Rich Kubicz, who plays the role of Tom Petty in the show, has been playing guitar and singing since his early teens. By 2007, so many people had told him that he looked and sounded like Tom Petty that he decided to put together Damn The Torpedoes as a tribute to Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.

The goal was to play all of the studio hits, some of the live versions and a few deep cuts to create the illusion of a Tom Petty concert performance. This meant that each band member would need to find the same sounds as on the records and play their parts note for note.

Over the years Damn The Torpedoes has evolved with a deeper understanding of the Tom Petty catalog and more committed members. The current lineup has been in place for several years and demonstrates the unspoken chemistry that makes any great band. All of the signature riffs, harmonies and underlying parts of the music are there—and the show has become “second nature” with an artistry and emotion that makes audiences smile. Or as Rich likes to say, we deliver the “awe factor” in every performance.