Tom Petty Concert Shut Down 90 Minutes in, Petty Gives Fans a Full Refund

Tom Petty already made my list of all-time favorite artists for years. After hearing he gave full refunds after performing 3/4 of a concert before being shut down by the local Fire Marshal, I'm starting to think the rock legend can do no wrong.

According to TomPetty.com, Petty and the Heartbreakers were rocking right along on Saturday night (June 8th) at the Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles. A statement posted on the website said that the band was 90 minutes into a performance that they expected would go on for another 30, when Fire Marshal shut down the concert due to an overcrowded venue. The statement went on to say that concert-goers would be able to get a full refund.

The satisfaction of fans is of paramount importance to Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers and the band shares the frustration of the fans in attendance that evening who deserved to experience the entire performance.

As a result, Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers and Goldenvoice are pleased to announce that full refunds for the June 8 show are now available at the point of purchase.

We are also pleased to confirm that Ticketmaster has agreed to refund all incurred Ticketmaster fees.

The statement goes on to explain in great detail the steps fans can take to get their refund.

Amazing. We hear so much about rock stars apologetically showing up late to shows, and leaving the stage whenever they feel like it, with no consideration for the fans. But not Tom Petty. He could have easily said he'd played long enough, and that fans got their money's worth without much complaint. But Petty went all-out for his fans.

Fans' comments on the website show off their gratitude for the gesture:

The statement was also posted on the Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers Facebook page, where nearly 250 similar comments were posted by fans within less than 24 hours of the announcement.

Have you ever been to a concert that was cut short for any reason? How was it handled?