Label Warner Bros. | Length 3:31 | |
Released September 23, 2002 (2002-09-23) Producer(s) George Drakoulias, Tom Petty, Mike Campbell | ||
"The Last DJ" is a song written by Tom Petty and recorded by American rock band, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. It was released in September 2002 as the lead single from their album of the same name. This song had moderate success reaching number 22 on the Billboard's Mainstream Rock Tracks in 2002. The song was banned by many stations owned by Clear Channel Communications for being "anti-radio."
Contents
Background and writing
Petty told Mojo magazine that in this song, "Radio was just a metaphor. ‘The Last DJ’ was really about losing our moral compass, our moral center.” Petty told Jim DeRogatis that the song is a story "about a D.J. in Jacksonville, Florida, who became so frustrated with his inability to play what he wants that he moves to Mexico and gets his freedom back. The song is sung by a narrator who's a fan of this D.J."
Content
This song is an attack on corporate takeover of radio stations in the late 1990s. Radio stations would have one DJ record shows and have it broadcast over many stations, saving money but also losing the local connection with audiences. Since the DJ is not local and is recording the show ahead of time, he cannot refer to timely events and must make an effort to connect with an audience he does not know.
Critical reception
Chuck Taylor, of Billboard magazine reviewed the song favorably, calling it "the most inspiring song in years from a man who has pretty much seen it all."
In popular culture
In an episode of The Simpsons titled "How I Spent My Strummer Vacation", Homer receives song-writing lessons from Tom Petty, and in the original airing the track "The Last DJ" can be heard playing over the radio in the final scene. The song was changed for syndication.