Mudcrutch is a rock band from Gainesville, Florida best known for being the forerunner of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.
Mudcrutch was formed in 1970 by Tom Petty and Tom Leadon, who had been playing together in a band called the Epics. Mudcrutch's lineup consisted of Petty (bass and vocals), Tom Leadon (guitar and vocals), Randall Marsh (drums) and Mike Campbell (guitar). Leadon left the band in 1972 and was replaced by bassist/guitarist/vocalist Danny Roberts. Roberts played bass and sang backing-vocals on the bands' only Shelter Records single, which was a 45-rpm single made-up of "Depot Street", bw "Wild Eyes". Keyboardist Benmont Tench also joined the band. Much like The Beatles at the Cavern Club in Liverpool, Mudcrutch served as the house band at Dub's Lounge in its hometown of Gainesville, Florida. Dub's Lounge became "Russell's" and then was empty and untenanted as of August 2008. Highway US 441, which Petty sang about in numerous songs, runs directly in front of Dub's Lounge.
