titled Hypnotic Eye, which was their 13th LP. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers also recently concluded a 40th anniversary tour, the final date of which was played at LA’s Hollywood Bowl on September 22.

As well as his work in the Heartbreakers, Petty also found great success in the late 1980’s, when co-founding one of music’s original supergroups, The Travelling Wilburys, alongside Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, and Roy Orbison.

The music world has paid tribute to one of it’s modern greats, with Bob Dylan himself lamenting the music world’s loss today. “It’s shocking, crushing news,”  Dylan told Rolling Stone in a statement. “I thought the world of Tom. He was a great performer, full of the light, a friend, and I’ll never forget him.”

So saddened to hear of @tompetty passing. He's was such sweet person to us and a once in a lifetime artist.

— Cage The Elephant (@CageTheElephant) October 2, 2017

damn we love you Tom Petty. incredible songwriter. "free fallin" is truly one of the greatest pieces of american art. so perfect & sad

— Ezra Koenig (@arzE) October 2, 2017

no words. just thanks. @tompetty pic.twitter.com/224gn9GNbo

— Cameron Crowe (@CameronCrowe) October 2, 2017

The gig will be The Heartbreaker’s first festival performance in the UK since 2012, only their second UK tour in 20 years, and their only European date in 2017. It is timed to commemorate the 40^th anniversary of the band’s self-titled debut album. James King, senior vice president of AEG Live who are organising the event, promised the evening would be a ‘one-night-only experience direct from the music gods.’ He added that, ‘Tom Petty’s UK fans will feel blessed to see him and the Heartbreakers in such a rare appearance in this country. Celebrating their 40th anniversary with them is their friend and true icon Stevie Nicks. Music does not get better than this.’ Indeed Nicks’ love for the band with whom she will share the stage on July 9^th led her to tell Rolling Stone in 2010 that, ‘In 1976, I’d been in Fleetwood Mac for about a year when I heard Tom Petty’s debut. I became such a fan that if I hadn’t been in a band myself, I would have joined that one’, via The Guardian. Nicks’ wish came true, after a fashion, when Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers appeared on her first two solo albums. Nicks has also recently added extra dates to the 24 Karat Gold Tour, and will be joined on the road by both The Pretenders and Chrissie Hynde.

Aside from the love-in between Petty and Nicks, festival goers will also see Denver folk-rockers The Lumineers take to the stage. The band released their second album, Cleopatra, earlier in the year, with the album topping the Billboard 200 in both the US and UK Albums Charts. The band also recently showed they have a festive side in addition to their more contemplative, wistful vibe, by releasing a cover of Elvis’ Blue Christmas which they initially performed live at the National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony.

This announcement covers the July 9^th night of the festival, however, the event will be spread over a series of dates. Phil Collins will headline on the 30^th June; Green Day will take to the stage on the 1^st July, as previously reported by mxdwn.co.uk; the 2^nd of July will be crowned by a set from Justin Bieber; Kings of Leon are slated to top the bill on the 6^th July – which you can read more about at mxdwn.co.uk; before Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers finally take to the stage to close the festival on the 9^th July.

Tickets for the event are now on sale, ranging in price from £62.50-£299 and are available here.