Howie Epstein - The Heartbreakers

The Heartbreakers

Epstein then took a gig backing Del Shannon. While playing on a Shannon album that Tom Petty was producing (Drop Down And Get Me), Epstein impressed Tom with his ability. So when Ron Blair, who had been bassist with Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers since their inception in 1976, announced that he had enough of touring, Epstein was recruited into the line-up. "We all kind of thought Howie would get the job," says Heartbreakers' drummer Stan Lynch. "He seemed to have a real good feeling for what we were doing. He’s a good bass player, a real good singer, and he fit in real well." Epstein agreed that the transition of playing in these obscure bands to becoming part of a very popular, very established band was almost seamless. "It’s been easier than I thought it would be. I was already familiar with most of their music just because I’m a fan of the Heartbreakers, so it wasn’t like I was coming in cold."

After joining the Heartbreakers, he started to take up the bass seriously "I had a tendency to play real busy, from all the years of playing rhythm guitar". Epstein found a natural style, which he said emphasizes "simplicity, playing in the pocket, getting into a steady groove. I’ve always considered myself a good team player and that’s the way that the Heartbreakers operate. Everyone listens to what everyone else is doing musically." He made his live debut at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium on September 1, 1982 on a tour to promote the album Long After Dark. When Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers played the US Festival four days later in San Bernardino, California, alongside Fleetwood Mac, The Police and Talking Heads, he took it all in his stride. In addition to playing bass and singing back-up vocals, he played mandolin. His harmonies with Tom Petty were a Heartbreakers' trademark. He preferred Fender basses (particularly the Precision and Jazz models), but performed on Hofner, Rickenbacker and Vox instruments sometimes.