'He Was The First Inspiration For Me,' Young Paramus Teen Says Of Tom Petty

PARAMUS, NJ — Jake Thistle's love of Tom Petty started when he was 3. Petty and his band, The Heartbreakers, played the Super Bowl halftime show in 2008.

A self-confessed Petty superfan, Thistle has used his love of the rock icon's music to raise more than $35,000 for charities by playing Petty's songs at live shows at Radio City Music Hall, throughout North Jersey and in England.

Thistle said Petty's untimely death Monday is "a terrible loss for music." Petty suffered cardiac arrest at his California home early Monday morning, but could not be revived, his family said in a statement. He died at 11:40 p.m. EST surrounded by his family, bandmates and friends.

Thistle, 13, just saw Petty and the band at a concert during their most recent tour.

"It's just so hard to believe. It doesn't seem real to me yet even though I know it is," Thistel said. "I feel like I lost a great teacher."

Thistle is a self-taught guitar player, inspired by Petty's Super Bowl halftime performance.

"His music is such a part of me and everything I do that I can't imagine not having it," — Jake Thistle on Tom Petty's music

"I was 3. I was mesmerized and knew that's what I wanted to do," Thistle said.

Thistle got a guitar when he was 9 and "I Won't Back Down" was the first song he learned.

"My whole life would be different without him. It's hard for me to even think about it. His music is such a part of me and everything I do that I can't imagine not having it. It's safe to say that I wouldn't be the person I am today without it," Thistle said. "I've been able to make music and make people happy and without Tom Petty, I don't know that I ever would have learned how to do any of it."

Thistle raised $4,000 at a Ridgewood gig for Rock The Dogs, a nonprofit run by Mike Campbell, the Heartbreakers' lead guitarist. Thistle also played at the ACS Golf Classic and the ACS Diamond ball and raised more than $4,000 for them. Thistle also played a private party at Radio City Music Hall with the Rockettes.

Thistle wants to use Petty's approach to music as an inspiration for his own.

"His songs are classic and they don't get old, because they're honest and real," Thistle said. "I want to try and keep that in my music forever. I'm going to keep playing Tom's music, and I'm going to keep trying to write music that he'd approve of. He'll always be a part of anything I'm able to accomplish."

RELATED: Young Paramus Guitarist Performing In England For Springsteen Charity Concert

RELATED: Young Tom Petty Rocker Raises $1,800 For Non-Profit At Ridgewood Performance

Send local news tips, photos, and press releases to daniel.hubbard@patch.com. Get Patch breaking news alerts sent right to your phone with our new app. Download here.

Jake Thistle — Courtesy of the Thistle family