GREENPEACE WAR: Tom Petty has been spreading...

GREENPEACE WAR: Tom Petty has been spreading the word about Greenpeace, the Washington-based environmental group, ever since his current tour started in early July. He has saluted the organization from the stage and has allowed Greenpeace representatives to set up information booths at the concert halls.

But Petty’s good intentions ran afoul of state regulations this month at two tour stops. When he played Jones Beach on Long Island, N.Y., on Aug. 16, park officials refused to allow Greenpeace to set up their booths. Officials at Garden State Arts Center in New Jersey, where Petty played on Aug. 20, also initially banned the Greenpeace reps, but relented when Petty said he wouldn’t perform unless they were allowed to set up their booths.

The reason for the resistance: Both concert sites are located on state-owned parks, which have regulations prohibiting the expression of political or religious agendas.

Petty didn’t take the Jones Beach incident lying down. He told the audience about the park’s decision to ban the environmentalists and noted the irony of its occurring at Jones Beach, where large quantities of medical waste washed up last year.