Bloomington - John Mellencamp kicks off his new concert tour Saturday night
in Bloomington.
WTHR Channel 13 takes you behind the scenes for his final rehearsal.
Mellencamp allowed Channel 13 cameras into the IU auditorium while his band
warmed up for Saturday night's concert.
The 59-year-old Mellencamp is launching his "No Better Than This" tour in his
home state.
Eyewitness News asked Mellencamp how he felt about playing in Indiana.
"It's kind of more embarrassing because I'm always able to look out in the
audience and see people I know. Hey, how are you doing?" he laughed. "I saw you
yesterday; you were over at my house last week. It's kind of embarrassing
because people know me one way. But when you walk on stage, it's our
responsibility to create magic. So, you have to create that magic," he said.
John also talked candidly in a wide-ranging 30-minute interview about his career
and his tour.
"I've played the hits to death. The reason we're playing these types of venues
is because I want to be able to walk out with an acoustic guitar and I want to
be able to play songs. I want to be able to play music. I don't want to be a
monkey on a string playing hit records that I had 20 years ago," he said.
We also asked what it's like performing in front of thousands of people.
"When I'm up on stage, I'm performing a song that I had written to my best
ability. That's my focus. To be able to deliver a song in a fashion that the
song deserves to be written in and delivered in. And hopefully the audience is
coming to the song."
Mellencamp plays two shows at the IU campus before moving to Butler University
for two more. He'll be at Clowes Hall on November 8th and Hinkle Fieldhouse on
November 11th.
