Tom Petty‘s “I Won’t Back Down” gets a roots reggae overhaul in a new studio project led by producer Ralph Sall, bringing together archival recordings from reggae greats with fresh arrangements rooted in Jamaican tradition. Released by Bulletproof Recording, the track blends Petty’s defiant classic with the sonic language of dub, rocksteady, and roots reggae.

The track features vocal performances from late reggae icons including Toots Hibbert and Gregory Isaacs, with contributions from Mykal Rose and instrumental backing by heavyweight session players like Sly & Robbie, Mikey Chung, Robbie Lyn, and the Zap Pow Horns. Petty’s longtime collaborator and co-writer Mike Campbell also features on guitar, creating a direct thread back to the original 1989 release.

The arrangement leans into the song’s underlying resilience, using the steady pulse of roots reggae and dub’s spacious production techniques to let the message breathe. 

“I Won’t Back Down” is the first single from an upcoming compilation album that recasts a series of classic American rock tracks in reggae form. Songs by The Eagles, Fleetwood Mac and The Steve Miller Band also appear on the album, due for release on the 25th of July.

This isn’t a band in the traditional sense, but a curated collaboration: a studio-built tribute that highlights the crossover potential between genres when handled with care. The Mighty Rootsmen name stands for the spirit of the project, not a fixed lineup. What holds it together is a shared respect for both the reggae tradition and the songs it revisits.

You can stream and listen to the single HERE, and visit The Mighty Rootsmen’s Bandcamp page to pre-order the album.