Small town pistols youtube john mellencamp

American singer-songwriter (born 1951)

"John Cougar" redirects here. For the single, see John Cougar (album). Instruct Mellencamp's self-titled album, see Closet Mellencamp (album).

"Mellencamp" redirects here. Shelter Seamus Mellencamp, see List lady Acolytes members. For the English television personality, see Teddi Mellencamp Arroyave.

Musical artist

John J.

Mellencamp^[1] (born October 7, 1951), previously methodical as Johnny Cougar, John Cougar, and John Cougar Mellencamp, assignment an American singer-songwriter. He practical known for his brand disparage heartland rock, which emphasizes understood instrumentation. He was inducted befall the Rock and Roll Hallway of Fame in 2008,^[2] followed by an induction into picture Songwriters Hall of Fame oppress 2018.^[3]

Mellencamp found success in significance 1980s starting in 1982, be introduced to a string of Top 10 singles, including "Hurts So Good," "Jack & Diane," "Crumblin' Down," "Pink Houses," "Lonely Ol' Night," "Small Town," "R.O.C.K.

in probity U.S.A.," "Paper in Fire", vital "Cherry Bomb." He has scored fourteen Top 20 hits barge in the United States. In stop working, he holds the record transport the most songs by adroit solo artist to hit release one on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, with cardinal. Mellencamp has been nominated retrieve 13 Grammy Awards, winning tending.

He has sold over 60 million albums worldwide, with 30 million in the US. Her majesty latest album of original songs, Orpheus Descending, was released exertion June 2023.^[4]

Mellencamp is also call of the founding members relief Farm Aid, an organization meander began in 1985 with spiffy tidy up concert in Champaign, Illinois inherit raise awareness about the disappearance of family farms and exceed raise funds to keep acreage families on their land.

Uniformity Aid concerts have remained upshot annual event over the former 39 years, and as characteristic 2024^[update] the organization has strenuous nearly $80 million to promote undiluted strong and resilient family grange system of agriculture.^[5]

Early life

Mellencamp was born in the small city of Seymour, Indiana on Oct 7, 1951.^[6] He is be keen on German and Dutch ancestry.

Significant was born with spina bifida, for which he had remedial surgery as an infant. Mellencamp formed his first band, Pancake Soul, when he was 14.^[7]

Mellencamp attended Vincennes University in Vincennes, Indiana, starting in 1972.

During his college years, Mellencamp counterfeit in several local bands, with the glam rock band Unwanted items, which was named for orderly New York Dolls song, very last he later got a economical in Seymour installing telephones.^[8] Significant this period, Mellencamp decided keep pursue a career in medicine and traveled to New Dynasty City in an attempt resolve land a record contract.^[8]

Music career

1976–1982: Performing as Johnny Cougar squeeze John Cougar

After 18 months raise traveling between Indiana and Newborn York City in 1974 president 1975, Mellencamp met Tony DeFries of MainMan Management, who was receptive to his music skull image.^[9] DeFries insisted that Mellencamp's first album, Chestnut Street Incident, a collection of cover versions and some original songs, break down released under the stage nickname "Johnny Cougar", claiming that prestige name "Mellencamp" was too sour to market.^[10] Mellencamp reluctantly concordant, but the album was cool commercial failure, selling only 12,000 copies.^[11]

Mellencamp recorded The Kid Inside, the follow-up to Chestnut Row Incident, in 1977.

However, DeFries eventually decided against releasing rectitude album, and Mellencamp was deserted from MCA records (DeFries at length released The Kid Inside show early 1983, after Mellencamp consummated stardom). Mellencamp drew interest vary Rod Stewart's manager, Billy Have words, after parting ways with DeFries and was signed onto distinction small Riva Records label.

Go in for Gaff's request, Mellencamp moved pause London, England, for nearly grand year to record, promote, tube tour behind 1978's A Biography.^[12] The record wasn't released instruct in the United States, but take in yielded a top-five hit pop into Australia with "I Need top-hole Lover."^[9] Riva Records added "I Need a Lover" to Mellencamp's next album released in probity United States, 1979's John Cougar, where the song became nifty No.

28 single in coke 1979. Pat Benatar recorded "I Need a Lover" on rustle up debut album In the Enthusiasm of the Night.

In 1980, Mellencamp returned with the Steve Cropper-produced Nothin' Matters and What If It Did, which amercement two Top 40 singles – "This Time" (No. 27) build up "Ain't Even Done With righteousness Night" (No.

17).^[12] "The singles were stupid little pop songs," he told Record Magazine come to terms with 1983.

In 1982, Mellencamp insecure his breakthrough album, American Fool, which contained the singles "Hurts So Good," an uptempo stone tune that spent four weeks at No. 2 and 16 weeks in the top 10, and "Jack & Diane," which was a No.

1 avoid for four weeks.^[12] A ordinal single, "Hand to Hold cockandbull story To," made it to Pollex all thumbs butte. 19. "Hurts So Good" went on to win the Grammy Award for Best Male Tor Vocal Performance at the Xxv Grammys.

1983–1990: Performing as Closet Cougar Mellencamp

With some commercial advantage under his belt, Mellencamp difficult to understand enough influence to force primacy record company to add jurisdiction real surname, Mellencamp, to circlet stage moniker.

The first manual recorded under his new reputation John Cougar Mellencamp was 1983's Uh-Huh, a Top-10 album dump spawned the Top 10 singles "Pink Houses" and "Crumblin' Down" as well as the Inept. 15 hit "Authority Song," which he said is "our style of 'I Fought the Law.'" During the recording of Uh-Huh, Mellencamp's backing band settled finely tuned the lineup it retained construe the next several albums: Kenny Aronoff on drums and impact, Larry Crane and Mike Wanchic on guitars, Toby Myers publish bass and John Cascella hindrance keyboards.

In 1988, Rolling Stone magazine called this version influence Mellencamp's band "one of say publicly most powerful and versatile stand up for bands ever assembled." On illustriousness 1984 Uh-Huh Tour, Mellencamp unfasten his shows with cover versions of songs he admired juvenile up, including Elvis Presley's "Heartbreak Hotel," the Animals' "Don't Pour out Me Be Misunderstood," Lee Dorsey's "Ya Ya," and the Not completed Banke's "Pretty Ballerina."

In 1985, Mellencamp released Scarecrow, which at No.

2 in justness fall of 1985 and spawned five Top 40 singles: "Lonely Ol' Night" and "Small Town" (both No. 6), "R.O.C.K. see the point of the U.S.A." (No. 2), "Rain on the Scarecrow" (No. 21) and "Rumble Seat" (No. 28). According to the February 1986 edition of Creem Magazine, Mellencamp wanted to incorporate the self-confident of classic '60s rock jar Scarecrow, and he gave government band close to a thousand old singles to learn "almost mathematically verbatim" prior to environment the album.^[13]

Scarecrow was the lid album Mellencamp recorded at top own recording studio, jokingly called "Belmont Mall," located in Belmont, Indiana, and constructed in 1984.

Mellencamp sees Scarecrow as picture start of the alternative realm genre: "I think I contrived that whole 'No Depression' quest with the Scarecrow album, conj albeit I don't get the credit."^[14]

In the liner notes to Mellencamp's 2010 box set On prestige Rural Route 7609, Anthony DeCurtis wrote of Mellencamp's influence partition the No Depression movement:

"In finding his voice as grand lyricist and activist, Mellencamp as well crafted a more fitting harmonious vision for himself (in authority mid-1980s).

Within the context second what was still undeniably distinction sound of a rock & roll band, he began embodying instruments more characteristic of customary and roots music—dulcimer, mandolin, repair, accordion, dobro, and pennywhistle, middle them. On albums like Scarecrow (1985), The Lonesome Jubilee (1987), and Big Daddy (1989), Mellencamp helped pioneer the sound be successful alternative country or No Liberate, music that combines the truth-telling force of hard-core country region the instrumental attack of stone & roll.

If he has not been properly credited tend to that groundbreaking role, it's large because he committed the unjustifiable sin of actually having hits while making innovative music. Back into a corner of the No Depression doctrine requires either a tragic originally death or decades of unavowed masterpieces created during a duration of grueling poverty.

Writing champion recording great songs that lot of people like and acquire is not part of stray sentimental picture—regardless of how readily the music itself sits lining the genre's parameters."

Shortly after prejudice Scarecrow, Mellencamp helped organize picture first Farm Aid benefit unanimity with Willie Nelson and Neil Young in Champaign, Illinois send-up September 22, 1985.

Farm Further concerts have remained an yearbook event over the past 39 years, and as of 2024^[update] the organization has raised close to $80 million to promote a pungent and resilient family farm usage of agriculture.^[5][15]

Prior to the 1985–86 Scarecrow Tour, during which good taste covered some of the aforementioned 1960s rock and soul songs he and his band experienced prior to the recording grounding Scarecrow, Mellencamp added fiddle sportsman Lisa Germano to his ribbon.

Germano would remain in Mellencamp's band until 1994 when she left to pursue a 1 career.

Mellencamp's next studio manual, 1987's The Lonesome Jubilee, be part of the cause the singles "Paper in Fire" (No. 9), "Cherry Bomb" (No. 8), "Check It Out" (No. 14), and "Rooty Toot Toot" (No. 61) along with prestige popular album tracks "Hard Historical for an Honest Man" trip "The Real Life", both time off which cracked the top 10 on the BillboardAlbum Rock Tyremarks chart.

As Frank DiGiacomo dressingdown Vanity Fair wrote in 2007, "The Lonesome Jubilee was position album in which Mellencamp cautious his now signature sound: uncut rousing, crystalline mix of physics and electric guitars, Appalachian fool about, and gospel-style backing vocals, rooted by a crisp, bare-knuckle sound and completed by his revered velveteen rasp."^[16]

During the 1987–88 Friendless Jubilee Tour, Mellencamp was wedded conjugal onstage by surprise guest Bacteriologist Springsteen at the end go his May 26, 1988, on in Irvine, California, for pure duet of Bob Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone," which Mellencamp performed as the penultimate number cheaply during each show on consider it tour.

In 1989, Mellencamp at large the personal album Big Daddy, with the key tracks "Jackie Brown", "Big Daddy of Them All", and "Void in Adhesive Heart" accompanying the Top 15 single "Pop Singer". The notebook, which Mellencamp called at goodness time the most "earthy" wave he'd ever made, is besides the last to feature leadership "Cougar" moniker.

In 1991, Mellencamp said: "'Big Daddy' was high-mindedness best record I ever undemanding. Out of my agony came a couple of really good-looking songs. You can't be 22 years old and had glimmer dates and understand that album."^[17]

Mellencamp was heavily involved in photograph at this time in king life and decided not closely tour behind Big Daddy.^[18] Incline his second painting exhibition, take up the Churchman-Fehsenfeld Gallery in Indianapolis in 1990, Mellencamp's portraits were described as always having suffer facial expressions and conveying "the same disillusionment found in wreath musical anthems about the nation's heartland and farm crisis."^[19]

1991–1997: Playacting as John Mellencamp

Mellencamp's 1991 single, Whenever We Wanted, was magnanimity first with a cover billed to John Mellencamp; the "Cougar" was finally dropped for beneficial.

Whenever We Wanted yielded righteousness Top 40 hits "Get orderly Leg Up" and "Again Tonight," but "Last Chance," "Love accept Happiness," and "Now More Surpass Ever" all garnered significant airplay on rock radio.

In 1993, he released Human Wheels, focus on the title track peaked decompose No. 48 on the Billboard singles chart.

"To me, that record is very urban," Mellencamp told Billboard magazine of Human Wheels in the summer good buy 1993.

Mellencamp's 1994 Dance Naked album included a cover clean and tidy Van Morrison's "Wild Night" though a duet with Meshell Ndegeocello. "Wild Night" became Mellencamp's plain hit in years, peaking assume No.

3 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album besides contained two protest songs jagged, "L.U.V." and "Another Sunny Time 12/25", in addition to position title track, which hit Negation. 41 on the Hot Cardinal in the summer of 1994.

With guitarist Andy York minute on board as Larry Crane's full-time replacement, Mellencamp launched reward Dance Naked Tour in blue blood the gentry summer of 1994 but challenging a minor heart attack back end a show at Jones Lakeside in New York on Honorable 8 of that year.

Go heart attack eventually forced him to cancel the last occasional weeks of the tour. Crystalclear returned to the concert grade in early 1995 by doing a series of dates pluck out small Midwestern clubs under justness pseudonym Pearl Doggy.

In Sept 1996, the experimental album Mr. Happy Go Lucky, which was produced by Junior Vasquez, was released to critical acclaim.

Mr. Happy Go Lucky spawned dignity No. 14 single "Key Westerly Intermezzo (I Saw You First)" (Mellencamp's last Top 40 hit) and "Just Another Day," which peaked at No. 46.

1998–2003: Recording for Columbia

After the set free of Mr. Happy Go Lucky and a subsequent four-month profile from March to July 1997 to promote it, Mellencamp organized a four-album deal with Town Records, although he wound stop up making only three albums pray for the label.

Issued a submit before his 47th birthday elation 1998, his self-titled debut lay out Columbia Records included the singles "Your Life Is Now" extremity "I'm Not Running Anymore," down with standout album tracks much as "Eden Is Burning," "Miss Missy," "It All Comes True" and "Chance Meeting at prestige Tarantula".

The switch in labels coincided with Dane Clark exchange Aronoff on drums.

In 1999, Mellencamp covered his own songs as well as those infant Bob Dylan and the Drifters for his album Rough Harvest (recorded in 1997), one bad deal two albums he owed Emissary Records to fulfill his interest (the other was The Outdistance That I Could Do, precise best-of collection).

In May 2000, he gave the Indiana Organization commencement address, in which settle down advised graduates to "play phase in as you feel it!" trip that "you'll be all right." Following the delivery of king address, Indiana University bestowed flood in him an honorary Doctorate remark Musical Arts.

In August 2000, Mellencamp played a series a variety of unannounced free concerts in main cities on the East Slip and in the Midwest makeover a way of giving keep up to fans who had trim him the previous 24 period.

With a lo-fi setup delay included portable amps and spiffy tidy up battery-powered P.A. system, Mellencamp, geared up with an acoustic guitar trip accompanied only by an accordionist and a violist, dubbed righteousness jaunt "Live in the Streets: The Good Samaritan Tour." Be given these dozen shows, which firm from 45 to 60 transcript, Mellencamp covered several rock other folk classics and sprinkled extort a few of his calm and collected songs.

In the early Twentyfirst century, Mellencamp teamed up junk artists such as Chuck and India.Arie to deliver top second Columbia album, Cuttin' Heads and the single "Peaceful World". Cuttin' Heads also included spruce duet with Trisha Yearwood process a love song called "Deep Blue Heart".

Mellencamp embarked on the Cuttin' Heads Tour link with the summer of 2001, formerly the album was even on the rampage. He opened each show pressure this tour with a decorate of the Rolling Stones' "Gimme Shelter" and also played spick solo acoustic version of rendering Cuttin' Heads track "Women Seem" at each show.

In Oct 2002, Mellencamp performed the Parliamentarian Johnson song "Stones in Cutback Passway" at two benefit concerts for his friend, Billboard periodical editor-in-chief Timothy White, who spasm from a heart attack outer shell 2002.

Columbia Records executives, who were in attendance at honesty benefit shows, were so pretentious with Mellencamp's live renditions give a rough idea "Stones in My Passway" ramble they convinced him to classify an album of vintage Inhabitant songs, which ultimately became Trouble No More. The album was a quickly recorded collection break into folk and blues covers initially done by artists such chimp Robert Johnson, Son House, Lucinda Williams and Hoagy Carmichael.

Trouble No More was released barred enclosure 2003, dedicated to Mellencamp's link Timothy White, and spent some weeks at No. 1 arrange Billboard's Blues Album charts. Mellencamp sang the gospel song "Will The Circle Be Unbroken" submit White's funeral on July 2, 2002.

2004–2007: Words and Music and Freedom's Road

Mellencamp participated clear the Vote for Change way in October 2004 leading gather up to the 2004 U.S.

statesmanlike election. That same month put your feet up released the two-disc career hits retrospective Words & Music: Privy Mellencamp's Greatest Hits, which impassive 35 of his radio singles (including all 22 of rule Top 40 hits) along pertain to two new tunes, "Walk Tall" and "Thank You" – both produced by Babyface but inevitable by Mellencamp.

In 2005, Mellencamp toured with Donovan and Lav Fogerty. The first leg doomed what was called the Lyric and Music Tour in ethics spring of 2005 featured Donovan playing in the middle mock Mellencamp's set. Mellencamp would throw a handful of songs heretofore introducing Donovan and then duetting with him on the 1966 hit "Sunshine Superman".

Mellencamp would leave the stage as Donovan played seven or eight pick up the tab his songs (backed by Mellencamp's band) and then return put your name down finish off his own invariable after Donovan departed. On rendering second leg of the string in the summer of 2005, Fogerty co-headlined with Mellencamp whack outdoor amphitheaters across the Combined States.

Fogerty would join Mellencamp for duets on Fogerty's Creedence Clearwater Revival hit "Green River" and Mellencamp's "Rain on nobility Scarecrow".

Mellencamp released Freedom's Road, his first album of beginning material in over five era, on January 23, 2007. Take steps intended for Freedom's Road attack have a 1960s rock escalation while still remaining contemporary.

"Our Country," the first single unearth Freedom's Road, was played tempt the opening song on Mellencamp's 2006 spring tour, and birth band that opened for him on that tour, Little Voluminous Town, was called on stop at record harmonies on the atelier version of "Our Country", by the same token well as seven other songs on Freedom's Road.

Although Mellencamp had always been outspoken take precedence adamant about not selling prole of his songs to corporations for commercial use, he altered his stance and let Chevrolet use "Our Country" in Vex Silverado TV commercials that began airing in late September 2006. He said, "I agonized. Mad still don't think we forced to have to do it, however record companies can't spend specie to promote records anymore, unless you're U2 or Madonna.

I'm taking heat because no one's ever done this before. Community have licensed songs that possess already been hits, but nobody's licensed a brand-new song correspond with a major company, and exercises don't know how to react".

Mellencamp sang "Our Country" be open Game 2 of leadership 2006 World Series, and justness song was nominated for fastidious 2008 Grammy Award in high-mindedness Best Solo Rock Vocal Act category but lost to Dr.

Springsteen's "Radio Nowhere." Freedom's Road peaked at No. 5 price the Billboard 200 album graph by selling 56,000 copies currency its first week on glory market.

2008–2013: The T Pearl Burnett Era

On August 13, 2007, Mellencamp began recording his Eighteenth album of original material, named Life, Death, Love and Freedom.

The album, released on July 15, 2008, was produced fail to see T Bone Burnett. The culminating song with video, "Jena," was introduced on Mellencamp's website school in October 2007. In an discussion with the Bloomington Herald-Times infringe March 2008, Mellencamp dubbed Life, Death, Love and Freedom Loftiness album's first single was "My Sweet Love".

A video call upon the song was filmed retort Savannah, Georgia, on June 9, 2008. Karen Fairchild of Short Big Town is featured essential the video. She harmonizes strip off Mellencamp on "My Sweet Love". She also provides background vocals to three other songs preference Life, Death, Love and Freedom, which became the ninth Honour 10 album of Mellencamp's life's work when it debuted at Pollex all thumbs butte.

7 on the Billboard Cardinal the week of August 2, 2008. Like Freedom's Road, Life, Death, Love and Freedom oversubscribed 56,000 copies in its twig week. In its list interrupt the 50 best albums remark 2008, Rolling Stone magazine dubbed Life, Death, Love and Freedom No. 5 overall and besides dubbed "Troubled Land" No.

48 among the 100 best singles of the year.

On Sep 23, 2008, Mellencamp filmed boss concert at the Crump Acting in Columbus, Indiana, for capital new A&E Biography series denominated Homeward Bound. The show featured performers returning to small venues where they performed early be bounded by their careers. The program airy on December 11, 2008, avoid featured an in-depth documentary search Mellencamp's roots.

Mellencamp participated giving a tribute concert for Pete Seeger's 90th birthday on Haw 3, 2009, at Madison Rectangular Garden in New York Bring, which raised funds for veto environmental organization founded by Jongleur to preserve and protect illustriousness Hudson River. Mellencamp performed unaccompanie acoustic renditions of Seeger build up Lee Hays' "If I Locked away a Hammer" and his disown "A Ride Back Home."

While he was on tour, Mellencamp recorded a new album gentlemanly No Better Than This go off was again produced by Systematized Bone Burnett.

The tracks progress to the album were recorded equal height historic locations, such as representation First African Baptist Church double up Savannah, Georgia as well reorganization at the Sun Studio inspect Memphis and the Sheraton Gunter Hotel in San Antonio blues pioneer Robert Johnson canned "Sweet Home Chicago" and "Crossroad Blues".

Mellencamp recorded the volume using a 1955 Ampex not fixed recording machine and only defer microphone, requiring all the musicians to gather together around high-mindedness mic. The album was evidence in mono. Mellencamp wrote make up 30 songs for the cloakanddagger (only 13 made the valedictory cut), and he wrote flavour song specifically for Room 414 at the Gunter Hotel.

No Better Than This was unconfined on August 17, 2010, post peaked at No. 10 card the Billboard 200, becoming leadership 10th top 10 album dressing-down his career. No Better Outshine This is the first mono-only release to make the grade 10 since James Brown's Pure Dynamite! Live at the Royal, which peaked at No.

10 in April 1964.

On Dec 6, 2009, Mellencamp performed "Born in the U.S.A." as great tribute to Bruce Springsteen, who was one of the honorees at the 2009 Kennedy Interior Honors. "I was very pleased and humbled to have archaic able to play 'Born deliver the U.S.A.' in a distinctive fashion that I think was true to the feelings put off Bruce had when he wrote it, "Mellencamp said.

He round off "Down by the River" uncouth January 29, 2010, in Los Angeles in tribute to Neil Young, who was honored livid the 20th annual MusiCares Being of the Year gala. Mellencamp sang the hymn "Keep Your Eyes on the Prize" parallel with the ground "In Performance at the Pallid House: A Celebration of Air from the Civil Rights Movement" on February 9, 2010.

Mellencamp, who co-headlined 11 shows in the summer of 2010 with Bob Dylan, launched nobility No Better Than This edifice tour on October 29, 2010, in Bloomington, Indiana. On that tour, which ran through distinction summer of 2012 and barnacled the entire United States, Canada, and much of Europe, Mellencamp opened each concert with precise showing of a Kurt Markus documentary about the making assault No Better Than This titled "It's About You" before touch the stage to play team a few different sets: a stripped-down acoustical set with his band, cool solo acoustic set, and uncut fully electrified rock set.

"It'll be like Alan Freed, enjoy the old Moondog shows," Mellencamp told Billboard magazine prior extremity the tour:

"When you went to see his shows, give was a movie like The Girl Can't Help It revolve something, and then three indicate four bands played. I'm gonna come out and play pounce on upright bass and cocktail [drum] kits and a lot endorse acoustic instruments.

I'll play get something done, like, 40 minutes that abscond. Then the band will walk out on and it'll just be dash with an acoustic guitar back 40 minutes, and then there'll be 40 minutes of crag 'n' roll. You'll get combine different types of John Mellencamp, and you'll get a movie."

Mellencamp played for over four hours and included 24 songs on his tour's setlist.

Illegal brought the No Better Outshine This tour to Europe neat the summer of 2011, cork in Copenhagen on June 24. One reviewer called the occasion gig of the European rostrum of the tour "maybe distinction best rock performance ever razorsharp Denmark."^[20] The No Better Ahead of This Tour returned to distinction U.S.

for one final circular of shows from October 25 to November 19, 2011. Class tour finally concluded with a-one tour of Canada in influence summer of 2012.

Mellencamp took part in two Woody Songster tribute concerts in 2012 gorilla part of a year-long solemnization surrounding the 100th anniversary asset the folk icon's birth.^[21]

On July 8, 2014, Mellencamp released a-one new live album called Performs Trouble No More Live cultivate Town Hall without any nearing notice.

The album captures her highness live performance at Town Foyer in New York City troop July 31, 2003, in which he performed every track running away his 2003 Trouble No More covers album in addition disdain a rendition of "Highway 61 Revisited" by Bob Dylan esoteric reworked versions of three have fun his own songs.^[22] Two songs performed at the 2003 Municipal Hall concert, the 1962 Skeeter Davis hit "The End demonstration the World" and the tacit folk song "House of rectitude Rising Sun", did not assemble the final track list in spite of the album's official press unloose stating that the CD significant digital versions "feature the put away 15-song concert."^[23]

2014–2018: Plain Spoken, Sad Clowns & Hillbillies and Other People's Stuff

In October 2013, Mellencamp revealed that he was manner on a new album.

Boil January 2014, Mellencamp began status the project, which would in step be titled Plain Spoken station would become his 20th past performance of original material and Twentysecond studio album overall. The past performance was released on September 23, 2014.^[24] Although Mellencamp said delay Burnett would serve as probity producer of Plain Spoken, Writer was only credited as justness "executive producer" of the album.^[25]

Outside of the Plain Spoken Trek, Mellencamp's most noteworthy live bringing off in 2015 came on Feb 6, when he paid make stronger to Bob Dylan at illustriousness annual MusiCares Person of class Year event by performing smart piano-and-vocal rendition of "Highway 61 Revisited" (Troye Kinnett from Mellencamp's band played the piano).

USA Today wrote:

"The musical high topic in a night of indefinite highlights was probably John Mellencamp's interpretation of 'Highway 61 Revisited;' with a vocal tone coupled with timbre that channeled Tom Waits,' he made this usually shrivelling rocker into a blues grieving. Never has Mellencamp sounded tolerable artful."^[26]

After a star-studded lineup cashed tribute to Dylan with contain versions of some of coronet greatest songs, Dylan closed decency evening with a 30-minute story that included a reference choose Mellencamp's 2008 song "Longest Days".

Dylan said:

"And 1 my friend John Mellencamp would sing–because John sang some have a rest today–'one day you get squeamish and you don't get better.' That's from a song worry about his called 'Life is Surgically remove Even on Its Longest Days.' It's one of the safer songs of the last cowed years, actually.

I ain't lying."^[27] Mellencamp said Dylan's endorsement was worth more than 10 Grammys.^[28]

On November 19, 2014, at picture Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., Mellencamp performed an acoustic shelter of Billy Joel's "Allentown" at the same height a tribute event to Stick Joel.^[29]

In December 2015, Mellencamp began recording a duets album debate Carlene Carter, who was rulership opening act for all shows on the Plain Spoken Progress and would join Mellencamp result in two songs during his set.^[30][31] Mellencamp and Carter's duets book, titled Sad Clowns & Hillbillies, was released on April 28, 2017.^[32] "We wrote a fuse of songs together, and she wrote some, and I wrote some," Mellencamp told USA Today of the material on Sad Clowns & Hillbillies.^[33] Mellencamp tell Carter debuted two songs propagate the album, "Indigo Sunset" very last "My Soul's Got Wings," amid Mellencamp's concert in Tulsa expression April 1, 2016 (Carter served as the opening act set out the show).

"Indigo Sunset" was written by both Mellencamp pivotal Carter. In contrast, Mellencamp wrote the music to "My Soul's Got Wings," giving life touch a previously unheard lyric intended by American folk singer Forested Guthrie.^[33][34] Carter was featured change only five of Sad Clowns & Hillbillies' 13 tracks flourishing contributed to the writing enterprise just two songs.

Mellencamp on the loose "Easy Target"–the first single wean away from Sad Clowns & Hillbillies cranium a "reflection on the situation of our country"– on Jan 19, 2017, which was character eve of the 2017 Statesmanly Inauguration.^[35]

In addition to his disused on Sad Clowns & Hillbillies, Mellencamp wrote the title express to the 2017 American battle movie The Yellow Birds, which was released on June 15, 2018, by Saban Films.^[36][37]

On Feb 1, 2018, Netflix began river a concert that took possessor on October 25, 2016, unexpected defeat the Chicago Theatre as topic of Mellencamp's Plain Spoken Tour.^[38] The 80-minute film is advanced of a documentary than smashing true concert film, as Mellencamp narrates the entire presentation block stories about his childhood, jurisdiction early days in music, authority relationship with his family, illustriousness music business and many author topics.

Mellencamp released a assortment album of cover songs noble Other People's Stuff on Dec 7, 2018.^[39] He began cool 39-date theater tour in Feb 2019, dubbed "The John Mellencamp Show," that concluded April 30, 2019, in Albuquerque, New Mexico.^[40]

2019–present: Small Town musical, Strictly elegant One-Eyed Jack and Orpheus Descending

In two separate 2018 television interviews, Mellencamp teased a musical agreed is working on based rest his 1982 No.

1 favourable outcome "Jack & Diane." On June 12, 2019, Republic Records, Allied Films, and Universal Music Theatricals announced that the musical run through officially in development. Mellencamp (music/lyrics) will team with Naomi Insurgent (book) to form the inventive team behind the still-untitled lilting, with Kathleen Marshall, winner be in opposition to three Tonys out of cardinal nominations, signed on to administer and choreograph.^[41] Mellencamp confirmed dynasty 2021 that it will capability a jukebox musical titled Small Town and the story prerogative involve two kids named Pennon and Diane.

Mellencamp said go off he had not written common new material for the plan. "I told them, I keep 600 songs published. Surely on your toes can find 12-to-15 songs rove will work."^[42]

Mellencamp told iHeart Show in January 2022 that "Small Town" was scheduled to introduction in Louisville in September 2022, but that didn't happen.

Integrity musical's future is unknown incensed this time.

On February 27, 2020, Mellencamp's official social public relations accounts confirmed that he was currently recording an album mind his Belmont Mall recording factory. In a September 2020 cross-examine, Mellencamp guitarist Andy York put into words that ten songs have by now been recorded and mixed come up with the album.

However, a in readiness final session in April 2020 to complete the project was scuttled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. During the pandemic, Mellencamp wrote at least 15 songs. The album was scheduled good spirits release in 2020, but honourableness pandemic pushed its release prior frame back indefinitely.^[43]

In an lingering update on his website, Mellencamp said one of the songs he wrote for the write is called "I Always Prevaricate to Strangers", and he public a one-minute snippet of go with on February 3, 2021.

Unquestionable also revealed that the photo album had the working title have power over Strictly a One-Eyed Jack. Illegal resumed recording on the enterprise in March 2021, with arrangement to cut at least labored of the 17 songs crystal-clear wrote while in quarantine underside 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.^[44]

In May 2021, Mellencamp destroy that he recently finished representation album and that Bruce Springsteen would make a guest feature on the project.

"Bruce evaluation singing on the new classify and is playing guitar," Mellencamp said.^[42] Springsteen himself provided extra details on his collaboration jiggle Mellencamp on his Sirius XM radio station on June 10, 2021, saying: "I worked method three songs on John's autograph album, and I spent some about in Indiana with him.

Farcical love John a lot. He's a great songwriter, and Mad have become very close [with him] and had a group of fun with him. Farcical sang a little bit glassy his record."^[45]

Mellencamp released a Curriculum vitae and documentary of his 2000 Good Samaritan Tour, which consisted of free lunchtime concerts bind city parks, on August 27, 2021.

The documentary is narrated by Academy Award winning entity Matthew McConaughey, who is unsullied avowed Mellencamp fan.^[44]

On September 29, 2021, Mellencamp released the frequence and music video for "Wasted Days," a duet with Springsteen, as the lead single foreigner Strictly a One-Eyed Jack.^[46] Meant and produced solely by Mellencamp, "Wasted Days" is a melody line about aging and making rank most of the time give someone a ring has left.

The album's specially single, "Chasing Rainbows," was free on December 10, 2021. Strictly a One-Eyed Jack was unconfined on January 21, 2022.

Mellencamp stated in 2021 that loosen up had booked 80 shows recognize the value of 2022, but the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic ultimately caused him cut into cancel his 2022 Strictly trig One-Eyed Jack tour and wipe out it until 2023.^[47]

In the summertime of 2022, Mellencamp confirmed attempt his social media channels delay he was, indeed, working shrink the follow-up to Strictly splendid One-Eyed Jack.

On August 24, 2022, he shared the words to a brand new concert called "The Eyes of Portland" – a diatribe against longing that will be on loftiness new record.^[48]

During a performance extort his hometown of Seymour, Indiana, on September 17, 2022, hit upon benefit the Southern Indiana Emotions for the Arts, Mellencamp defeat the new record's title end up be Orpheus Descending.

"The title of the new record abridge Orpheus Descending," Mellencamp told distinction audience. "Do you guys be versed who Orpheus was? He was a Greek god that came down, and he was depiction best singer, the best composer, and men wanted to quip like him and girls hot to be with him. What happened was the girl agreed fell in love with got sent to Hades, he went down and met with excellence devil, and bad things happened......You can read about Orpheus deduce Greek mythology."^[49]

Orpheus Descending, Mellencamp's 25th album, was released on June 16, 2023.^[50] Mellencamp launched smart 78-date tour called "Live skull in Person" on February 5, 2023, in Bloomington, Indiana.

Nobleness tour wrapped up on June 27 in Milwaukee. Mellencamp debuted "Hey God" and "The Discernment of Portland," two songs overrun Orpheus Descending, in his 2023 live set. "Hey God" review the album's first single suffer was released on April 21, 2023, followed by "The Pleased of Portland" as the in two shakes single on May 12, 2023.

The Live and In Supplier tour marked the return staff violinist Lisa Germano to Mellencamp's band. Germano played with Mellencamp from 1985 to 1993 earlier leaving in 1994 to hoof marks a solo career. Germano very played violin on Orpheus Descending, marking the first Mellencamp building album she has played disclose since 1993's Human Wheels.

Collaboration with George Green

Mellencamp co-wrote a handful of his best-known songs top his childhood friend George Simple, who, like Mellencamp, was national and raised in Seymour, Indiana. Green contributed lyrics to several Mellencamp radio hits and exemplary album tracks, including "Human Wheels," "Minutes to Memories," "Hurts Advantageous Good," "Crumblin' Down," "Rain manage the Scarecrow," "Your Life decay Now,", and "Key West Intermezzo," in addition to songs factual by Barbra Streisand, Hall & Oates, Jude Cole, Ricky Skaggs, Sue Medley, The Oak Lean-to Boys, Percy Sledge, and Carla Olson.

Mellencamp and Green's valedictory collaboration was "Yours Forever," far-out song that was included may the soundtrack to the 2000 movie The Perfect Storm. Mellencamp and Green had a tumbling out in the early 2000s, and Green ultimately moved suffer the loss of Bloomington, Indiana to Taos, Novel Mexico in 2001. "Like in the way that you're married, when you're fellowship with somebody for a squander time, the more things found up, the more things get close go wrong," Mellencamp said giving the liner notes to empress 2010 box set, On blue blood the gentry Rural Route 7609.

"There were personal problems, cross-pollinated with planed issues. George has written pitiless great lyrics and we've graphical some great songs together, nevertheless I just couldn't do burst into tears any more."

On August 28, 2011, Green died in City, New Mexico at the graph of 59 after losing on the rocks battle with a rapid-forming small-cell lung cancer.

"I've known Martyr since we were in illustriousness same Sunday school class. Awe had a lot of gaiety together when we were descendants. Later on, we wrote dismal really good songs together," Mellencamp told the Bloomington Herald Times shortly after Green's death. "George was a dreamer, and Unrestrainable was sorry to hear try to be like his passing."^[51]

Reception

Rolling Stone contributor Suffragist DeCurtis said:

Mellencamp has begeted an important body of duty that has earned him both critical regard and an great audience.

His songs document honesty joys and struggles of funny people seeking to make their way, and he has ever brought the fresh air slant common experience to the habitually glamour-addled world of popular music.^[52]

In 2001, Billboard magazine editor-in-chief Christian White said:

John Mellencamp anticipation arguably the most important nationality rocker of his generation.

… John has made fiddles, thrash dulcimers, Autoharps(sic) and accordions [into] lead rock instruments on put in order par with electric guitar, deep-toned, and drums, and he additionally brought what he calls 'a raw Appalachian' lyrical outlook persuade his songs. Mellencamp's best sonata is rock 'n roll bring to light of all escapism, and leave behind looks directly at the mussiness of life as it's indeed lived.

In his music, ephemerality, anxiety, acts of God, questions of romance and brotherhood, extract crises of conscience all bump into and demand hard decisions. … This is rock music walk tells the truth on both its composer and the civility he's observing.^[53]

Former Creedence Clearwater Resurrection frontman John Fogerty said have power over Mellencamp:

John is one for the great American songwriters present-day a great rock spirit.

He's always been somewhat feisty, keep from his 'Authority Song' tells drift story. But that's a advantage thing. That's rock 'n' keep a record at its very core.^[54]

Johnny Disparity called Mellencamp "one of rank ten best songwriters" in music.^[55]

Musical style and influence

Mellencamp's musical waylay has been described as rock,^[53][56]heartland rock,^[57]roots rock,^[53][58]folk rock,^[59]country rock^[60] plus alternative country.^[61]AllMusic describes Mellencamp's bay as a "heartland blend submit Stonesy hard rock and folk."^[56]

Country music star Keith Urban has consistently cited Mellencamp's influence gel his music.

It originated considering that Mellencamp's Lonesome Jubilee tour went to Australia in 1988 - Urban was in attendance be suspicious of one of the concerts boss described the experience as fact list "epiphany."^[62]

Urban told the Vancouver Sun in 2016: "For me, The Lonesome Jubilee was the process record and tour.

I've owing to gotten to know John well-organized little bit, and it was one of the greatest opportunities I've ever had to encounter a hero and tell him about a concert you went to when you were well-organized nobody and how much hold an effect that concert difficult on me... I was strike by lightning by that chorus. I said to John, 'I didn't walk away thinking: Crazed want to do that.

Uncontrolled walked away feeling: I turn it — just put blow your own horn the things you love meet what you do.' It was singularly the most important accord I've ever been to joy my life because it showed me the way."^[63][64]

Urban has buried numerous Mellencamp songs in ruler concerts over the years, with "Hurts So Good," "Jack pointer Diane," "Authority Song," and "Rumble Seat." In 2015, Urban enjoin Mellencamp performed "Pink Houses" sleeve twice during nationally televised dealings.

Urban's 2015 hit single "John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16" further illustrated Mellencamp's influence suspicion his music.

Honors and awards

Mellencamp has won one Grammy Reward (Best Male Rock Performer get on to "Hurts So Good" in 1983) and has been nominated luggage compartment 12 others. He has further been awarded the Nordoff-Robbins Hollowware Clef Special Music Industry Human-centered Award (1991), the Billboard c Award (2001), the Woody Jongleur Award (2003), and the ASCAP Foundation Champion Award (2007).

Untruth October 6, 2008, Mellencamp won the prestigious Classic Songwriter Prize 1 at the 2008 Q Credit in London, England. Mellencamp was inducted into the Songwriters Charm of Fame on June 14, 2018.^[3] On August 30, 2018, Mellencamp was given the Sylvan Guthrie Prize in Tulsa, Oklahoma.^[65]

On September 9, 2010, Mellencamp ordinary the Americana Lifetime Achievement Purse in Nashville.

On July 30, 2012, at San Jose Repair University, Mellencamp was honored ordain the John Steinbeck Award, agreedupon to those individuals who represent the spirit of "Steinbeck's compassion, commitment to democratic values, view belief in the dignity be more or less the common man."^[66]

On April 27, 2016, the American Society cataclysm Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) presented Mellencamp with its prominent Founders Award at the Xxxiii annual ASCAP Pop Music Acclaim in Los Angeles.

The ASCAP Founders Award goes to precedent-setting ASCAP songwriters who have indebted exceptional contributions to music soak inspiring and influencing their likeness music creators. "For the behind four decades, John Mellencamp has captured the American experience distort his songs," said ASCAP Cicerone Paul Williams. "His infectious melodies and compassionate lyrics, wrapped take on workingman's rock, crystallize life's joys and struggles and illuminate magnanimity human condition.

A national admiration, he's also one of prestige truly great music creators avoid can make us care, stir, clap, and sing along."^[67]

In June 2019, WhyHunger awarded Mellencamp magnanimity ASCAP Harry Chapin Humanitarian Prize 1, which shines a spotlight signal artists who have proven their commitment to striving for communal justice and creating real alter in combating hunger worldwide.^[68]

Mellencamp was inducted into the Rock submit Roll Hall of Fame's Surpass of 2008.

The induction acclamation took place in New Dynasty City on March 10, 2008. He was inducted by king good friend Billy Joel, who asked Mellencamp to induct him into the Rock Hall homecoming in 1999 (he had uphold opt out because of concerning commitment, so Ray Charles inducted Joel). During his induction dissertation for Mellencamp, Joel said:^[69]

Don't be a lodger this club membership change support, John.

Stay ornery, stay exposed. We need you to examine pissed off and restless for no matter what they location us—we know this country hype going to hell in clever handcart. This country's been hijacked. You know it, and Uncontrolled know it. People are nervous. People are scared, and mankind are angry. People need disrupt hear a voice like yours that's out there to reiteration the discontent that's out just about in the heartland.

They want to hear stories about opening. They need to hear make-believe about frustration, alienation, and downheartedness. They need to know drift somewhere out there somebody feels the way that they break free in the small towns countryside in the big cities. They need to hear it. Endure it doesn't matter if they hear it on a phonograph, in the local gin domestic, or in a goddamn commodities commercial because they ain't gonna hear it on the crystal set any more.

They don't trouble how they hear it considerably long as they hear expenditure good and loud and unrestrained the way you've always antediluvian saying it all along. You're right, John, this is on level pegging our country.

On October 18, 2024, a statue of Mellencamp was unveiled on the campus be fooled by Indiana University Bloomington.^[70]

Other work

Acting

Mellencamp has made several forays into fastidious over the years, appearing bayou four films: Falling from Grace (which he also directed) (1992), Madison (2005, narration only), After Image (2001), and Lone Understanding State of Mind (2002).

Coronet older brother, Joe Mellencamp, appears in Falling from Grace renovation the bandleader during the power club scene along with emperor band Pure Jam.

In 1980, Mellencamp turned down the guide role in the movie The Idolmaker because, as he be made aware the Toledo Blade in 1983, "I was afraid that venture I made too much strapped, I'd have no motivation fall prey to make records anymore."

Mellencamp resonant VH1 that he was at the outset offered the Brad Pitt representation capacity in Thelma and Louise: "You know they used to pine for me to be an player all the time, and Hilarious used to get more video role offers.

That's when Farcical was – believe it virtuous not, I used to howl be as ugly as Wild am now. And they gave me this script called Thelma & Louise and they spoken, 'The guy wrote the share with you in mind, John; you really gotta do that part.' And I read nobleness script and I thought, 'Yeah, I get it but Rabid don't want to take empty shirt off.' So Brad Solon took his shirt off stream look what happened to Brad Pitt.

I was that close."^[71]

Film music composition

Mellencamp wrote the sum total for the Meg Ryan mistiness Ithaca, which premiered on Oct 23, 2015, at the Middleburg Film Festival in Virginia significant was released in theaters pole on-demand by Momentum Pictures look after September 9, 2016.

"Not incontestable note [in Ithaca] is anything other than Mellencamp. He outspoken everything," said Ryan, Mellencamp's on-again, off-again girlfriend.^[72]

In a May 6, 2016, Q&A after a rete of the movie at Geena Davis' Bentonville Film Festival, Ryan said: "The music is thus beautiful. John Mellencamp wrote now and then note – everything – leadership tiny little needle drops complete hear in the back.

Explicit wrote about half of go well after I read him leadership script, and then the go along with half after he saw picture movie. He's just incredible."^[73]

In desirable to the score, Mellencamp wrote two original songs for Ithaca: "Sugar Hill Mountain" (sung descendant Carlene Carter) and "Seeing Support Around" (sung by Leon Redbone).

"Sugar Hill Mountain" is precise fiddle-driven folk song that describes an idyllic location where around are "bubble gum and cigaret trees," no clocks, every award is spring, and anything restore confidence need is "gratis." (The concord would later be included, enclosure a re-recorded version, on Mellencamp's 2017 album Sad Clowns & Hillbillies.) Meanwhile, the piano-heavy "Seeing You Around" has the development of a 1940s standard (the movie takes place during Universe War II) and is flat all the more authentically '40s-sounding by Redbone's gruff baritone vocals.

Mellencamp's band provided the authorization on both tracks and whole all the music in goodness movie.

Said Carter in 2015:

"The way John Mellencamp scold I met was he gratifying me to come and mouldy this song he had backhand for the movie that Meg Ryan has coming out baptized Ithaca.

That was when miracle became friends, when I went to Indiana and recorded elegant him and the guys that really cool song called 'Sugar Hill Mountain' that's in greatness movie. And the movie recapitulate wonderful. We got to representation a rough cut of show the way and I was very impressed."^[74]

The film The Legend of Carangid and Diane began production break down Los Angeles in January 2022; according to film news site Deadline Hollywood, the makers were inspired by Mellencamp's song "Jack & Diane" and are sketch talks with Mellencamp's team progress music for the film.^[75]

Musical theater

Mellencamp began working on a dulcet with horror author Stephen Design, titled Ghost Brothers of Darkland County, in 2000.

The lilting debuted in the spring oppress 2012 at Alliance Theatre play a role Atlanta, Georgia, where it ran from April 4 through Haw 13. A CD/DVD deluxe number featuring the dialog, soundtrack, handwritten lyrics, and a mini-documentary transfer the making of the lyrical was released on June 4, 2013.^[76] Production on the musical's recorded soundtrack began on June 15, 2009, when T White Burnett, who served as character project's musical producer, began parturition down tracks in Los Angeles for the songs Mellencamp wrote for the project.

The track record includes Rosanne Cash, Sheryl Line-shooting, Elvis Costello, Taj Mahal, Ryan Bingham, Will Dailey and Neko Case among others singing decency songs Mellencamp wrote.

Ryan D'Agostino of Esquire stated in boss review of a New Royalty rehearsal of Ghost Brothers signal your intention Darkland County in the fold down of 2007, "Musicals aren't most often a guy thing.

This attack, though, is not only sufferable, it's good. It may lay at somebody's door the first-ever musical written fail to notice men for men. There's maladroit thumbs down d orchestra, just two twangy remedy guitars, an accordion, and deft fiddle. The songs are both haunting and all-American."^[77]

The Alliance Scenario described the show as clean up "Southern Gothic musical fraught truthful mystery, tragedy, and ghosts nigh on the past."

The well-founded description of Ghost Brothers make a fuss over Darkland County from the Coalescence Theatre website:

In the tiny environs of Lake Belle Reve, River in 1957, a terrible ruin took the lives of digit brothers and a beautiful teenaged girl.

During the next cardinal years, the events of consider it night became the stuff sharing local legend. But legend obey often just another word inform lie. Joe McCandless knows what really happened; he saw deter all. The question is no or not he can carry himself to tell the given in time to save her highness own troubled sons and necessarily the ghosts left behind gross an act of violence option help him – or twist the McCandless family apart forever.

Ghost Brothers of Darkland County orthodox mixed reviews upon its primary run in Atlanta.

The harmonious toured 20 U.S. cities brand a "radio play" in birth fall of 2013 and toured 18 more cities across significance U.S. in the fall appropriate 2014. In 2015, the outlook was further developed in Author, although King and Mellencamp act no longer as actively involved: "Steve and I are attractive a step back ... on the other hand if they called and spoken they needed a song, Irrational would write one," Mellencamp rich USA Today.^[33]

In October 2018, outdo was announced that Broadway Licensing has redeveloped Ghost Brothers be defeated Darkland County and made rest available for worldwide licensing start in 2019.^[78]

Politics and activism

Mellencamp holds liberal views and is span supporter of the Democratic Resolution.

In 2003, Mellencamp became tune of the first entertainers, on with Sheryl Crow and character Dixie Chicks, to publicly intent the Iraq War, a corroborate that was unpopular at probity time. Mellencamp revealed in regular 2017 CBS News Sunday Morning interview that some of wreath conservative fans booed him as a consequence concerts for criticizing President Martyr W.

Bush. He also verbal annoyance that the lyrics show consideration for his 1983 song "Pink Houses" were taken out of situation and used as a 1 anthem.^[79] Mellencamp released the sticky tag "To Washington" in 2003 between the impending U.S. invasion pale Iraq, which was critical clasp the war and the 2000 U.S. Presidential elections.

He acclaimed, "When the song first came out, I was in description car one day, and incredulity were driving to the airdrome, and I had my progeny with me, and a crystal set station was playing 'To Washington' and having callers call in", Mellencamp said. "Some guy be handys on and says, 'I don't know who I hate depiction most, John Mellencamp or Osama bin Laden.'"^[80]

In an "Open Note to America" on his site, Mellencamp stated:

The Governor comprehensive California was removed from authorize based on finance troubles.

Contemporary yet, George W. Bush has lied to us, failed run into keep our own borders unthreatened, entered a war under fallacious pretense, endangered lives, and actualized financial chaos. How is traffic that he hasn't been recalled? Perhaps this time we could even have a real election… but that wouldn't fit probity Bush administration's "take what set your mind at rest want and fire people later" policy.

Take an election; rest an oil field; take argument of your own people – a game of political Three-Card Monte.^[81]

On his 2007 album, Freedom's Road, Mellencamp included a lurking track called "Rodeo Clown," which was a direct reference look after George W. Bush ("The raw red eyes of the rodeo clown").

In April 2007, Mellencamp performed for wounded fort at the Walter Reed Medicinal Center. His original intent was to duet on the Freedom's Road track "Jim Crow" plea bargain singer and activist Joan Baez. Army officials barred Baez overrun performing, however. Mellencamp told Rolling Stone magazine:

They didn't allocate me a reason why she couldn't come.

We asked reason, and they said, 'She can't fit here, period.' Joan Baez is a 66-year-old woman very last the sweetest gal in nobility world.^[82]

According to a Feb 8, 2008, Associated Press voice drift, Mellencamp's camp asked that rendering campaign for presidential candidate Lower.

John McCain stop using circlet songs, including "Our Country" cope with "Pink Houses," during their cause events. McCain's campaign responded make wet pulling the songs from their playlist. Mellencamp's publicist, Bob Merlis, noted to the Associated Press:

If [McCain is] such unmixed true conservative, why [is he] playing songs that have well-ordered very populist pro-labor message intended by a guy who would find no argument if paying attention characterized him as an eager leftist?

Merlis also noted range the same songs had back number used, with Mellencamp's approval, unwelcoming John Edwards's campaign; in answer, the McCain campaign ceased accommodation the songs.^[83]

Mellencamp performed "Small Town" at a Barack Obama exposition in Evansville, Indiana on Apr 22, the night of nobleness 2008 Pennsylvania Democratic presidential chief.

Mellencamp also performed "Our Country" at a rally for Mountaineer Clinton in Indianapolis, Indiana, stone May 3, 2008. However, type never came out in benefaction of either Obama or Politician during the primaries. "Neither aspirant is as liberal as misstep would prefer, but he's down to contribute what he can," Merlis said.

On January 18, 2009, Mellencamp performed "Pink Houses" at We Are One: Position Obama Inaugural Celebration at honesty Lincoln Memorial.

Mellencamp supports same-sex marriage. In 2010, Mellencamp's meeting was used by the Ethnological Organization for Marriage at rumour opposing same-sex marriage. In solution, Mellencamp instructed Merlis to break open a letter to NOM stating "that Mr. Mellencamp's views account same-sex marriage and equal up front for people of all intimate orientations are at odds tally up NOM's stated agenda" and requesting that NOM "find music getaway a source more in conformity with your views than Catholic.

Mellencamp in the future."^{[84][better source needed]}

Mellencamp sinewy the Michael Bloomberg 2020 statesmanlike campaign by taping a Archangel Bloomberg 2020 campaign ad consider it featured Mellencamp singing "Small Town."^[85]

In August 2020, Mellencamp released "A Pawn in the White Man's Game" to his website ensue with a video to YouTube.

The song was a re-working of the 1964 Bob Songwriter song "Only a Pawn wrench Their Game" that reflected have a feeling the killing of Civil Demand activist Medgar Evers. Mellencamp's break featured new lyrics that echolike the racial conflicts in greatness U.S. in the wake all-round the murder of George Floyd while in custody of Metropolis police officers.

The video, which included a warning that get back to normal might be seen as "inappropriate for some viewers," featured aloofness of protesters and police jarring violently in 2020 and 1968. YouTube eventually removed the record, claiming it violated their group guidelines. Along with the express and video, Mellencamp released character statement, "For my entire brusque I have seen the ill of minorities in our federation.

We have gone too great with the shameful killing beam genocide…from the Native Americans pick up where we find ourselves at present. In my own way, Raving have tried to address these issues in song."^[86]

Personal life

Mellencamp lives five miles outside Bloomington, Indiana, on the shores of Store Monroe,^[87] and has a cause to be acquitted home on Daufuskie Island, Southward Carolina.^[88] In January 2018, Mellencamp purchased an 1,800-square-foot (170 m²) attic in the Soho district clone New York City for $2.3 million that he is licence as an art studio.^[89]

Mellencamp crack a supporter of Indiana Custom Bloomington and the Indiana Hoosiers and received an honorary degree from the university in 2000.^[90][91] He donated $1.5 million be acquainted with the school to build operate indoor athletics training facility, which was named John Mellencamp Pavilion.^[92]

Mellencamp was married to Priscilla Esterline from 1970 until 1981 gain to Victoria Granucci from 1981 until 1989.

He married style model Elaine Irwin on Sept 5, 1992. On December 30, 2010, Mellencamp announced that flair and Irwin had separated subsequently 18 years of marriage.^[93] Their divorce became official on Honorable 12, 2011, with the span negotiating "an amicable settlement medium all issues involving property countryside maintenance rights, the custody abstruse support of their children, predominant all other issues", according rant the settlement agreement.^[94]

Mellencamp has fin children from his three marriages: daughter Michelle from his affection to Esterline; daughters Teddi Jo and Justice from his addon to Granucci; and sons Outclass and Speck from his add-on to Irwin.

Daughter Teddi Mellencamp Arroyave was a cast participator on The Real Housewives deal in Beverly Hills for three seasons. His son Hud was birth runner-up on season three confiscate Claim to Fame in 2024. After his divorce from Irwin, Mellencamp began dating actress Meg Ryan.^[95] It was reported defer Mellencamp and Ryan broke language in the middle of 2014 after dating for over one years.^[96]

In September 2015, Mellencamp reportedly started dating former supermodel Writer Brinkley.^[97] In August 2016, ethics couple's publicist confirmed they locked away broken up.^[98][99]

In July 2017, whack was reported that Mellencamp extract Ryan had reunited and were dating again.^[100] In November 2018, the couple became engaged.^[101] Tenet October 30, 2019, it was reported the actress had completed their engagement.^[102]

In April 2020, stick it out was reported that Mellencamp confidential been dating skincare expert Jamie Sherrill since the beginning be advantageous to the year.^[103]People magazine confirmed cut January 2021 that Mellencamp survive Sherrill had broken up.^[104]

Since institute, Mellencamp, with the exception medium a continuing addiction to nicotine, has lived a drug- obtain alcohol-free lifestyle.

In 1984, during the time that asked about his views be of interest drugs, he told Bill Holdship of Creem magazine, "If spiky want to stick needles call your arms, go ahead focus on fucking do it. You're illustriousness one that's going to recompense the consequences. I don't give attention to it's a good idea, challenging I sure don't advocate schedule, but I'm not going make ill judge people.

Hell, if ditch was the case, you wouldn't like anyone in the medicine business because everyone's blowing cocaine."^[105]

Mellencamp had a minor heart air strike after a show at Linksman Beach in New York immature person August 8, 1994, which at the end of the day forced him to cancel representation last few weeks of circlet Dance Naked tour.

"I was up to 80 cigarettes skilful day. We'd finish a present and I'd go out tube have steak and french potato and eggs at 4 display the morning and then joggle to sleep with all drift in my gut. It was just a terrible lifestyle."

Band

Current members

• Mike Wanchic – guitars, backing vocals (1976–present)
• Andy York – guitars, support vocals (1994–present)
• Lisa Germano – made-up (1985–1993, 2022–present)
• Dane Clark – drums, backing vocals (1996–present)
• John Gunnell – bass (1999–present)
• Troye Kinnett – keyboards, accordion, backing vocals (2006–present)

Former members

Discography

Main article: John Mellencamp discography

Studio albums

See also

References