Provided the opening music on NBA Playoff and Finals broadcasts on ABC Sports and ESPN with the Heartbreakers in 2006.

"Damn the Torpedoes" was listed on #313 in Rolling Stone magazine's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time in 2003.

Got inducted to Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002 together with the Heartbreakers.

The title of his third album with the Heartbreakers, "Damn the Torpedoes" was a reference to a famous quote made by Admiral David Farragut.

Single "The Waiting" with the Heartbreakers was featured on an episode of "The Simpsons" entitled "The Cartridge Family" during a scene in which Homer sits in his yard waiting to get his pistol.

His song made with the Heartbreakers entitled "Insider" featured guest vocal from Stevie Nicks of Fleetwood Mac.

Tracks "The Last DJ", "Money Becomes King", "Joe", and "Can't Stop the Sun" from album "The Last DJ" with the Heartbreakers attacked sharply on the greediness of the music industry.

The music video of "Mary Jane's Last Dance", a hit song made with the Heartbreakers, featured Kim Basinger as a corpse stolen by Petty which he dressed as a bride.

His single of "Free Fallin'" was covered by Stevie Nicks in her box set of "Enchanted: the Works of Stevie Nicks" while being sampled by Pimp C in "I'm Free."

Has his own show on XM Radio called "Buried Treasure."

Produced Del Shannon's album of "Drop Down and Get Me."

His birthday is also the anniversary of the deaths of Ronnie Van Zant and Steve Gaines of Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Was born on the same date and month as Viggo Mortensen and Snoop Dogg were.