The Isle of Wight Festival is proud to announce another headline act for 2012. Taking the top slot on the Festival main stage on Friday 22nd June is American rock and roll icon Tom Petty with The Heartbreakers at his side. This will be an extra special performance, as it marks the band’s FIRST ever UK festival appearance and their FIRST major UK show in 20 years. Tickets for this epic line up are on sale now here

Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers belong to a special class of artists. A class comprised of those few acts that have sustained decades-long careers despite the restlessness of popular music’s audience. They have scored hits in five different decades while selling tens of millions of records along the way. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame during their first year of eligibility and have garnered accolades and awards too many to mention. Through it all their uncompromising integrity has never wavered while their concert tours have become things of legend.

Tom Petty has said The Heartbreakers are first a live band. Critics have said they are one of the few great live rock and roll bands still playing today. The audience spoke loudest of all in 2010 when Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers' last North American tour was their most successful, attended by more people then ever before.

John Giddings, the Festival’s promoter, says, ‘We are proud to present Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers at the Isle of Wight Festival finally – it has taken years to achieve but I’m sure it will be worth the wait – they are one of the greatest rock and roll bands of all time.’

Famed for its diverse line-up, mixing legendary artists with up and coming acts, the Isle of Wight Festival is a truly remarkable weekend of music and fun and this year will be no exception. Taking place across three stages festivalgoers can expect unmissable performances from artists including; Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers, Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band, Elbow, Biffy Clyro, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, Example, Noah & The Whale, The Vaccines, Madness, and The Christians.