Petty gives 'last ever interview'

Rocker Tom Petty is making 2006 a year for lasts after announcing a recent chat with US rock magazine Rolling Stone will be his final interview.

The singer announced his summer tour with his band The Heartbreakers will be his final dates earlier this year and now he doesn't want to talk to the press anymore - even though he has a new album to promote next month.

He told Rolling Stone contributing editor Neil Strauss: "This is the last interview I am doing, because I have to live life.

"I can't spend every day fulfilling the needs of the label of the media in order to promote the record. I love the record and I really care about it, but there is a point where you start to not like yourself (in

interviews).

"My mind is so delicate, and I am sure it comes from the life I have lived. But my mind is so delicate that I can't take being part of that (interviews). It's just like hanging around after a show to meet people. I can't do that.

"I am not the best star for promoting himself. I think that's the whole problem with our career. We have never embraced the promotion machine. Maybe we should have."