Depressing news. I've seen Tom Petty in concert a couple times, and they were both outstanding performances. I remember that Howie was from Milwaukee - a point which Tom made the crowd well aware of when I saw them play here.
While searching for more on his death, I came across a few tidbits. Apparently Tom fired Howie in early '02, at which time the original bassist Blair returned. I also found this bit of disturbing http://news:
http://www.sfnewmexican.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=2013625&BRD=2144&PAG=461&dept_id=367954&rfi=6
6/28/01
Here's a summary in case the link doesn't work:
ALBUQUERQUE - Police arrested two celebrities who gave a Tesuque address after they were stopped in a car reported stolen from a Santa Fe car dealership.
State police said they also found 2.9 grams of black-tar heroin and drug paraphernalia in the car with Howie Epstein, bassist for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, and singer-songwriter Carlene Carter, stepdaughter of country-western star Johnny Cash and daughter of June Carter Cash.
"Ms. Carter claimed the paraphernalia and heroin found in the vehicle belonged to her, and was used strickly (sic) for personal use," officer James Bergman said in a criminal complaint filed in Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court.
Epstein and Carter, both 45, were arrested Tuesday night by Bergman, who pulled over the 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee that Carter was driving -allegedly faster than the speed limit - on Interstate 25 in Albuquerque.
Santa Fe Deputy Police Chief Beverly Lennen said the gold-colored Jeep had been reported stolen at 5:15 p.m. March 15 from a Santa Fe Chrysler-Jeep dealership.
Epstein was charged in the criminal complaint with receiving or transferring stolen vehicles or motor vehicles.
Carter, who is the daughter of June Carter Cash and country singer Carl Smith, was charged with receiving or transferring stolen vehicles or motor vehicles, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and speeding.
According to The Carlene Carter Page on the Internet, after Carter divorced English rock icon Nick Lowe, she acquired an "increasing dependence" on alcohol and cocaine. Carter and Epstein have been dating since 1988, the Web site added. The site said Epstein produced two of Carter's albums - I Fell in Love in 1990 and Little Love Letters in 1993.
Charges were later dismissed.
