Relive 1994 “Runnin’ Down A Dream” Performance Of Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers

An Acoustic Number

On October 2, 1994, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers performed for Neil Young’s Bridge School Benefit at Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, California. And they powered through a ten-song set featuring a mix of classic hits and deep cuts. Joining Petty on stage are guitarist Mike Campbell, pianist Benmont Tench, guitarist Scott Thurston, bassist Howie Epstein and drummer Stan Lynch. It’s one of Lynch’s last shows with the band before Dave Grohl briefly joined the Heartbreakers, ahead of Steve Ferrone’s recruitment.

Another notable thing about this particular gig is that they played in an acoustic format. On the video below, they played “Runnin’ Down A Dream” before wrapping up the set with “Free Fallin'”.

Written by Petty, Campbell, and Jeff Lynne, it peaked at #23 on the US Billboard Hot 100. In the lyrics, it references Del Shannon’s “Runaway” – “me and Del were singin’ ‘Little Runaway'”. “Runnin’ Down A Dream” is also the title of the 2007 documentary film about Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.

Check out the setlist and their performance below.

Setlist

1. Thirteen Days
2. I Won’t Back Down
3. Girl On LSD
4. King’s Highway
5. Mary Jane’s Last Dance
6. Learning To Fly
7. You Don’t Know How It Feels
8. Time To Move On
9. Runnin’ Down A Dream
10. Free Fallin’