From the Vault - Tom Petty & Eddie Vedder

Eddie Vedder & Tom Petty at Summerfest 2006

Photo Credit: Summerfest

After five decades in the rearview, we've collected some great stuff over the years: countless stories, endless bins of photos, and piles and piles of festival planning documents. For year's it's been filed away and stored for safekeeping in what we call the "Summerfest Vault," but where's the fun in that? We've recently cracked open the Vault and it's time to share the secrets with all of you each Thursday - perfect for those Throwback Thursdays.

This week, we uncovered a photo of two music icons sharing the Amphitheater stage - Tom Petty and Eddie Vedder. But, what's the story behind the photo? We turned to Bob Babisch, Vice President of Entertainment here at Summerfest, to tell us a little more about that night.

First, we need to rewind back to 1989 - the first time Tom Petty headlined the Amphitheater. After that show, he became a fan of the festival, and it was obvious to everyone he was a fan favorite. He returned to perform several times more and the hunger for his shows continued to grow! When it came to filling out the lineup for 2006, the entertainment booking team thought to book Tom Petty for a two-night special - the only other time in Summerfest history that was done was in 1995 with Pearl Jam and Bad Religion.

In order to ensure that both nights would be something extraordinary, they considered booking a double headliner. In the many, many conversations that ensued with agents, band managers, and tour managers, Pearl Jam was brought up as an option because Eddie Vedder was a big fan of Tom Petty. In fact, Tom Petty was also a fan of Eddie Vedder's work so it made for a good double headlining team for Summerfest 2006.

Weeks of discussions continued, and an agreement was close to being completed. Only one final sign-off was needed from the Pearl Jam camp. One evening while Bob was at a local restaurant with his two young children, he got the call from Pearl Jam management. In between ordering dinner, feeding two children, and an occasional breadstick thrown - the deal was completed and the show would happen. The deal had finally been completed! It was official - Pearl Jam would co-headline with Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, and the rest is history.

The Tom Petty Pearl Jam package was a huge hit. In fact, both nights Eddie Vedder joined Tom Petty to play "The Waiting," as well as "American Girl" during the encores. The pair would end up playing a few more shows together around the country, but it all started with Summerfest. After that show, Tom Petty would go on to play two-night specials at Summerfest in 2010 and in 2017.

Below are the setlists from those iconic nights:

Tom Petty Setlist from Night 1, June 29, 2006:

Listen to Her Heart
You Don’t Know How It Feels
I Won’t Back Down
Free Fallin’
Saving Grace
Mary Jane’s Last Dance
I’m a Man – Bo Diddley cover
Oh Well – Fleetwood Mac cover
Handle with Care – Traveling Wilburys cover
The Waiting – with Eddie Vedder
Here Comes My Girl
Little Red Rooster – Willie Dixon cover
Cabin Down Below
Learning To Fly
Don’t Come Around Here No More
Refugee
Runnin’ Down a Dream
Encore
- You Wreck Me
- Mystic Eyes – Them cover
- American Girl – with Eddie Vedder

Pearl Jam Setlist from Night 1, June 29, 2006:

Wasted Reprise
Life Wasted
World Wide Suicide
Severed Hand
Corduroy
Animal
In Hiding
Even Flow
Gone
Better Man
Do the Evolution
Why Go
Jeremy
Inside Job
Comatose
Rearviewmirror
Encore
- Crazy Mary – Victoria Williams cover
- Leash
- Porch

Tom Petty Setlist from Night 2, June 30, 2006:

Listen to Her Heart
You Don’t Know How It Feels
I Won’t Back Down
Free Fallin’
Saving Grace
Handle With Care – Traveling Wilburys cover
I'm Crying – The Animals cover
Oh Well – Fleetwood Mac cover
Mary Jane’s Last Dance
The Waiting – with Eddie Vedder
It’s Good to Be King
Honey Bee
Learning to Fly
Don’t Come Around Here No More
Refugee
Runnin’ Down a Dream
Encore
- You Wreck Me
- Mystic Eyes – Them cover
- American Girl – with Eddie Vedder