Tom Petty has discussed for the first time the decision to give him a songwriting credit regarding Sam Smith's 'Stay With Me'.
As previously reported Smith's 'Stay With Me' was deemed to be too similiar to Petty's 'I Won't Back Down' and as such Petty was offered a writing credit. Although amicable, Smith and his team have always maintained that the similarities were coincidental.
Writing on his website, Petty explained: "About the Sam Smith thing. Let me say I have never had any hard feelings toward Sam. All my years of songwriting have shown me these things can happen. Most times you catch it before it gets out the studio door but in this case it got by. Sam’s people were very understanding of our predicament and we easily came to an agreement. The word lawsuit was never even said and was never my intention. And no more was to be said about it.
"How it got out to the press is beyond Sam or myself. Sam did the right thing and I have thought no more about this. A musical accident no more no less. In these times we live in this is hardly news. I wish Sam all the best for his ongoing career. Peace and love to all."
Previously a spokesman for Smith had explained. "Recently the publishers for the song 'I Won't Back Down', written by Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne, contacted the publishers for 'Stay With Me', written by Sam Smith, James Napier and William Phillips, about similarities heard in the melodies of the choruses of the two compositions.
"Not previously familiar with the 1989 Petty/Lynne song, the writers of 'Stay With Me' listened to 'I Won't Back Down' and acknowledged the similarity. Although the likeness was a complete coincidence, all involved came to an immediate and amicable agreement."
Sam Smith's full upcoming UK tour dates are below. For tickets and information, visit here.
16 March - Glasgow, O2 Academy
17 March - Glasgow, O2 Academy
19 March - Manchester, O2 Apollo
20 March - Manchester, O2 ApollO
22 March - Wolverhampton, Civic Hall
23 March - Wolverhampton, Civic Hall
25 March - London, O2 Academy Brixton
26 March - London, O2 Academy Brixton
27 March - London, O2 Academy Brixton
