About us:

At the forefront of legendary Rock and Roll bands, you are sure to find Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers. Their songs are woven into the fabric of the American identity. 

While we lost Tom in 2017, his spirit, energy and sheer love of Rock & Roll live on in the performances of Pure Petty, which delivers the premier Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers experience. It’s one that can make even die-hard fans feel like they are at an actual Tom Petty concert.

Pure Petty was formed in 2019 by life long, accomplished musicians hailing from the Philadelphia area. Jimmy Mannix (Tom Petty) performed for years in numerous bands and would consistently be reminded of his uncanny vocal and physical resemblance to Petty. Eventually this sparked a discussion in one of his more recent bands about starting a Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers tribute band.

Being a highly regarded musician, Jimmy was able to pull talent from other bands, surrounding himself with only the top musicians in the area, including his brother Joe on drums and Kathy Mattson whose vocals take Pure Petty to a level well above the rest. Her performances of Stevie Nicks / Tom Petty duets on songs like “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around” and “Insider” are spot on and mesmerizing!

Once everyone was in place, the first rehearsal was magic and they knew they had something special!

Pure Petty's mission has been to recreate the music of Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers with precision, intense attention to detail and unswerving respect for a revered musical legacy. Everyone's parts are intensely studied, down to the inflections in the way each word of every lyric is sung. Close your eyes and you won't know the difference. Open them and you still might be fooled!

Pure Petty pays tribute to one of the greatest American singer-songwriters of all time by delivering an astounding and memorable salute to the musical legacy of Tom Petty via a second-to-none, high-energy performance that leaves wildly enthusiastic, multi-generational crowds craving more!

That’s why the band has earned a reputation as one of the most popular tribute acts in the Philadelphia/tri-state area, and why it’s rapidly gaining recognition in other regions.

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Jimmy Mannix

(Tom Petty)

Playing the role of Tom Petty in the tribute band Pure Petty. He plays guitar and sings lead vocals. Jimmy is a founding member of Pure Petty. He is also a founding member of Skippy's Toy, a working cover band that has been together for 9 years, and Big Bang, a local band that survived over 20 years. He was also in Cheap Sunglasses, Outloud, Mark Evans Duo, and various other bands. Jimmy's incredible guitar playing and stunning vocals make him one of the best and most respected performers in the area.

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Kathy Mattson

(Stevie Nicks)

Playing the role of Stevie Nicks, lead/back up vocals and percussion/keyboards. Kathy has been involved in various bands throughout her life, and is currently in a cover band, Skippy’s Toy, as well as a duo with Jimmy that performs all over the Philadelphia area. She was classically trained in high school on piano and studied opera as well.

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Frank Sonsini

(Mike Campbell)

Playing the role of Mike Campbell, on lead guitar. Frank started playing gigs at age 16, and has a firm knowledge of recording and engineering. Several of Frank’s original compositions have been featured on several feature movies, TNT Network, Bravo, E! Entertainment and Robusto Records. Frank has been in many bands including The Blues Hawks, Nasty Canasta, Seven Deep, Uncle Salty and Straight Shooter (a Bad Company Tribute band).

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Mike "Doc" Meltzer

(Benmont Tench)

Playing the role of Benmont Tench, keyboards and back up vocals. Mike is a real-life doctor who practices family medicine as a “side gig.” Doc has been playing keyboards and singing for over 40 years. Mike is an original member of Midlife Crisis and played with the band Doghouse. Doc is an extremely talented keyboard player, and he’s also fun to watch. This pintsized powerhouse brings joy and energy to every gig.

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Joey Mannix

(Stan Lynch)

Playing the role of Stan Lynch/Steve Ferrone on drums and back up vocals. Joey was an original member of Big Bang, a cover band that lasted over 20 years. He was also in Outloud, Kost, MCO and Wicked Garden, a tribute to Stone Temple Pilots. Joey is a seasoned drummer who spends his free time at the shore with his grandchildren.

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Chuck Darrow

(Ron Blair)

Playing the role of Ron Blair. Chuck has spent most of his life playing bass. He has performed in numerous Philly-area groups including Nasty Habits, a long-running cover band that opened for Little Feat, Peter Noone & Herman’s Hermits, Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes and Roseanne Barr. He was also in Fifty/50, a popular original band of the late1980’s, and is currently the bassist and co-composer for the original band, Nytrous.

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