Contributing Editor David Rensin met with Tom Petty in Los Angeles during the recording sessions for his new album. "He's a regular guy," Rensin told us. "He drinks Coke. He doesn't even act like a rock star--though he is very skinny. But underneath his good manners are strong opinions and an informed rebelliousness. Presumably, that is what makes all the girls go crazy."

Q 1

PLAYBOY: You fought quite a battle in the press to keep the price of your Hard Promises album down to $8.98. How much is this next one going to cost?

Tom Petty: [Laughs] Eight ninety-eight, I hope. It's funny that the prices haven't gone up yet. We were dead right. Mick Jagger told me that what we pulled off had a lot to do with keeping prices down. But if the record company came at me again with a price hike, I couldn't do much about it except scream. I never expected our battle to get as much play as it did. But we got so much mail, so many thanks from record buyers, that it felt real, real good.

Q 2

PLAYBOY: How has fame inhibited your lifestyle?

Tom Petty: It bugs me that I have to fight wanting to go down to the store or something. That's been the only inconvenience. On the other hand, I've never been a real sociable person. When strangers come up to me and start talking, it's hard for me not to be slightly rude. But if I were to see, say, Roger McGuinn someplace and went over and said, "Hey, Roger" and he just moaned and walked away, I'd be crushed forever. So I do try to be friendly to people, because I know how much it means to me. I'll never cry about the fame.

Q 3

PLAYBOY: You've been married for five years. You have two children. Do marriage and rock 'n' roll mix?

Tom Petty: You mean, like, wanting to take nine girls home each night? Well, I can't do that. But I don't have the desire, either. I've been a musician since I was 14. I was on the road the first time at 15. I was playing when I met Jane, my wife, so we're both used to it; and at times, she's more of a rocker than I am. If I had a conflict, I wouldn't be married. Both of us would call it off. If I had to choose between my wife and my career, I'd choose my wife, but we both know we'd never be happy. I could say, "Well, babe, I'm gonna lay down the guitar and just hang out with you every day." But that would be bullshit. After a few days, I'd be down playing at some bar. And she knows it. For a long time, I never told anyone I was married, because I figured discussing it made us a public couple and pretty soon we'd be reading about ourselves in magazines. That would ruin it. I have a pretty good marriage these days. I haven't always.

Q 4

PLAYBOY: What's changed?

Tom Petty: When you're gone nine months out of the year, you're not really married. I used to be gone so much it was hard to feel I had anything going. Telephone romances don't work. I'd take Jane on the road with me, but it's awful to be on a tour and not have a job to do. We're both hyper people, and being a road wife is a waste of time. Jane used to do it, but she's not into it anymore. With two kids, she's got her hands full.

Q 5

PLAYBOY: What would you do if your children were listening to some music you couldn't stand?

Tom Petty: I might say, "How can you listen to this garbage?" but I'd never take the record away--which was done to me. For a long time, my father couldn't understand why I didn't go outside and play or go hunting with him. Now he's a huge fan. My kid listens to Olivia Newton-John, and I'm not really wild about her, though I've learned she makes good singles. I can appreciate them on a craftsmanship level, and there's something noble about making all those people happy. My kid also listens to Devo.