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Bio Channel “Homeward Bound: John Mellencamp” Premiering Thursday, December 11th
11.24.2008 - BIO brings viewers back to the Indiana roots of rebel, risk-taker and rock star
John Mellencamp in the ninety-minute documentary special “Homeward Bound: John
Mellencamp” premiering Thursday, December 11 at 9 PM ET/8 PM CT/10 PM PT.
His music defined a generation and this fiercely independent rocker recently
earned a place in history as a Rock and Hall of Fame inductee, but through it
all John Mellencamp never forgot his roots. Now for the first time, BIO follows
Mellencamp as he travels back to his hometown of Seymour, Indiana, the ‘small
town’ that changed his life forever.
“Homeward Bound: John Mellencamp” takes viewers through a present day visit to
Mellencamp’s hometown to explore the local streets where the musician came of
age, meet the people who inspired his music and journey with John back to the
beginning of his career. From his early days as a struggling musician marked by
hundreds of rejection letters and unruly crowds, to the embarrassing Johnny
Cougar persona that accompanied his first record deal, to the breakthrough hits
that unexpectedly landed him on top of the pop charts and in control of his own
career—these events changed the course of his life forever and the people of
Seymour witnessed it. The special also features archival footage, personal
photos and intimate first-hand commentary from John, childhood friends, band
members and other influential people in his life and career.
The ninety minute special culminates in an intimate performance at Indiana’s
historic Crump Theatre where Mellencamp performed more than 30 years ago. He
interacts with the crowd of more than 700 fans sharing anecdotes from his career
and singing songs – new and old. The set list includes “Rain on the Scarecrow,”
“Troubled Land,” “My Sweet Love,” “Small Town,” “Longest Days,” “I Need a
Lover,” “Taxi Dancer” and “Authority Song” accompanied by his 13-year old son
Speck.
Commentators featured include Mellencamp, wife Elaine Irwin-Mellencamp, Herald
Times writer Mike Leonard, publicist Bob Merlis, Billboard Magazine contributor
Jim Bessman, high school girlfriend Margy Nierman and an assortment of band
members – past and present – including Mike Wanchic, Kenny Aronoff, Miriam
Sturm, Toby Myers, Robert “Ferd” Frank, Larry McDonald, Mike Jackson, Fred
Booker and Dave Parman.
“Homeward Bound: John Mellencamp” is produced by Stage 3 Productions by producer
Anthony Uro and executive producers Kelly Ryan, Steve Cipollone and Jordan
Schwartz. BIO executive producers are Robert Sharenow, Tom Moody and Jordana
Hochman.
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