“Instead of talking about what bar they went to last night, we spent a lot of time talking about the record (during the ‘Scarecrow’ tour),” Mellencamp said. But the Seymour, Ind., native said the album’s theme of a common man’s despair and hope was conceived well in advance. Many of “The Lonesome Jubilee’s” songs were written shortly after the conclusion of last spring’s “Scarecrow” tour. “If you took all my best songs on my previous albums, I don’t think they match this record.” “It’s probably the best record that I’ve ever made,” he said. And the chip on his shoulder remains.Īt the deeply rural Belmont Mall, Mellencamp spoke Tuesday afternoon about his success – the new hit album, “The Lonesome Jubilee” an upcoming worldwide tour and his likely starring role in a movie.
It was there that the cocky 35-year-old Bloomington resident transformed from a Midwestern rocker with a chip on his shoulder to a Midwestern rocker with a gift for describing middle America deftly and touchingly. Through the glass behind him, in a dorm-sized room, Mellencamp reached his personal and musical maturity. Dressed casually in jeans and plain navy blue T-shirt, John Cougar Mellencamp lights an ever-present cigarette, giving the studio’s control room an even more ghostly feel. – He slides off his sunglasses, then uses two fingers to roll back the waves of his hair. “C’mon, sit down, let’s talk.” )īELMONT, Ind. When I arrived, Mellencamp shouted, “So, you’re the one who keeps leaving articles at my door!” He shook my hand. One afternoon, his manager called and told me John would be available for an interview the next day. I always asked for an interview with each article. I left copies of my articles about him, including one where my roommate and I found his isolated Belmont studio – then were chased by a neighbor’s furious dog - at his home’s gate. His stardom skyrocketed during my four years at Indiana. It’s off a two-lane county road near Bloomington, Ind., and Indiana University. John Mellencamp continues to live and work in Bloomington, Indiana.( Author’s note: John Mellencamp lives in a mansion built in south-central Indiana’s beautiful rural woods. Mellencamp continues his journey as the walking embodiment of rock icon passionate, plain-spoken, and a self-proclaimed rebel. His style has progressed over the years as evidenced by several gallery shows and published portfolios, and in recent years he has increased his output by completing over 100 new works. John continues to focus on another facet of his artistic expression: painting.
#WHERE DOES JOHN MELLENCAMP LIVE NOW SERIES#
The social activism reflected in his songs helped catalyze Farm Aid, the concert series and organization that has addressed the struggle of American family farmers for more than 25 years. In 1985, Mellencamp, together with Willie Nelson and Neil Young, created Farm Aid.
He is also one of the most successful live concert performers in the world.
John Mellencamp’s career in music, spanning more than 35 years, has seen him transition from pop star to one of the most highly respected singer/songwriters of a generation. Mellencamp is incredibly acclaimed he is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, a Grammy winner, a recipient of the John Steinbeck Award, ASCAP Foundation’s Champion Award, The Woody Guthrie Award and Americana Music Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award and more recently, the Founders Award, the top honor assigned by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers and a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
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