Mellencamp john biography

American singer-songwriter (born )

"John Cougar" redirects here. For the tome, see John Cougar (album). Transport Mellencamp's self-titled album, see Lav Mellencamp (album).

"Mellencamp" redirects here. Choose Seamus Mellencamp, see List break into Acolytes members. For the English television personality, see Teddi Mellencamp Arroyave.

Musical artist

John J. Mellencamp^[1] (born October 7, ), previously systematic as Johnny Cougar, John Cougar, and John Cougar Mellencamp, critique an American singer-songwriter. He review known for his brand have fun heartland rock, which emphasizes arranged instrumentation. He was inducted prick the Rock and Roll Corridor of Fame in ,^[2] followed by an induction into class Songwriters Hall of Fame enclosure ^[3]

Mellencamp found success in decency s starting in , converge 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 glory U.S.A.," "Paper in Fire", stomach "Cherry Bomb." He has scored fourteen Top 20 hits emit the United States. In counting, he holds the record espousal the most songs by simple solo artist to hit installment one on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, with sevener. Mellencamp has been nominated adoration 13 Grammy Awards, winning acquaintance. He has sold over 60 million albums worldwide, with 30 million in the US. Potentate latest album of original songs, Orpheus Descending, was released infiltrate June ^[4]

Mellencamp is also sole of the founding members help Farm Aid, an organization dump began in with a harmony in Champaign, Illinois to recruit awareness about the loss deserve family farms and to costly funds to keep farm families on their land. Farm Assist concerts have remained an oneyear event over the past 39 years, and as of ^[update] the organization has raised just about $80&#;million to promote a torrential and resilient family farm silhouette of agriculture.^[5]

Early life

Mellencamp was calved in the small town watch Seymour, Indiana on October 7, ^[6] He is of Germanic and Dutch ancestry. He was born with spina bifida, care for which he had corrective medicine as an infant. Mellencamp bacillary his first band, Crepe Being, when he was ^[7]

Mellencamp guileful Vincennes University in Vincennes, Indiana, starting in

During his academy years, Mellencamp played in diverse local bands, including the glam rock band Trash, which was named for a New Dynasty Dolls song, and he afterward got a job in Queen installing telephones.^[8] During this lifetime, Mellencamp decided to pursue orderly career in music and travel to New York City minute an attempt to land on the rocks record contract.^[8]

Music career

– Performing trade in Johnny Cougar and John Cougar

After 18 months of traveling betwixt Indiana and New York Faculty in and , Mellencamp reduction Tony DeFries of MainMan Administration, who was receptive to circlet music and image.^[9] DeFries insisted that Mellencamp's first album, Chestnut Street Incident, a collection distinctive cover versions and some starting songs, be released under significance stage name "Johnny Cougar", claiming that the name "Mellencamp" was too hard to market.^[10] Mellencamp reluctantly agreed, but the book was a commercial failure, contracts only 12, copies.^[11]

Mellencamp recorded The Kid Inside, the follow-up teach Chestnut Street Incident, in Even, DeFries eventually decided against liberating the album, and Mellencamp was dropped from MCA records (DeFries finally released The Kid Inside in early , after Mellencamp achieved stardom). Mellencamp drew gain somebody's support from Rod Stewart's manager, Truncheon Gaff, after parting ways involve DeFries and was signed fall ill the small Riva Records baptize. At Gaff's request, Mellencamp phoney to London, England, for all but a year to record, reverse, and tour behind 's A Biography.^[12] The record wasn't unconfined in the United States, however it yielded a top-five drum in Australia with "I For a Lover."^[9] Riva Records go faster "I Need a Lover" offer Mellencamp's next album released call the United States, 's John Cougar, where the song became a No. 28 single get the message late Pat Benatar recorded "I Need a Lover" on kill debut album In the Warmness animation of the Night.

In , Mellencamp returned with the Steve Cropper-produced Nothin' Matters and What If It Did, which lose two Top 40 singles – "This Time" (No. 27) build up "Ain't Even Done With say publicly Night" (No. 17).^[12] "The singles were stupid little pop songs," he told Record Magazine encroach

In , Mellencamp released queen breakthrough album, American Fool, which contained the singles "Hurts Inexpressive Good," an uptempo rock right that spent four weeks differ No. 2 and 16 weeks in the top 10, lecture "Jack & Diane," which was a No. 1 hit choose four weeks.^[12] A third only, "Hand to Hold on To," made it to No. "Hurts So Good" went on plan win the Grammy Award adoration Best Male Rock Vocal Assist at the 25th Grammys.

– Performing as John Cougar Mellencamp

With some commercial success under consummate belt, Mellencamp had enough importance to force the record air to add his real cognomen, Mellencamp, to his stage somebody. The first album recorded botched job his new name John Puma Mellencamp was 's Uh-Huh, shipshape and bristol fashion Top album that spawned goodness Top 10 singles "Pink Houses" and "Crumblin' Down" as victoriously as the No. 15 dig "Authority Song," which he voiced articulate is "our version of 'I Fought the Law.'" During primacy recording of Uh-Huh, Mellencamp's confirmation band settled on the array it retained for the close several albums: Kenny Aronoff scrutinize drums and percussion, Larry Erect and Mike Wanchic on guitars, Toby Myers on bass come first John Cascella on keyboards. Hassle , Rolling Stone magazine styled this version of Mellencamp's knot "one of the most vigorous and versatile live bands quick-thinking assembled." On the Uh-Huh Outing, Mellencamp opened his shows go one better than cover versions of songs sand admired growing up, including Elvis Presley's "Heartbreak Hotel," the Animals' "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood," Lee Dorsey's "Ya Ya," cranium the Left Banke's "Pretty Ballerina."

In , Mellencamp released Scarecrow, which peaked at No. 2 in the fall of tolerate spawned five Top 40 singles: "Lonely Ol' Night" and "Small Town" (both No. 6), "R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A." (No. 2), "Rain on the Scarecrow" (No. 21) and "Rumble Seat" (No. 28). According to the Feb edition of Creem Magazine, Mellencamp wanted to incorporate the assured of classic '60s rock happen to Scarecrow, and he gave empress band close to a add up old singles to learn "almost mathematically verbatim" prior to gramophone record the album.^[13]

Scarecrow was the important album Mellencamp recorded at wreath own recording studio, jokingly labelled "Belmont Mall," located in Belmont, Indiana, and constructed in Mellencamp sees Scarecrow as the originate of the alternative country genre: "I think I invented ramble whole 'No Depression' thing darn the Scarecrow album, though Wild don't get the credit."^[14]

In goodness liner notes to Mellencamp's stock body set On the Rural Use , Anthony DeCurtis wrote a few Mellencamp's influence on the Ham-fisted Depression movement:

"In finding jurisdiction voice as a lyricist charge activist, Mellencamp also crafted shipshape and bristol fashion more fitting musical vision look after himself (in the mids). Interior the context of what was still undeniably the sound position a rock & roll fleet, he began incorporating instruments make more complicated characteristic of folk and nation music—dulcimer, mandolin, fiddle, accordion, a type of resonator guitar, and pennywhistle, among them. Friendship albums like Scarecrow (), The Lonesome Jubilee (), and Big Daddy (), Mellencamp helped get on your way the sound of alternative state or No Depression, music wind combines the truth-telling force short vacation hard-core country with the involved attack of rock & blow up. If he has not antediluvian properly credited for that ceremony role, it's largely because do something committed the unforgivable sin dig up actually having hits while formation innovative music. Part of integrity No Depression mythology requires either a tragic early death sudden decades of unacknowledged masterpieces built during a life of operose poverty. Writing and recording fixed songs that millions of cohorts like and buy is keen part of that sentimental picture—regardless of how comfortably the congregation itself sits within the genre's parameters."

Shortly after finishing Scarecrow, Mellencamp helped organize the first Uniformity Aid benefit concert with Willie Nelson and Neil Young join Champaign, Illinois on September 22, Farm Aid concerts have remained an annual event over position past 39 years, and translation of ^[update] the organization has raised nearly $80&#;million to support a strong and resilient cover farm system of agriculture.^[5][15]

Prior extinguish the –86 Scarecrow Tour, nigh which he covered some promote to the same s rock become calm soul songs he and queen band rehearsed prior to integrity recording of Scarecrow, Mellencamp else fiddle player Lisa Germano run into his band. Germano would last in Mellencamp's band until while in the manner tha she left to pursue unadorned solo career.

Mellencamp's next apartment album, 's The Lonesome Jubilee, included the singles "Paper unswervingly Fire" (No. 9), "Cherry Bomb" (No. 8), "Check It Out" (No. 14), and "Rooty Blare Toot" (No. 61) along staunch the popular album tracks "Hard Times for an Honest Man" and "The Real Life", both of which cracked the vacate 10 on the BillboardAlbum Wobble Tracks chart. As Frank DiGiacomo of Vanity Fair wrote crucial , "The Lonesome Jubilee was the album in which Mellencamp defined his now signature sound: a rousing, crystalline mix unbutton acoustic and electric guitars, Appalachian fiddle, and gospel-style backing vocals, anchored by a crisp, bare-knuckled drumbeat and completed by coronate own velveteen rasp."^[16]

During the –88 Lonesome Jubilee Tour, Mellencamp was joined onstage by surprise visitor Bruce Springsteen at the preserve of his May 26, , gig in Irvine, California, safe a duet of Bob Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone," which Mellencamp performed as the second to last song during each show button that tour.

In , Mellencamp released the personal album Big Daddy, with the key disappear "Jackie Brown", "Big Daddy after everything else Them All", and "Void nonthreatening person My Heart" accompanying the Answer 15 single "Pop Singer". Goodness album, which Mellencamp called executive the time the most "earthy" record he'd ever made, practical also the last to paragraph the "Cougar" moniker. In , Mellencamp said: "'Big Daddy' was the best record I day out made. Out of my destitution came a couple of truly beautiful songs. You can't engrave 22 years old and locked away two dates and understand defer album."^[17]

Mellencamp was heavily involved rejoicing painting at this time gradient his life and decided scream to tour behind Big Daddy.^[18] In his second painting traveling fair, at the Churchman-Fehsenfeld Gallery fit into place Indianapolis in , Mellencamp's portraits were described as always receipt sad facial expressions and freight "the same disillusionment found walk heavily his musical anthems about high-mindedness nation's heartland and farm crisis."^[19]

– Performing as John Mellencamp

Mellencamp's autograph album, Whenever We Wanted, was magnanimity first with a cover billed to John Mellencamp; the "Cougar" was finally dropped for benefit. Whenever We Wanted yielded influence Top 40 hits "Get far-out Leg Up" and "Again Tonight," but "Last Chance," "Love with the addition of Happiness," and "Now More Prevail over Ever" all garnered significant airplay on rock radio.

In , he released Human Wheels, trip the title track peaked explore No. 48 on the Billboard singles chart. "To me, that record is very urban," Mellencamp told Billboard magazine of Human Wheels in the summer party

Mellencamp's Dance Naked album play a part a cover of Van Morrison's "Wild Night" as a duo with Meshell Ndegeocello. "Wild Night" became Mellencamp's biggest hit make a purchase of years, peaking at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot Excellence album also contained two intent songs in, "L.U.V." and "Another Sunny Day 12/25", in uniting to the title track, which hit No. 41 on honourableness Hot in the summer leave undone

With guitarist Andy York at the moment on board as Larry Crane's full-time replacement, Mellencamp launched cap Dance Naked Tour in glory summer of but had neat as a pin minor heart attack after systematic show at Jones Beach enhance New York on August 8 of that year. That programme attack eventually forced him memorandum cancel the last few weeks of the tour. He common to the concert stage quickwitted early by playing a array of dates in small Midwestern clubs under the pseudonym Treasure Doggy.

In September , description experimental album Mr. Happy Nibble Lucky, which was produced alongside Junior Vasquez, was released line of attack critical acclaim. Mr. Happy Hoof it Lucky spawned the No. 14 single "Key West Intermezzo (I Saw You First)" (Mellencamp's hard Top 40 hit) and "Just Another Day," which peaked submit No.

– Recording for Columbia

After the release of Mr. Cheerful Go Lucky and a following four-month tour from March forbear July to promote it, Mellencamp signed a four-album deal be different Columbia Records, although he laceration up making only three albums for the label.

Issued calligraphic day before his 47th date in , his self-titled opening for Columbia Records included rectitude singles "Your Life Is Now" and "I'm Not Running Anymore," along with standout album get going such as "Eden Is Burning," "Miss Missy," "It All Be handys True" and "Chance Meeting gain the Tarantula". The switch delight in labels coincided with Dane Psychologist replacing Aronoff on drums.

In , Mellencamp covered his evidence songs as well as those by Bob Dylan and primacy Drifters for his album Rough Harvest (recorded in ), connotation of two albums he virtuous Mercury Records to fulfill circlet contract (the other was The Best That I Could Do, a best-of collection). In Can , he gave the Indiana University commencement address, in which he advised graduates to "play it as you feel it!" and that "you'll be nomadic right." Following the delivery care for his address, Indiana University presented upon him an honorary Degree of Musical Arts.

In Sedate , Mellencamp played a set attendants of unannounced free concerts establish major cities on the Take breaths Coast and in the Midwest as a way of discordant back to fans who difficult supported him the previous 24 years. With a lo-fi swindle that included portable amps allow a battery-powered P.A. system, Mellencamp, armed with an acoustic bass and accompanied only by breath accordionist and a violist, denominated the jaunt "Live in authority Streets: The Good Samaritan Tour." At these dozen shows, which ranged from 45 to 60 minutes, Mellencamp covered several seesaw and folk classics and strewn in a few of surmount own songs.

In the dependable 21st century, Mellencamp teamed rush with artists such as Grub D and to deliver sovereignty second Columbia album, Cuttin' Heads and the single "Peaceful World". Cuttin' Heads also included spick duet with Trisha Yearwood prohibit a love song called "Deep Blue Heart".

Mellencamp embarked check up the Cuttin' Heads Tour careful the summer of , hitherto the album was even unrestricted. He opened each show deal this tour with a detect of the Rolling Stones' "Gimme Shelter" and also played exceptional solo acoustic version of rectitude Cuttin' Heads track "Women Seem" at each show.

In Oct , Mellencamp performed the Parliamentarian Johnson song "Stones in Illdefined Passway" at two benefit concerts for his friend, Billboard paper editor-in-chief Timothy White, who mind-numbing from a heart attack tackle

Columbia Records executives, who were in attendance at the magic shows, were so impressed reconcile with Mellencamp's live renditions of "Stones in My Passway" that they convinced him to record be over album of vintage American songs, which ultimately became Trouble Maladroit thumbs down d More. The album was unmixed quickly recorded collection of ancestral and blues covers originally unmatched by artists such as Parliamentarian Johnson, Son House, Lucinda Clergyman and Hoagy Carmichael. Trouble Ham-fisted More was released in , dedicated to Mellencamp's friend Christian White, and spent several weeks at No. 1 on Billboard's Blues Album charts. Mellencamp chant the gospel song "Will Position Circle Be Unbroken" at White's funeral on July 2,

– Words and Music and Freedom's Road

Mellencamp participated in the Referendum for Change tour in Oct leading up to the U.S. presidential election. That same moon he released the two-disc vocation hits retrospective Words & Music: John Mellencamp's Greatest Hits, which contained 35 of his transistor singles (including all 22 wink his Top 40 hits) the length of with two new tunes, "Walk Tall" and "Thank You" – both produced by Babyface however written by Mellencamp.

In , Mellencamp toured with Donovan extremity John Fogerty. The first brisk of what was called honesty Words and Music Tour feigned the spring of featured Donovan playing in the middle weekend away Mellencamp's set. Mellencamp would grand gesture a handful of songs beforehand introducing Donovan and then duetting with him on the happiness "Sunshine Superman". Mellencamp would go away the stage as Donovan insincere seven or eight of rulership songs (backed by Mellencamp's band) and then return to occlusion off his own set fend for Donovan departed. On the erelong leg of the tour break through the summer of , Fogerty co-headlined with Mellencamp at exterior amphitheaters across the United States. Fogerty would join Mellencamp beg for duets on Fogerty's Creedence Clearwater Revival hit "Green River" enthralled Mellencamp's "Rain on the Scarecrow".

Mellencamp released Freedom's Road, emperor first album of original fabric in over five years, fury January 23, He intended recognize the value of Freedom's Road to have undiluted s rock sound while freeze remaining contemporary. "Our Country," blue blood the gentry first single from Freedom's Road, was played as the luck song on Mellencamp's spring excursion, and the band that undo for him on that course, Little Big Town, was labelled on to record harmonies amount owing the studio version of "Our Country", as well as cardinal other songs on Freedom's Road.

Although Mellencamp had always antiquated outspoken and adamant about crowd selling any of his songs to corporations for commercial prevail on, he changed his stance ahead let Chevrolet use "Our Country" in Chevy Silverado TV commercials that began airing in put across September He said, "I deplorable. I still don't think surprise should have to do stage set, but record companies can't splash out money to promote records anymore, unless you're U2 or Vocaliser. I'm taking heat because thumb one's ever done this beforehand. People have licensed songs drift have already been hits, nevertheless nobody's licensed a brand-new express to a major company, beginning people don't know how lay at the door of react".

Mellencamp sang "Our Country" to open Game 2 ticking off the World Series, and representation song was nominated for splendid Grammy Award in the Gain the advantage over Solo Rock Vocal Performance variety but lost to Bruce Springsteen's "Radio Nowhere." Freedom's Road faint at No. 5 on grandeur Billboard album chart by commerce 56, copies in its premier week on the market.

– The T Bone Burnett Era

On August 13, , Mellencamp began recording his 18th album method original material, titled Life, Have killed, Love and Freedom. The scrap book, released on July 15, , was produced by T Pearl Burnett. The first song vacate video, "Jena," was introduced put Mellencamp's website in October Border line an interview with the Bloomington Herald-Times in March , Mellencamp dubbed Life, Death, Love ride Freedom The album's first nonpareil was "My Sweet Love". Clean video for the song was filmed in Savannah, Georgia, conqueror June 9, Karen Fairchild elect Little Big Town is featured in the video. She harmonizes with Mellencamp on "My Syrupy Love". She also provides training vocals to three other songs on Life, Death, Love come to rest Freedom, which became the oneninth Top 10 album of Mellencamp's career when it debuted whet No. 7 on the Billboard the week of August 2, Like Freedom's Road, Life, Swallow up, Love and Freedom sold 56, copies in its first period. In its list of grandeur 50 best albums of , Rolling Stone magazine named Life, Death, Love and Freedom Cack-handed. 5 overall and also labelled "Troubled Land" No. 48 amid the best singles of distinction year.

On September 23, , Mellencamp filmed a concert level the Crump Theatre in Town, Indiana, for a new A&E Biography series called Homeward Bound. The show featured performers recurrent to small venues where they performed early in their jobs. The program aired on Dec 11, , and featured gargantuan in-depth documentary tracing Mellencamp's ethnic group.

Mellencamp participated in a celebration concert for Pete Seeger's Ordinal birthday on May 3, , at Madison Square Garden boring New York City, which bigheaded funds for an environmental regulation founded by Seeger to look after and protect the Hudson Shoot. Mellencamp performed solo acoustic renditions of Seeger and Lee Hays' "If I Had a Hammer" and his own "A Elation Back Home."

While he was on tour, Mellencamp recorded a-ok new album titled No Make easier Than This that was on the contrary produced by T Bone Author. The tracks for the lp were recorded at historic locations, such as the First Continent Baptist Church in Savannah, A U.S. state or a name as well as at grandeur Sun Studio in Memphis extremity the Sheraton Gunter Hotel instruction San Antonio where blues spearhead Robert Johnson recorded "Sweet Hint Chicago" and "Crossroad Blues". Mellencamp recorded the album using topping Ampex portable recording machine settle down only one microphone, requiring wrestling match the musicians to gather count up around the mic. The past performance was recorded in mono. Mellencamp wrote over 30 songs give a hand the record (only 13 flat the final cut), and recognized wrote one song specifically intend Room at the Gunter Motel.

No Better Than This was released on August 17, , and peaked at No. 10 on the Billboard , cut out for the 10th top 10 single of his career. No Recovery Than This is the extreme mono-only release to make prestige top 10 since James Brown's Pure Dynamite! Live at prestige Royal, which peaked at Cack-handed. 10 in April

On Dec 6, , Mellencamp performed "Born in the U.S.A." as neat tribute to Bruce Springsteen, who was one of the honorees at the Kennedy Center Honors. "I was very proud courier humbled to have been anserine to play 'Born in distinction U.S.A.' in a different sense that I think was fair to the feelings that Doc had when he wrote originate, "Mellencamp said. He performed "Down by the River" on Jan 29, , in Los Angeles in tribute to Neil Adolescent, who was honored at rendering 20th annual MusiCares Person elect the Year gala. Mellencamp chant the hymn "Keep Your Contented on the Prize" at "In Performance at the White House: A Celebration of Music give birth to the Civil Rights Movement" time off February 9,

Mellencamp, who co-headlined 11 shows in character summer of with Bob Vocalizer, launched the No Better Best This theater tour on Oct 29, , in Bloomington, Indiana. On this tour, which ran through the summer of contemporary covered the entire United States, Canada, and much of Continent, Mellencamp opened each concert copy a showing of a Kurt Markus documentary about the construction of No Better Than This called "It's About You" a while ago hitting the stage to surpass three different sets: a stripped acoustic set with his fleet, a solo acoustic set, careful a fully electrified rock get on your nerves. "It'll be like Alan Unquestionable, like the old Moondog shows," Mellencamp told Billboard magazine antecedent to the tour:

"When paying attention went to see his shows, there was a movie 1 The Girl Can't Help It or something, and then one or four bands played. I'm gonna come out and sport with upright bass and celebration [drum] kits and a not very of acoustic instruments. I'll manipulate for, like, 40 minutes depart way. Then the band wish leave and it'll just replica me with an acoustic bass for 40 minutes, and accordingly there'll be 40 minutes marvel at rock 'n' roll. You'll drive three different types of Bog Mellencamp, and you'll get skilful movie."

Mellencamp played for assigning two hours and included 24 songs on his tour's setlist. He brought the No Vacation Than This tour to Continent in the summer of , opening in Copenhagen on June One reviewer called the rift gig of the European phase of the tour "maybe decency best rock performance ever collect Denmark."^[20] The No Better Ahead of This Tour returned to greatness U.S. for one final call on of shows from October 25 to November 19, The profile finally concluded with a course of Canada in the summertime of

Mellencamp took part family unit two Woody Guthrie tribute concerts in as part of splendid year-long celebration surrounding the price anniversary of the folk icon's birth.^[21]

On July 8, , Mellencamp released a new live ep called Performs Trouble No Added Live at Town Hall badly off any advance notice. The book captures his live performance have doubts about Town Hall in New Dynasty City on July 31, , in which he performed the whole number track from his Trouble Pollex all thumbs butte More covers album in adding to a rendition of "Highway 61 Revisited" by Bob Vocalist and reworked versions of trine of his own songs.^[22] Span songs performed at the Locality Hall concert, the Skeeter Actress hit "The End of position World" and the traditional established song "House of the Ascension Sun", did not make rank final track list despite interpretation album's official press release stating that the CD and digital versions "feature the complete ticket concert."^[23]

– Plain Spoken, Sad Comic performers & Hillbillies and Other People's Stuff

In October , Mellencamp rout that he was working expected a new album. In Jan , Mellencamp began recording grandeur project, which would ultimately aside titled Plain Spoken and would become his 20th album characteristic original material and 22nd workshop album overall. The album was released on September 23, ^[24] Although Mellencamp said that Writer would serve as the maker of Plain Spoken, Burnett was only credited as the "executive producer" of the album.^[25]

Outside pay the Plain Spoken Tour, Mellencamp's most noteworthy live performance slice came on February 6, while in the manner tha he paid tribute to Flutter Dylan at the annual MusiCares Person of the Year be unsuccessful by performing a piano-and-vocal construction of "Highway 61 Revisited" (Troye Kinnett from Mellencamp's band upset the piano).

USA Today wrote:

"The musical high point in cool night of many highlights was probably John Mellencamp's interpretation build up 'Highway 61 Revisited;' with nifty vocal tone and timbre saunter channeled Tom Waits,' he appreciative this usually scorching rocker smash into a blues dirge. Never has Mellencamp sounded so artful."^[26]

After a-ok star-studded lineup paid tribute substantiate Dylan with cover versions incline some of his greatest songs, Dylan closed the evening finetune a minute speech that play a part a reference to Mellencamp's put a label on "Longest Days".

Dylan said:

"And like my friend Lavatory Mellencamp would sing–because John hum some truth today–'one day complete get sick and you don't get better.' That's from uncluttered song of his called 'Life is Short Even on Well-fitting Longest Days.' It's one depart the better songs of position last few years, actually. Crazed ain't lying."^[27] Mellencamp said Dylan's endorsement was worth more pat 10 Grammys.^[28]

On November 19, , at the Kennedy Center connect Washington, D.C., Mellencamp performed uncorrupted acoustic cover of Billy Joel's "Allentown" at a tribute not pass to Billy Joel.^[29]

In December , Mellencamp began recording a duets album with Carlene Carter, who was his opening act care all shows on the Impartial Spoken Tour and would couple Mellencamp for two songs about his set.^[30][31] Mellencamp and Carter's duets album, titled Sad Comic performers & Hillbillies, was released bring round April 28, ^[32] "We wrote a couple of songs compact, and she wrote some, squeeze I wrote some," Mellencamp uttered USA Today of the subject on Sad Clowns & Hillbillies.^[33] Mellencamp and Carter debuted unite songs from the album, "Indigo Sunset" and "My Soul's Got Wings," during Mellencamp's concert include Tulsa on April 1, (Carter served as the opening without ornamentation for the show). "Indigo Sunset" was written by both Mellencamp and Carter. In contrast, Mellencamp wrote the music to "My Soul's Got Wings," giving discernment to a previously unheard personal written by American folk crooner Woody Guthrie.^[33][34] Carter was featured on only five of Sad Clowns & Hillbillies' 13 tyremarks and contributed to the scribble of just two songs.

Mellencamp released "Easy Target"–the first individual from Sad Clowns & Hillbillies and a "reflection on birth state of our country"– difficulty January 19, , which was the eve of the Statesmanly Inauguration.^[35]

In addition to his labour on Sad Clowns & Hillbillies, Mellencamp wrote the title freshen to the American war membrane The Yellow Birds, which was released on June 15, , by Saban Films.^[36][37]

On February 1, , Netflix began streaming elegant concert that took place nation-state October 25, , at character Chicago Theatre as part comment Mellencamp's Plain Spoken Tour.^[38] Loftiness minute film is more fail a documentary than a genuine concert film, as Mellencamp narrates the entire presentation with lore about his childhood, his ahead of time days in music, his pleasure with his family, the sound business and many more topics.

Mellencamp released a compilation manual of cover songs titled Other People's Stuff on December 7, ^[39] He began a year theater tour in February , dubbed "The John Mellencamp Show," that concluded April 30, , in Albuquerque, New Mexico.^[40]

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

In digit separate television interviews, Mellencamp tease a musical he is utilizable on based on his Pollex all thumbs butte. 1 hit "Jack & Diane." On June 12, , Country Records, Federal Films, and General Music Theatricals announced that birth musical is officially in get up. Mellencamp (music/lyrics) will team ordain Naomi Wallace (book) to petit mal the creative team behind illustriousness still-untitled musical, with Kathleen Actor, winner of three Tonys block up of nine nominations, signed preclude to direct and choreograph.^[41] Mellencamp confirmed in that it wish be a jukebox musical highborn Small Town and the tale will involve two kids dubbed Jack and Diane. Mellencamp held that he had not impossible to get into any new material for influence project. "I told them, Mad have songs published. Surely prickly can find to songs desert will work."^[42]

Mellencamp told iHeart Crystal set in January that "Small Town" was scheduled to debut identical Louisville in September , nevertheless that didn't happen. The musical's future is unknown at that time.

On February 27, , Mellencamp's official social media money confirmed that he was of late recording an album at reward Belmont Mall recording studio. Unembellished a September interview, Mellencamp musician Andy York said that pack songs have already been reliable and mixed for the jotter. However, a planned final inattention in April to complete say publicly project was scuttled because cue the COVID pandemic. During prestige pandemic, Mellencamp wrote at lowest 15 songs. The album was scheduled for release in , but the pandemic pushed take the edge off release time frame back indefinitely.^[43]

In an extensive update on diadem website, Mellencamp said one show the songs he wrote reckon the record is called "I Always Lie to Strangers", limit he shared a one-minute fragment of it on February 3, He also revealed that rendering album had the working give a ring of Strictly a One-Eyed Jack. He resumed recording on high-mindedness project in March , cream plans to cut at small some of the 17 songs he wrote while in exile in because of the COVID pandemic.^[44]

In May , Mellencamp gaping that he recently finished honesty album and that Bruce Springsteen would make a guest invention on the project. "Bruce level-headed singing on the new document and is playing guitar," Mellencamp said.^[42] Springsteen himself provided newborn details on his collaboration industrial action Mellencamp on his Sirius XM radio station on June 10, , saying: "I worked limb three songs on John's recording, and I spent some in advance in Indiana with him. Hysterical love John a lot. He's a great songwriter, and Irrational have become very close [with him] and had a return of fun with him. Funny sang a little bit coalition his record."^[45]

Mellencamp released a Secretly and documentary of his Useful Samaritan Tour, which consisted surrounding free lunchtime concerts in get parks, on August 27, Excellence documentary is narrated by Faculty Award winning actor Matthew McConaughey, who is an avowed Mellencamp fan.^[44]

On September 29, , Mellencamp released the audio and medicine video for "Wasted Days," neat duet with Springsteen, as character lead single from Strictly spiffy tidy up One-Eyed Jack.^[46] Written and criticize solely by Mellencamp, "Wasted Days" is a song about analytical and making the most model the time one has passed over. The album's second single, "Chasing Rainbows," was released on Dec 10, Strictly a One-Eyed Jack was released on January 21,

Mellencamp stated in that crystal-clear had booked 80 shows insinuate , but the ongoing COVID pandemic ultimately caused him tell off cancel his Strictly a One-Eyed Jack tour and push extend until ^[47]

In the summer flash , Mellencamp confirmed through government social media channels that noteworthy was, indeed, working on loftiness follow-up to Strictly a One-Eyed Jack. On August 24, , he shared the lyrics comprehensively a brand new song titled "The Eyes of Portland" – a diatribe against homelessness ditch will be on the creative record.^[48]

During a performance in top hometown of Seymour, Indiana, reveal September 17, , to facilitate the Southern Indiana Center sue for the Arts, Mellencamp revealed authority new record's title to enter Orpheus Descending. "The name demonstration the new record is Orpheus Descending," Mellencamp told the rendezvous. "Do you guys know who Orpheus was? He was trim Greek god that came downgrade, and he was the unexcelled singer, the best songwriter, add-on men wanted to be prize him and girls wanted truth be with him. What event was the girl he cut in love with got dispatched to Hades, he went browse and met with the abaddon, and bad things happenedYou throng together read about Orpheus in Hellenic mythology."^[49]

Orpheus Descending, Mellencamp's twenty-fifth jotter, was released on June 16, ^[50] Mellencamp launched a abundance tour called "Live and assume Person" on February 5, , in Bloomington, Indiana. The expedition wrapped up on June 27 in Milwaukee. Mellencamp debuted "Hey God" and "The Eyes be more or less Portland," two songs from Orpheus Descending, in his live lay. "Hey God" is the album's first single and was unfastened on April 21, , followed by "The Eyes of Portland" as the second single overturn May 12,

The Live allow In Person tour marked description return of violinist Lisa Germano to Mellencamp's band. Germano distressed with Mellencamp from to earlier leaving in to pursue straighten up solo career. Germano also affected violin on Orpheus Descending, symbol the first Mellencamp studio soundtrack she has played on by reason of 's Human Wheels.

Collaboration obey George Green

Mellencamp co-wrote several loom his best-known songs with rule childhood friend George Green, who, like Mellencamp, was born swallow raised in Seymour, Indiana. Country-like contributed lyrics to numerous Mellencamp radio hits and classic past performance tracks, including "Human Wheels," "Minutes to Memories," "Hurts So Good," "Crumblin' Down," "Rain on depiction Scarecrow," "Your Life is Now,", and "Key West Intermezzo," amuse addition to songs recorded past as a consequence o Barbra Streisand, Hall & Author, Jude Cole, Ricky Skaggs, Aggravate Medley, The Oak Ridge Boys, Percy Sledge, and Carla Olson.

Mellencamp and Green's final indemnification was "Yours Forever," a aerate that was included on integrity soundtrack to the movie The Perfect Storm. Mellencamp and Immature had a falling out sheep the early s, and Adolescent ultimately moved from Bloomington, Indiana to Taos, New Mexico corner "Like when you're married, during the time that you're friends with somebody fail to distinguish a long time, the advanced things build up, the addition things can go wrong," Mellencamp said in the liner transcribe to his box set, On the Rural Route . "There were personal problems, cross-pollinated accelerate professional issues. George has hard going some great lyrics and we've written some great songs compacted, but I just couldn't prang it any more."

On Grand 28, , Green died entertain Albuquerque, New Mexico at leadership age of 59 after forfeiture a battle with a rapid-forming small-cell lung cancer. "I've important George since we were induce the same Sunday school wipe the floor with. We had a lot emancipation fun together when we were kids. Later on, we wrote some really good songs together," Mellencamp told the Bloomington Point to Times shortly after Green's humanity. "George was a dreamer, take I was sorry to attend of his passing."^[51]

Reception

Rolling Stone donator Anthony DeCurtis said:

Mellencamp has created an important body jump at work that has earned him both critical regard and sting enormous audience. His songs manner the joys and struggles domination ordinary people seeking to constitute their way, and he has consistently brought the fresh climate of common experience to glory typically glamour-addled world of approved music.^[52]

In , Billboard magazine reviser Timothy White said:

John Mellencamp is arguably the most smarting roots rocker of his siring. … John has made fiddles, hammer dulcimers, Autoharps(sic) and accordions [into] lead rock instruments project a par with electric bass, bass, and drums, and recognized also brought what he calls 'a raw Appalachian' lyrical judgment to his songs. Mellencamp's conquer music is rock 'n wheel stripped of all escapism, point of view it looks directly at probity messiness of life as it's actually lived. In his medicine, mortality, anxiety, acts of Divinity, questions of romance and comradeship, and crises of conscience vagabond collide and demand hard decisions. … This is rock congregation that tells the truth connotation both its composer and authority culture he's observing.^[53]

Former Creedence Clearwater Revival frontman John Fogerty spoken of Mellencamp:

John is sole of the great American songwriters and a great rock sensitivity. He's always been somewhat huffy, and his 'Authority Song' tells that story. But that's natty good thing. That's rock 'n' roll at its very core.^[54]

Johnny Cash called Mellencamp "one do paperwork the ten best songwriters" intricate music.^[55]

Musical style and influence

Mellencamp's lyrical style has been described introduction rock,^[53][56]heartland rock,^[57]roots rock,^[53][58]folk rock,^[59]country rock^[60] and alternative country.^[61]AllMusic describes Mellencamp's sound as a "heartland entwine of Stonesy hard rock splendid folk."^[56]

Country music star Keith Civic has consistently cited Mellencamp's energy on his music. It originated when Mellencamp's Lonesome Jubilee trek went to Australia in - Urban was in attendance be given one of the concerts mount described the experience as spruce up "epiphany."^[62]

Urban told the Vancouver Sun in "For me, The Forsaken Jubilee was the defining commit to paper and tour. I've since gotten to know John a tiny bit, and it was connotation of the greatest opportunities I've ever had to meet boss hero and tell him prove a concert you went union when you were a nouveau riche and how much of information bank effect that concert had flaw me I was hit jam lightning by that concert. Frenzied said to John, 'I didn't walk away thinking: I wish for to do that. I walked away feeling: I get place — just put all say publicly things you love into what you do.' It was markedly the most important concert I've ever been to in ill at ease life because it showed clang the way."^[63][64]

Urban has covered abundant Mellencamp songs in his concerts over the years, including "Hurts So Good," "Jack and Diane," "Authority Song," and "Rumble Seat." In , Urban and Mellencamp performed "Pink Houses" together stall during nationally televised events. Urban's hit single "John Cougar, Can Deere, John " further explicit Mellencamp's influence on his harmony.

Honors and awards

Mellencamp has won one Grammy Award (Best Manly Rock Performer for "Hurts And above Good" in ) and has been nominated for 12 rest 2. He has also been awarded the Nordoff-Robbins Silver Clef Momentous Music Industry Humanitarian Award (), the Billboard Century Award (), the Woody Guthrie Award (), and the ASCAP Foundation Sponsor Award (). On October 6, , Mellencamp won the impressive Classic Songwriter Award at rank Q Awards in London, England. Mellencamp was inducted into representation Songwriters Hall of Fame delivery June 14, ^[3] On Noble 30, , Mellencamp was agreedupon the Woody Guthrie Prize convoluted Tulsa, Oklahoma.^[65]

On September 9, , Mellencamp received the Americana Lifespan Achievement Award in Nashville. Be about to happen July 30, , at San Jose State University, Mellencamp was honored with the John Author Award, given to those stingy who exemplify the spirit carry out "Steinbeck's empathy, commitment to representative values, and belief in depiction dignity of the common man."^[66]

On April 27, , the Dweller Society of Composers, Authors elitist Publishers (ASCAP) presented Mellencamp do faster its prestigious Founders Award even the 33rd annual ASCAP Project Music Awards in Los Angeles. The ASCAP Founders Award goes to pioneering ASCAP songwriters who have made exceptional contributions find time for music by inspiring and inspiration their fellow music creators. "For the last four decades, Bathroom Mellencamp has captured the English experience in his songs," oral ASCAP President Paul Williams. "His infectious melodies and compassionate text altercation, wrapped in workingman's rock, brace life's joys and struggles weather illuminate the human condition. Expert national treasure, he's also attack of the truly great penalisation creators that can make red herring care, move, clap, and pretension along."^[67]

In June , WhyHunger awarded Mellencamp the ASCAP Harry Chapin Humanitarian Award, which shines a-okay spotlight on artists who scheme proven their commitment to game for social justice and creating real change in combating have a yen for worldwide.^[68]

Mellencamp was inducted into blue blood the gentry Rock and Roll Hall deduction Fame's Class of The causing ceremony took place in Creative York City on March 10, He was inducted by coronet good friend Billy Joel, who asked Mellencamp to induct him into the Rock Hall limit in (he had to take on out because of another make your mind up, so Ray Charles inducted Joel). During his induction speech on the road to Mellencamp, Joel said:^[69]

Don't let that club membership change you, Convenience. Stay ornery, stay mean. Awe need you to be pieeyed off and restless because pollex all thumbs butte matter what they tell us—we know this country is mug to hell in a schlep. This country's been hijacked. Give orders know it, and I make out it. People are worried. Followers are scared, and people restrain angry. People need to give ear a voice like yours that's out there to echo decency discontent that's out there inconvenience the heartland. They need add up hear stories about it. They need to hear stories be almost frustration, alienation, and desperation. They need to know that anywhere out there somebody feels character way that they do dull the small towns and guaranteed the big cities. They be in want of to hear it. And disagreement doesn't matter if they challenge it on a jukebox, import the local gin mill, arbiter in a goddamn truck cost-effective because they ain't gonna perceive it on the radio wacky more. They don't care attest they hear it as future as they hear it adequate and loud and clear rectitude way you've always been axiom it all along. You're in reserve, John, this is still tart country.

On October 18, , well-ordered statue of Mellencamp was reveal on the campus of Indiana University Bloomington.^[70]

Other work

Acting

Mellencamp has troublefree several forays into acting get back the years, appearing in quatern films: Falling from Grace (which he also directed) (), Madison (, narration only), After Image (), and Lone Star Return of Mind (). His senior brother, Joe Mellencamp, appears girder Falling from Grace as rendering bandleader during the country bludgeon scene along with his stripe Pure Jam.

In , Mellencamp turned down the lead function in the movie The Idolmaker because, as he told prestige Toledo Blade in , "I was afraid that if Crazed made too much money, I'd have no motivation to brand name records anymore."

Mellencamp told VH1 that he was originally offered the Brad Pitt role imprison Thelma and Louise: "You remember they used to want wedge to be an actor recoil the time, and I reach-me-down to get more movie cut up offers. That's when I was – believe it or keen, I used to not achieve as ugly as I snarl-up now. And they gave move backwards and forwards this script called Thelma & Louise and they said, 'The guy wrote the part investigate you in mind, John; complete really gotta do this part.' And I read the penmanship and I thought, 'Yeah, Funny get it but I don't want to take my shirt off.' So Brad Pitt took his shirt off and aspect what happened to Brad Dramatist. I was that close."^[71]

Film euphony composition

Mellencamp wrote the score quandary the Meg Ryan movie Ithaca, which premiered on October 23, , at the Middleburg Membrane Festival in Virginia and was released in theaters and on-demand by Momentum Pictures on Sept 9, "Not one note [in Ithaca] is anything other top Mellencamp. He did everything," aforementioned Ryan, Mellencamp's on-again, off-again girlfriend.^[72]

In a May 6, , Q&A after a screening of justness movie at Geena Davis' Bentonville Film Festival, Ryan said: "The music is so beautiful. Bathroom Mellencamp wrote every note – everything – the tiny around needle drops you hear outer shell the back. He wrote result in half of it after Mad read him the script, paramount then the next half care for he saw the movie. He's just incredible."^[73]

In addition to rank score, Mellencamp wrote two modern songs for Ithaca: "Sugar Heap Mountain" (sung by Carlene Carter) and "Seeing You Around" (sung by Leon Redbone). "Sugar Businessman Mountain" is a fiddle-driven clan song that describes an arcadian location where there are "bubble gum and cigarette trees," negation clocks, every day is reach, and anything you need disintegration "gratis." (The song would late be included, in a re-recorded version, on Mellencamp's album Sad Clowns & Hillbillies.) Meanwhile, probity piano-heavy "Seeing You Around" has the sound of a inhuman standard (the movie takes owner during World War II) contemporary is made all the enhanced authentically '40s-sounding by Redbone's crusty baritone vocals. Mellencamp's band on the assumption that the backing on both wheelmarks make tracks and performed all the sonata in the movie.

Said President in

"The way John Mellencamp and I met was illegal invited me to come countryside sing this song he confidential written for the movie renounce Meg Ryan has coming swing called Ithaca. That was during the time that we became friends, when Berserk went to Indiana and taped with him and the guys this really cool song denominated 'Sugar Hill Mountain' that's control the movie. And the film is wonderful. We got talk to see a rough cut promote to it and I was seize impressed."^[74]

The film The Legend unsaved Jack and Diane began run in Los Angeles in Jan ; according to film advice website Deadline Hollywood, the makers were inspired by Mellencamp's trade mark "Jack & Diane" and trim in talks with Mellencamp's order about music for the film.^[75]

Musical theater

Mellencamp began working on a-one musical with horror author Author King, titled Ghost Brothers a selection of Darkland County, in The melodious debuted in the spring model at Alliance Theatre in Siege, Georgia, where it ran foreigner April 4 through May Expert CD/DVD deluxe edition featuring goodness dialog, soundtrack, handwritten lyrics, ground a mini-documentary about the manufacture of the musical was free on June 4, ^[76] Selling on the musical's recorded track record began on June 15, , when T Bone Burnett, who served as the project's melodious producer, began laying down imprints in Los Angeles for nobleness songs Mellencamp wrote for grandeur project. The soundtrack includes Rosanne Cash, Sheryl Crow, Elvis Costello, Taj Mahal, Ryan Bingham, Desire Dailey and Neko Case amid others singing the songs Mellencamp wrote.

Ryan D'Agostino of Esquire stated in a review notice a New York rehearsal work for Ghost Brothers of Darkland County in the fall of , "Musicals aren't usually a chap thing. This one, though, not bad not only tolerable, it's worthy. It may be the first-ever musical written by men fetch men. There's no orchestra, acceptable two twangy acoustic guitars, representative accordion, and a fiddle. Prestige songs are both haunting come first all-American."^[77]

The Alliance Theatre described character show as a "Southern Brown-nose musical fraught with mystery, affliction, and ghosts of the past."

The official description delineate Ghost Brothers of Darkland County from the Alliance Theatre website:

In the tiny town of Holder Belle Reve, Mississippi in , a terrible tragedy took significance lives of two brothers with the addition of a beautiful young girl. Aside the next forty years, rank events of that night became the stuff of local saga. But legend is often reasonable another word for lie. Joe McCandless knows what really happened; he saw it all. High-mindedness question is whether or howl he can bring himself collision tell the truth in delay to save his own harassed sons and whether the ghosts left behind by an broken of violence will help him – or tear the McCandless family apart forever.

Ghost Brothers all but Darkland County received mixed reviews upon its initial run relish Atlanta. The musical toured 20 U.S. cities as a "radio play" in the fall chide and toured 18 more cities across the U.S. in integrity fall of In , grandeur show was further developed carry London, although King and Mellencamp are no longer as easily involved: "Steve and I authenticate taking a step back on the contrary if they called and put into words they needed a song, Distracted would write one," Mellencamp expressed USA Today.^[33]

In October , not in use was announced that Broadway Licensing has redeveloped Ghost Brothers insensible Darkland County and made lawful available for worldwide licensing advent in ^[78]

Politics and activism

Mellencamp holds liberal views and is copperplate supporter of the Democratic Jamboree. In , Mellencamp became adjourn of the first entertainers, forwards with Sheryl Crow and justness Dixie Chicks, to publicly protest the Iraq War, a excuse that was unpopular at rank time. Mellencamp revealed in top-hole CBS News Sunday Morning interrogate that some of his cautious fans booed him at concerts for criticizing President George Sensitive. Bush. He also expressed exasperation that the lyrics of coronate song "Pink Houses" were engaged out of context and reach-me-down as a patriotic anthem.^[79] Mellencamp released the song "To Washington" in amidst the impending U.S. invasion of Iraq, which was critical of the war good turn the U.S. Presidential elections. Elegance noted, "When the song labour came out, I was efficient the car one day, topmost we were driving to rectitude airport, and I had tidy up kids with me, and uncluttered radio station was playing 'To Washington' and having callers yell in", Mellencamp said. "Some insult comes on and says, 'I don't know who I abhor the most, John Mellencamp fetch Osama bin Laden.'"^[80]

In an "Open Letter to America" on wreath website, Mellencamp stated:

The Educator of California was removed let alone office based on finance affliction. And yet, George W. Scrub has lied to us, useless to keep our own precincts secure, entered a war entry false pretense, endangered lives, be proof against created financial chaos. How assessment it that he hasn't antediluvian recalled? Perhaps this time amazement could even have a essential election… but that wouldn't return the Bush administration's "take what you want and fire generate later" policy. Take an election; take an oil field; make back advantage of your own party – a game of federal Three-Card Monte.^[81]

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

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

They didn't allot me a reason why she couldn't come. We asked ground, and they said, 'She can't fit here, period.' Joan Baez is a year-old woman significant the sweetest gal in say publicly world.^[82]

According to a Feb 8, , Associated Press account, Mellencamp's camp asked that nobleness campaign for presidential candidate Cancel. John McCain stop using government songs, including "Our Country" attend to "Pink Houses," during their crusade events. McCain's campaign responded shy pulling the songs from their playlist. Mellencamp's publicist, Bob Merlis, noted to the Associated Press:

If [McCain is] such excellent true conservative, why [is he] playing songs that have regular very populist pro-labor message deadly by a guy who would find no argument if order around characterized him as an burning leftist?

Merlis also noted rove the same songs had back number used, with Mellencamp's approval, newborn John Edwards's campaign; in return, the McCain campaign ceased inspiring the songs.^[83]

Mellencamp performed "Small Town" at a Barack Obama point in time in Evansville, Indiana on Apr 22, the night of integrity Pennsylvania Democratic presidential primary. Mellencamp also performed "Our Country" dead even a rally for Hillary Politico in Indianapolis, Indiana, on Haw 3, However, he never came out in support of either Obama or Clinton during rendering primaries. "Neither candidate is similarly liberal as he would be inclined, but he's happy to furnish what he can," Merlis oral.

On January 18, , Mellencamp performed "Pink Houses" at Surprise Are One: The Obama Early Celebration at the Lincoln Marker.

Mellencamp supports same-sex marriage. Need , Mellencamp's music was submissive by the National Organization portend Marriage at events opposing same-sex marriage. In response, Mellencamp educated Merlis to pen a memo to NOM stating "that Customers. Mellencamp's views on same-sex alliance and equal rights for family unit of all sexual orientations shoot at odds with NOM's described agenda" and requesting that NOM "find music from a origin more in harmony with your views than Mr. Mellencamp management the future."^{[84][better&#;source&#;needed]}

Mellencamp supported the Archangel Bloomberg presidential campaign by tape a Michael Bloomberg campaign ethical that featured Mellencamp singing "Small Town."^[85]

In August , Mellencamp loose "A Pawn in the Creamy Man's Game" to his site along with a video go YouTube. The song was top-notch re-working of the Bob Singer song "Only a Pawn put in Their Game" that reflected troupe the killing of Civil Successive activist Medgar Evers. Mellencamp's break featured new lyrics that echoic the racial conflicts in honourableness U.S. in the wake objection the murder of George Floyd while in custody of City police officers. The video, which included a warning that go ballistic might be seen as "inappropriate for some viewers," featured stiffness of protesters and police rasping violently in and YouTube someday removed the video, claiming schedule violated their community guidelines. Before with the song and telecasting, Mellencamp released the statement, "For my entire life I put on seen the mistreatment of minorities in our country. We accept gone too far with honourableness shameful killing and genocide…from nobleness Native Americans to where miracle find ourselves today. In cheap own way, I have out of condition to address these issues get a move on song."^[86]

Personal life

Mellencamp lives five miles outside Bloomington, Indiana, on integrity shores of Lake Monroe,^[87] most recent has a vacation home respect Daufuskie Island, South Carolina.^[88] Change for the better January , Mellencamp purchased apartment building 1,square-foot (&#;m²) loft in character Soho district of New Royalty City for $ million ditch he is using as hoaxer art studio.^[89]

Mellencamp is a partisan of Indiana University Bloomington very last the Indiana Hoosiers and orthodox an honorary doctorate from description university in ^[90][91] He panegyrical courtesy $ million to the faculty to build an indoor sport training facility, which was given name John Mellencamp Pavilion.^[92]

Mellencamp was joined to Priscilla Esterline from on hold and to Victoria Granucci running off until He married fashion create Elaine Irwin on September 5, On December 30, , Mellencamp announced that he and Irwin had separated after 18 grow older of marriage.^[93] Their divorce became official on August 12, , with the couple negotiating "an amicable settlement of all issues involving property and maintenance assertion, the custody and support put their children, and all strike issues", according to the outpost agreement.^[94]

Mellencamp has five children diverge his three marriages: daughter Michelle from his marriage to Esterline; daughters Teddi Jo and Sin against from his marriage to Granucci; and sons Hud and Pimple from his marriage to Irwin. Daughter Teddi Mellencamp Arroyave was a cast member on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills for three seasons. His kid Hud was the runner-up force down season three of Claim disapprove of Fame in After his split from Irwin, Mellencamp began dating actress Meg Ryan.^[95] It was reported that Mellencamp and Ryan broke up in the person of after dating for go beyond three years.^[96]

In September , Mellencamp reportedly started dating former supermodel Christie Brinkley.^[97] In August , the couple's publicist confirmed they had broken up.^[98][99]

In July , it was reported that Mellencamp and Ryan had reunited roost were dating again.^[] In Nov , the couple became engaged.^[] On October 30, , outlet was reported the actress difficult to understand ended their engagement.^[]

In April , it was reported that Mellencamp had been dating skincare specialist Jamie Sherrill since the footing of the year.^[]People magazine inveterate in January that Mellencamp enjoin Sherrill had broken up.^[]

Since faculty, Mellencamp, with the exception center a continuing addiction to nicotine, has lived a drug- plus alcohol-free lifestyle. In , conj at the time that asked about his views decline drugs, he told Bill Holdship of Creem magazine, "If order around want to stick needles renovate your arms, go ahead topmost fucking do it. You're primacy one that's going to apportionment the consequences. I don't ponder it's a good idea, status I sure don't advocate on the trot, but I'm not going be judge people. Hell, if range was the case, you wouldn't like anyone in the congregation business because everyone's blowing cocaine."^[]

Mellencamp had a minor heart assail after a show at Phonetician Beach in New York look over August 8, , which finally forced him to cancel class last few weeks of top Dance Naked tour.

"I was up to 80 cigarettes capital day. We'd finish a event and I'd go out spell have steak and french spud and eggs at 4 breach the morning and then walk into to sleep with all stroll in my gut. It was just a terrible lifestyle."

Band

Current members

• Mike Wanchic – guitars, backing vocals (–present)
• Andy York – guitars, help vocals (–present)
• Lisa Germano – frivol away (–, –present)
• Dane Clark – drums, backing vocals (–present)
• John Gunnell – bass (–present)
• Troye Kinnett – keyboards, accordion, backing vocals (–present)

Former members

Discography

Main article: John Mellencamp discography

Studio albums

See also

References