Watch Peter Buck Join Coldplay to Cover Tom Petty’s ‘Free Fallin”
Coldplay's 2017 tour brought the band to the Moda Center in Portland on Oct. 2 — and as millions of fans waited for official word on Tom Petty's medical condition, the members of the group took a minute of silence to pay tribute, followed by a cover of the Petty hit "Free Fallin'" featuring a guest appearance from former R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck.
The collaboration, captured in the fan-shot footage embedded above, was commemorated by Coldplay's official Twitter account, which complimented Buck's work on what they deemed a "wonderful rendition" of the classic single.
As previously reported, the later hours of Oct. 2 were filled with confusion regarding Petty's health. Found unconscious in his home after suffering cardiac arrest, he was rushed to the hospital, where medics were unable to revive him; taken off life support, he was initially reported to have passed by a variety of outlets, but that news proved premature.
For hours following those reports, Petty was said to be "clinging to life," adding an extra layer of anguish for fans faced with the sudden loss of a beloved artist, only to learn that the end — while still all but certain — had yet to come.
Petty's passing was confirmed later in the evening by longtime manager Tony Dimitriades, who spoke on behalf of the musician's extended family, describing the gathering as "devastated to announce the untimely death of of our father, husband, brother, leader and friend" while offering assurances that he "died peacefully" while "surrounded by family, his bandmates and friends."
Coldplay's Buck-assisted tribute is just one among many attempts to honor Petty among the rock community. Read through more remembrances from Petty's peers at this link.
Tom Petty Through the Years: 1976-2017 Photos