I played this on the radio when I was a rock n' roll DJ, I took a particular pleasure in playing it after being yelled at by our manager for not playing what I was told to.

how in the flying fuck is this song not more popular it's one of my all time favorite songs!

Rest in peace Jim Ladd who died today at age 75 from a heart attack Tom Petty wrote this song about him the last DJ, Jim Ladd was well known on the Southern California Airwaves on 94.7 kmet and KLOS Los Angeles and klsx Los Angeles❤ rest in peace Jim Ladd the last DJ

As a retired 30-year radio jock, I always appreciated "The last DJ". Spot on lyrics. He called out corporate radio for what it is! And was blacklisted by many stations as a result and he didn't care. We're talking about the ilk of Clear Channel/Iheart radio as the main villains. And they knew it. How genuine! Thank you, Tom. We appreciated it. Your lyrics said what we were afraid to.

The inspiration for this song, Jim Ladd, has passed away this past weekend (Dec. 17, 2023). Lord Have Mercy, he’s gone to DJ for Tom now. I’m completely heartbroken.

R.I.P. Jim Ladd. By no means a perfect man, but one of the last great DJs on commercial radio.

RIP Jim Ladd and Tom Petty 🙏

“As we celebrate MEDIOCRITY”. What a way with words Tom had. Talented. Thank you TPHB!

James William Ladd[2] (January 17, 1948 - December 17, 2023) was an American disc jockey, radio producer and writer. He was one of the last notable remaining freeform rock DJs in United States commercial radio.[3]

God bless Jim Ladd whom inspired Tom Petty to write this song

Thanks for being my friend, Jim Ladd RIP 😢

KMET - The mighty met! RIP - Jim Ladd.

Tom Petty was always a simple, clear truth teller, with music that was a joy to listen to.

This song reminds me of guy I worked with about 12 to 13 years ago. His current job is Firefighter /EMS but his previous job before I met him was Producer / DJ for the last locally broadcast Alternative Rock FM station, which unfortunately was taken over by the internet radio conglomer💔te which for whatever reason laid off everyone and killed the station for no apparent reason, replacing it with a syndicated lite pop or some 💩. Anyway, I was often partnered with this guy at work doing EMS in an ambulance for about a year. He basically brought different CD's to play through the shift at my request and gave me a free music education. He had actually himself interviewed or produced an interview of a lot of the artists. I was always a fan of music but there are a lot of things I didn't know. Also, thinking of Tom Petty reminds me that he was an inspiration to millions of people through music he produced and performed, and like many great musicians Tom came from a nice but humble home in the small town Gainesville, Florida. Tom took guitar lessons at the music store in a strip mall. Today one of the neighborhood parks he played in is named for Tom Petty. It's nice. ✌️

VASTLY underrated TP song...and one only he would have the talent--and balls--to write/record. We luv & miss u, Charlie T.

It's a golden kind of money

Jim Ladd La CA USA he was simply amazing ❤❤❤❤❤ and all radio deejaying in the USA congratulations to you all hell yeah ❤❤❤❤❤. Love you guys from me Marie in Buena Park CA USA

This song has one of the best but simplest music breaks I've ever heard. Absolute perfection

There goes one of the greatest...Rest,well Mr.Petty

That long blond hair!!! It's beautifull! Guys, grow your hair!!!

Lonesome LA Cowboy Jim Ladd, from KMET to KEDG to KLOS , or wherever you were, you spun sets that made us think and stirred our souls. Hope your hanging out with the Burner Mary Turner, JJ Jackson , Tom Petty, and all those others.

We still love you Tom and still rolling down 441....

This song really really really REALLY hits hard now.

We'll miss you Jim Ladd!

Tom Petty - The classic American Rebel !! Thanks Tommy for never Backing Down.

Love you Tom. You spoke for so many.

ALWAYS PLAYED BY THE BEST PEOPLE! TOM PETTY & THE HEARTBREAKERS WILL (NEVER) DIE!

Tom Petty RIP

I miss u tommy!!💞💞💞💞🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🚬🚬🚬😢😢😢

Add me to the "former dj club" that holds this song dearly in my heart. Thanks Tom!

un plaisir de l'écouter ! j'en était fan !! Rip Tom ! merci pour tes belles chansons !!

F'ing love this guy, all my life. He gets better and better with age.

Shall we open this next bottle of red? The hell we will, long live Tom Petty Thanks for awesome memories

This is a code song, just like back in the 70's for all those who remember the songs. This song is about the corporate America shutting up the little guy. For all you Facebook millennial's this is not the way of life, and now record company's are going after the artist coat tails while they go on tour just to get a piece of the pie. Lars Ulrich was right with Napster, and now the norm is I-tunes and spotifie.

I was dating a girl in Florida that her father owned the. Catering company that serviced Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers during the tour that was. At the sun dome. It was awesome backstage passes. Saw him close. Good thing s

Those WERE the days. KNAC, KLOS and KMET. Mr. Jim Ladd is the best. Miss him on the general airwaves (KLOS, what were you THINKING??) but happy he found a home on satellite radio.

We'll miss you.

Rest well, Tom.

One of the greatest bands although in Europe have not the recognice that they deserved.

Amazing

Thanks Tom.

Tom Petty, Forever Loved, Forever Missed, Forever Remembered ❤❤

We miss you, Tom!

RIP THE LOOP (WLUP), There go’s one of the last great stations!

Great song.

There goes the last Dj indeed :(

I’m a Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers Fan. Jonny Weiss “Back to Phoenix!” 🎶

Love he brings.

Hey, hey, hey!

Gonna see him soon in Germany - yes!

God bless you TP!

Is this part of a whole live show that is available? Great great sound. Still hurts...loved you Tom and boys

It's so good, it BaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaD.

Love this song ❤️ reminder to not be a follower. Please don’t let this song die

Looove this ❤️❤️❤️❤️

"All the boys upstairs want to see How much you'll pay for What you used to get for free" Wow, just wow... now in the days of iTunes, subscription channels, satellite radio, and more and more filler ads.... how true, how true

Immer, ever, DJ.

amazing

Where's the rest of the show? A live performance of this whole album would be sooooo great :)

Awesome !

love his voice

Fantastic

Twelve strings a-plenty!!

Awesome. Cool

Rest in peace King..😔

hey hey hey

top

Would love to see the rest of this performance!

I wish that they would put the original video back here on you tube.

So he finished the song even after his beard was stolen. What a pro!

♥️

Safe travels Tom

Bm is a whole step higher than Am which means Tom is singing this higher here live than on the studio version. A waning voice would mean he would lower the key... not raise it.

Hay,hAy ..

1:52 starts here

God - simple as.

song starts around 1:50

is this a new PODCAST?? huh,, thanks ya'all.

But who are those "boys upstairs"? How did they get there?

Rip

2:48

I have NO money! Too SAD! Can't even listen!😨😰😫😟😢😥😞😲😲😲😲😲😲😲

Cool! But how come they play it in B minor (Petty :capo 2nd fret) instead of in A minor like in the studio version?

rip

Nice Hair Style Of Real TV cop27 Familiship (see. Rev7:3) In Light (see. Rev 2:5), Grandpa Tom. Thank U.

Well you can't turn him into a company man You can't turn him into a whore And the boys upstairs just don't understand anymore Well the top brass don't like him talking so much, And he won't play what they say to play And he don't want to change what don't need to change There goes the last DJ Who plays what he wants to play And says what he wants to say, hey hey hey? And there goes your freedom of choice There goes the last human voice There goes the last DJ Well some folks say they're gonna hang him so high 'Cause you just can't do what he did There are some things you just can't put in the minds of those kids As we celebrate mediocrity all the boys upstairs want to see How much you'll pay for what you used to get for free There goes the last DJ Who plays what he wants to play And says what he wants to say, hey hey hey? And there goes your freedom of choice There goes the last human voice And there goes the last DJ Well he got him a station down in Mexico And sometimes it'll kind of come in And I'll bust a move and remember how it was back then And there goes the last DJ Who plays what he wants to play And says what he wants to say, hey hey hey? And there goes your freedom of choice There goes the last human voice. And there goes the last DJ

Jim Ladd.

Cable radio not included,,, said good

I bet he never knew he was writing this song about himself

Nothin’ better sounding than a 12 string Ric,….

You can’t turn him into a company man, you can’t turn him into a whore🎶

What years was this??

Long live foxtv...we report ..you decide

The most poignant line in the whole song to me is 'As we celebrate mediocrity, all the boys upstairs wanna see, how much you'll pay for what ya used to get for free.' God if that doesn't describe the USA today I don't know what does.

F-ckn Drugs

...auch so so schade Tom Petty died ca. vor 5 Jahren

Tom's aging and the voice is prolly waning?