On albums like Scarecrow (1985), The Lonesome Jubilee (1987) and Big Daddy (1989), Mellencamp helped pioneer the sound of alternative country or No Depression, music that combines the truth-telling force of hard-core country with the instrumental attack of rock & roll. On the second leg of the tour in the summer of 2005, Fogerty co-headlined with Mellencamp at outdoor amphitheaters across the United States. 8), "Check It Out" (No. in a little town called Selma. [22] Two songs performed at the 2003 Town Hall concert, the 1962 Skeeter Davis hit "The End of the World" and the traditional folk song "House of the Rising Sun", did not make the final track list despite the album's official press release stating that the CD and digital versions "feature the complete 15-song concert. With credits that read like a top-40 list, Aronoff has cemented himself as a first-call drummer in the business of making gold records. Like Freedom's Road, Life, Death, Love and Freedom also sold 56,000 copies in its first week. In April 2007, Mellencamp performed for wounded troops at the Walter Reed Medical Center. "It's been fascinating to me how urban records use rhythm and electronics, and it's terribly challenging to make that work in the context of a rock band", Mellencamp told Billboard magazine in 1996. I haven't done one in five years. He was born with spina bifida, for which he had corrective surgery as an infant. [5] Riva Records added "I Need a Lover" to Mellencamp's next album released in the United States, 1979's John Cougar, where the song became a No. Rees gets some humorous comments from Mellencamp band members who were instructed to and had to sign a form saying they would not be within 250 feet of Dylanor even look him in the eye! Kenny Aronoff is about as successful as a freelance drummer can get. Toward the end, I didn't even go to the studio. [102], Since college, Mellencamp (with the exception of a continuing addiction to nicotine) has lived a drug and alcohol-free lifestyle. Feb. 27, 2023 Updated: Feb. 27, 2023 8:33 a.m. San Antonio rocked out with John Mellencamp at the Majestic Theatre over the weekend. In 1999, Mellencamp covered his own songs as well as those by Bob Dylan and the Drifters for his album Rough Harvest (recorded in 1997), one of two albums he owed Mercury Records to fulfill his contract (the other was The Best That I Could Do, a best-of collection). John J. Mellencamp[1] (born October 7, 1951), previously known as Johnny Cougar, John Cougar, and John Cougar Mellencamp, is an American singer-songwriter. "I had planned to have the record out now but I haven't finished. Born October 7, 1951 in Seymour, Indiana, John Mellencamp fell in love with music at an early age and was gigging in local bars and fronting a soul band by the time he was 14. The soundtrack includes Rosanne Cash, Sheryl Crow, Elvis Costello, Taj Mahal, Ryan Bingham, Will Dailey and Neko Case among others singing the songs Mellencamp wrote. All the music has been recorded. Along with the song and video Mellencamp released the statement that read "For my entire life I have seen the mistreatment of minorities in our country. Now, we weren't playing the best songs in the world. A former keyboardist. The 76-stop run is set to kick off with a two-night stand in . This one, though, is not only tolerable, it's good. His work has also been exhibited at Herron School of Art and Design, a division of Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. Joan Baez is a 66-year-old woman and the sweetest gal in the world.[80]. "[29] Mellencamp said Dylan's endorsement was worth more than 10 Grammys.[30]. ), The early 21st century also found Mellencamp teaming up with artists such as Chuck D and India.Arie to deliver his second Columbia album, Cuttin' Heads and the single "Peaceful World". [41], In two separate 2018 television interviews, Mellencamp teased a musical he is working on based on his 1982 No. In 1984, when asked about his views on drugs, he told Bill Holdship of Creem magazine, "If you want to stick needles in your arms, go ahead and fucking do it. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee John Mellencamp has announced a massive North American tour, dubbed Live and In Person 2023. A CD/DVD deluxe edition, featuring the dialog, soundtrack, handwritten lyrics and a mini-documentary about the making of the musical, was released on June 4, 2013. I'd listen to this record, that record. John has made fiddles, hammer dulcimers, Autoharps (sic) and accordions [into] lead rock instruments on a par with electric guitar, bass, and drums, and he also brought what he calls 'a raw Appalachian' lyrical outlook to his songs. Album Rock Heartland Rock Roots Rock Contemporary Pop/Rock Contemporary Folk Contemporary Singer/Songwriter Rock & Roll Bar Band Hard Rock. I wrote it just for this room. We had a very distinct vision of what should be happening here. Mellencamp confessed in a 2005 interview: "That [name] was put on me by some manager. Mainstream Rock chart, "Q: I've seen John's name in print as both "John Cougar Mellencamp" and "John Little Cougar Mellencamp" and "lil 'John Cougar Mellencat". For Mellencamp, painting has always been a refuge, a solitary antidote to the hectic life of touring and performing. [86] In January 2018, Mellencamp purchased an 1,800-square-foot (170m2) loft in the Soho district of New York City for $2.3 million that he is using as an art studio. Art writer Doug McClemont, in a review for Art Space, stated: "Mellencamp paints handsomely grotesque portraits in oil that are as solemn and stirring as his hit songs are catchy and inspirational. [46], In May 2021, Mellencamp revealed that he recently finished the album and that Bruce Springsteen would make a guest appearance on the project. Hell, if that was the case, you wouldn't like anyone in the music business because everyone's blowing cocaine. & More", "Andy York Interview, John Mellencamp lead guitarist", "Bruce Springsteen Plots 2022 Tour, Collaborations With John Mellencamp, the Killers", "Bruce Springsteen Joins John Mellencamp on Contemplative 'Wasted Days', "John Mellencamp on Working With Springsteen & Whether He'd Sell His Song Catalog", "Mellencamp Returned To The Studio To Finish Recording His 26th Album This Summer", "Mellencamp performs first public concert in Seymour since 1976", "John Mellencamp revisits 'Scarecrow,' his game-changing disc", Songwriter, Mellencamp collaborator George Green dies at 59, "Mellencamp to give IUB commencement address", "Mellencamp, Fogerty take their tour to heart", "John Mellencamp Brings The Heartland To Nashville", "Review: John Mellencamp, 'Sad Clowns & Hillbillies', "JOHN MELLENCAMP IS A PURE PRODUCT OF MIDDLE AMERICA", "Keith Urban talks Ripcord, love of touring and breaking new ground", "Keith Urban on Musical Influences and the "800-Pound Gorilla" of Celebrity", "John Mellencamp receives Woody Guthrie Prize at Tulsa ceremony", "Mellencamp To Receive The John Steinbeck Award", "John Mellencamp To Be Honored With Prestigious ASCAP Founders Award", "WhyHunger Salutes Musician John Mellencamp at 20th Annual Chapin Awards GalaNew York", "John Mellencamp Official Website:: News Articles", "Meg Ryan Hits Film Festivals With Directorial Debut 'Ithaca' And A Little Help From Tom Hanks: Q&A", "Meg Ryan finds a 'place at the table' with directorial debut Ithaca", "Tom Sizemore Joins Female Revenge Thriller 'The Legend Of Jack And Diane', "John Mellencamp's Musical With Stephen King Nearing Completion", "No. I said to John, 'I didn't walk away thinking: I want to do that. "It's very rock 'n' roll", Mellencamp said of Whenever We Wanted: "I just wanted to get back to the basics. On December 30, 2010, Mellencamp announced that he and Irwin had separated after 18 years of marriage. 15 hit "Authority Song", which he said is "our version of 'I Fought the Law'." and "Another Sunny Day 12/25", in addition to the title track, which hit No. Im already writing songs for another record, so thats how far ahead I am, Mellencamp said. According to a February 8, 2008, Associated Press report, Mellencamp's camp asked that the campaign for presidential candidate Sen. John McCain stop using his songs, including "Our Country" and "Pink Houses", during their campaign events. ", Mellencamp told VH1 that he was originally offered the Brad Pitt role in Thelma and Louise: "You know they used to want me to be an actor all the time and I used to get more movie role offers. You hear it, and it's like 'where did that come from?' Mellencamp would play a handful of songs before introducing Donovan and then duetting with him on the 1966 hit "Sunshine Superman". [39] The 80-minute film is more of a documentary than a true concert film, as Mellencamp narrates the entire presentation with stories about his childhood, his early days in music, his relationship with his family, the music business and many more topics. Merlis also noted that the same songs had been used, with Mellencamp's approval, by John Edwards's campaign; in response, the McCain campaign ceased using the songs.[81]. The worst thing was that I could have gone on making records like that for hundreds of years. Don't let this club membership change you, John. "[14], In 1989, Mellencamp released the personal album Big Daddy, with the key tracks "Jackie Brown", "Big Daddy of Them All", and "Void in My Heart" accompanying the Top 15 single "Pop Singer". He is known for his catchy brand of heartland rock, which emphasizes traditional instrumentation. Urban has covered numerous Mellencamp songs in his concerts over the years, including "Hurts So Good", "Jack and Diane", "Authority Song", and "Rumble Seat". John Cougar. Mellencamp sang the hymn "Keep Your Eyes on the Prize" at "In Performance at the White House: A Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement" on February 9, 2010. All of that failure and frustration had energized every guy in the band to the infantile level of, 'We're going to show 'em all they were wrong.' In 1991, Mellencamp said: "'Big Daddy' was the best record I ever made. Later on, we wrote some really good songs together," Mellencamp told the Bloomington Herald Times shortly after Green's death. Updated: Oct 16, 2018 / 03:51 PM EDT. He's a great songwriter and I have become very close [with him] and had a lot of fun with him. Dylan said: "And like my friend John Mellencamp would singbecause John sang some truth today'one day you get sick and you don't get better.' I've recorded 10 and I have 17 more to do and I'll pick 10 of the 27 songs". Writing and recording great songs that millions of people like and buy is not part of that sentimental pictureregardless of how comfortably the music itself sits within the genres parameters.". Also Known As. "All the vocals are first or second takes, and half the songs don't even have bass parts. Me and the guys in the band thought we were finished, anyway. He later studied with Jan Royce from the Herron School of Art and Design in Indianapolis. It wasn't let's go back and try to make this part fit into my song, but I wanted to capture the same feeling the way those songs used to make you feel. In a September 2020 interview, Mellencamp guitarist Andy York said that 10 songs have already been recorded and mixed for the album, but a planned final session in April 2020 to complete the project was scuttled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. [93] It was reported that Mellencamp and Ryan broke up in the middle of 2014 after dating for over three years. To sell out? I do not want some guy walking up to me going, Hey John, I saw you in Detroit or something, it was a great show except my wife got COVID and died. Just the thought of hearing thatThe business side of my career is like, This many people will see it! Lisa Ruth Germano (born June 27, 1958) is an American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from Indiana. In response, Mellencamp instructed Merlis to pen a letter to NOM stating "that Mr. Mellencamp's views on same sex marriage and equal rights for people of all sexual orientations are at odds with NOM's stated agenda" and requesting that NOM "find music from a source more in harmony with your views than Mr. Mellencamp in the future. 1 on Billboard's Blues Album charts. Mellencamp would leave the stage as Donovan played seven or eight of his songs (backed by Mellencamp's band) and then return to finish off his own set after Donovan departed. His manager dubbed him Johnny Cougar out . A third single, "Hand to Hold on To", made it to No. Part of the No Depression mythology requires either a tragic early death or decades of unacknowledged masterpieces created during a life of grueling poverty. Please login or register . Mellencamp performed solo acoustic renditions of Seeger and Lee Hays' "If I Had a Hammer" and his own "A Ride Back Home.". ", A full-color 48-page catalogue with the aforementioned essay by Sheets accompanied the exhibition. People are worried. Home Help Search Login Register John Mellencamp Community > MELLENCAMP DISCUSSION > The Band > Current Members Of John's Band? Related Blog Posts. He performed "Down by the River" on January 29, 2010, in Los Angeles in tribute to Neil Young, who was honored at the 20th annual MusiCares Person of the Year gala. "We realized more than ever what a big melting pot of all different types of music the '60s were. Germano played with Mellencamp from 1985-1993 before leaving in 1994 to pursue a solo career. Mellencamp wrote over 30 songs for the record (only 13 made the final cut), and he wrote one song specifically for Room 414 at the Gunter Hotel Mellencamp told the San Antonio Express-News: "It's called 'Right Behind Me'. He's a Grammy-winner and the recipient of numerous awards including The Woody Guthrie and John Steinbeck Awards, ASCAP Foundation's Champion Award and their highest honor the Founders Award, the Americana Music Association's Lifetime Achievement Award for Songwriting and . [48] Written and produced solely by Mellencamp, "Wasted Days" is a song about aging and making the most of the time one has left. No Better Than This is the first mono-only release to make the top 10 since James Brown's Pure Dynamite! Her album Geek the Girl (1994) was chosen as a top album of the 1990s by Spin magazine. At Gaff's request, Mellencamp moved to London, England, for nearly a year to record, promote, and tour behind 1978's A Biography. "[76], The Alliance Theatre described the show as a "Southern Gothic musical fraught with mystery, tragedy and ghosts of the past.". Never has Mellencamp sounded so artful. "Do you guys know who Orpheus was? According to Dr. Louis A. Zona, director and curator of the Butler Institute: "I was interested in the dialogue between Mellencamp's work and the Butler's more traditional collection of 19th- and 20th- century American art by masters including John Singer Sargent, Winslow Homer, and Raphael Soyer. There's no orchestra, just two twangy acoustic guitars, an accordion, and a fiddle. 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