Mike Campbell & The Dirty Knobs Announce New Album 'Mission of Mercy'

The album features guest appearances by The B-52s' Kate Pierson and Morgane Stapleton.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 3:00am

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An extreme close-up photograph of a shattered disco ball, with the reflective glass fragments creating a dramatic, high-contrast pattern of glittering light and shadow across the frame, conceptually representing the vibrant energy and rock star glamour of the new album.The glitz and energy of Mike Campbell and The Dirty Knobs' new album 'Mission of Mercy' shines through in this abstract macro shot of a shattered disco ball.Minneapolis Today

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers guitarist Mike Campbell has announced that his band The Dirty Knobs will release their fourth studio album, 'Mission of Mercy', on June 12. The 12-track album will feature guest appearances by The B-52s' Kate Pierson and Morgane Stapleton, and the band has already released the first single, 'I Remember'.

Why it matters

Mike Campbell is a legendary guitarist who co-founded Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, one of the most influential rock bands of the past few decades. The release of a new album by his side project, The Dirty Knobs, is an exciting event for fans of Campbell's work and classic rock music.

The details

The Dirty Knobs - featuring Campbell, guitarist/keyboardist Chris Holt, bassist Lance Morrison and drummer Steve Ferrone - have announced that their fourth studio album, 'Mission of Mercy', will be released on June 12. The album will feature guest appearances by The B-52s' Kate Pierson and Morgane Stapleton. As a preview, the band has released the album's first single, 'I Remember', which Campbell says was written on the piano instead of the guitar and has an 'ethereal, jam-like quality'.

  • The 12-track 'Mission of Mercy' album will be released on June 12, 2026.
  • The Dirty Knobs are set to launch a summer tour following the album's release, starting on July 7 in Minneapolis.
  • Mike Campbell will also perform a special concert on September 12 in Atlanta, where he'll play Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers hits backed by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.
  • The Dirty Knobs will open for Chris Stapleton on October 2 in Bristow, Virginia.

The players

Mike Campbell

The guitarist and co-founder of the legendary rock band Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, who is now leading his own side project, The Dirty Knobs.

The Dirty Knobs

Mike Campbell's band, which includes guitarist/keyboardist Chris Holt, bassist Lance Morrison and drummer Steve Ferrone.

Kate Pierson

A member of the iconic new wave band The B-52s, who is featured as a guest on The Dirty Knobs' new album.

Morgane Stapleton

A country music singer-songwriter who is also featured as a guest on The Dirty Knobs' new album.

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What they’re saying

“'I Remember' is a song written on the piano instead of the guitar. The Dirty Knobs turned my demo into a great rock track that has an ethereal, jam-like quality to it, which I really like. I can see it being a great song to play live.”

— Mike Campbell, Guitarist

What’s next

Following the release of 'Mission of Mercy', Mike Campbell and The Dirty Knobs will embark on a summer tour starting on July 7 in Minneapolis. Campbell will also perform a special concert on September 12 in Atlanta, where he'll play Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers hits backed by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. Additionally, The Dirty Knobs will open for Chris Stapleton on October 2 in Bristow, Virginia.

The takeaway

The release of a new album by Mike Campbell and The Dirty Knobs is an exciting event for fans of classic rock and Campbell's work with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. The album's guest appearances and Campbell's upcoming live performances suggest the new music will be well-received by both longtime fans and new listeners.