02.05.2020 - Today, Grammy-award winning singer-songwriter and co-founder of Farm Aid,
John Mellencamp is announcing his support for Democratic presidential candidate
Mike Bloomberg in a new
TV ad, praising his pragmatic approach to rebuilding America by revitalizing
small towns and rural communities.
“The stakes are too high to not nominate the candidate who will take the
fight directly to Trump,” said John Mellencamp. “From small towns to big cities,
Mike Bloomberg has the experience to represent all Americans. He’s a job
creator, philanthropist and true public servant, and I am confident that as
president, he will restore America to a place we can be proud of once again.”
"John Mellencamp is one of the great voices of the American heartland -- and
the American experience that binds us together,” said Mike Bloomberg. “His words
and music have inspired generations, and his activism -- from co-founding Farm
Aid to fighting hunger and homelessness among veterans -- represents America at
its best. We had the opportunity to get to know one another through the film,
'From the Ashes.' He contributed a powerful song to the soundtrack, and the film
raised awareness about the tragic toll that coal mining takes on local
communities. He's an American treasure, and I couldn't be more honored to accept
his support." Read the complete press release after the jump.
01.22.2020 - John Mellencamp is a rebel without a cause but not the spitfire refractory type who raises a painting palette with a clenched fist against the art establishment. He’s not a rebel who proclaims a cerebral doctrine, decrees an oppressive ideology or a proponent of some altisonant theory or authoritarian manifesto.
His rebellion is embodied in the physical phenomena, in the palpable materiality of his art. He does not pay any deferential tribute to any arching esthetic dictamina. He propounds in a serenely quiet and countervailing way that art need not subscribe to any one restrictive philosophy but can embrace expansively myriad paths and approaches to self-discovery and the realization of self-expression. Read David L. Shirey's perception of John Mellencamp after the jump. Read More
01.21.2020 - Last Saturday, during Goodspeed's 15th annual Festival of New Musicals, the two-time Tony Award-winning theatre announced plans for a fresh approach to its new musical development at The Terris Theater in Chester, CT. Goodspeed's
Executive Director Michael Gennaro explained, "Our new musical process at The
Terris has been redesigned and will be relaunched as 'The Worklight Series'. In
our first season, we will develop three musicals and present them to our
audience as staged readings." He continued, "Audiences will still experience
great stories and music, but since the shows will be more actively in progress,
the performances will look different - focusing not on costumes, scenery or
props -- but the musical on the page, often times with book-in-hand."
Closing out this first season will be Ghost Brothers of Darkland County which features a Book by Stephen King and Music and Lyrics by John Mellencamp (October 21 - November 8). Read More
12.11.2019 - Bruce Springsteen and John Mellencamp teamed up for two duets; Debbie Harry
and DMC (Darryl McDaniels) collaborated on an epic rap collaboration; and the
Eurythmics reunited for a set at Sting and Trudie Styler’s 30th annual
Rainforest Benefit at the Beacon Theater in New York City Monday night (Dec. 9).
Highlights included Mellencamp delivering a captivating acoustic
version of “Jack and Diane” before summoning Springsteen to join him for a taut
“Pink Houses.” With both men trading verses and bringing the house to its feet.
Mellencamp was particularly spry, working the crowd while Springsteen went to
work on guitar. The two later united for “Glory Days.” Read the complete review after the jump. Read More
12.10.2019 - John and Bruce Springsteen made a rare appearance together at the 30th Annual Rainforest Fund Benefit Concert coming together on the classics "Pink Houses" and "Glory Days" at The Beacon Theatre last night, December 9th. Check out the fan video below and the grand finale after the jump.
07.08.2019 - The 20th Annual WhyHunger Chapin Awards took place at City Winery in New York
City last evening, honoring singer-songwriter John Mellencamp with the ASCAP Harry
Chapin Humanitarian Award, which shines a spotlight on artists who have proven
their commitment to striving for social justice and creating real change in
combating hunger worldwide.
06.12.2019 - This is a story about those people who live,
love and die on the underside of the American Dream in small towns all across
our country. This is a tale, laced with humor and visceral energy, about
star-crossed lovers, and their stubborn refusal to give up, to lie down, to let
go of the potential their youthful dreams once promised. This is also a story
about a town in free-fall, and the tough choices people make, not always in
their best interests. Book by MacArthur Fellow, Susan Smith Blackburn Prize and
Obie Award winning playwright Naomi Wallace and will be directed by 3-time Tony
Award winner Kathleen Marshall, music and lyrics by John Mellencamp.
More details will be announced in the Fall. Read More
06.12.2019 - "Jack & Diane," John Mellencamp's little ditty 'bout star-crossed lovers in a
small town, has a playwright and a Tony Award winner lined up to direct and
choreograph the hit song's previously-teased transformation into a staged
musical.
Republic Records, Federal Films and Universal Music Theatricals announced on
Wednesday that a musical written by Mellencamp (music/lyrics) and Naomi Wallace
(book) is officially in development, with Kathleen Marshall, winner of three
Tonys out of nine nominations, signed on to direct and choreograph. Read More
12.20.2018 - John Mellencamp lands a No. 1 album on Billboard’s Top Rock Albums chart for the
first time in his career, as his new album, Other People’s Stuff, rules
the ranking dated Dec. 22.
The set debuts atop the tally with 44,000 equivalent album units earned in
the week ending Dec. 13, according to Nielsen Music. Nearly all of its sum came
via traditional album sales.
Mellencamp had previously snagged five top fives on Top Rock Albums, which
began in 2006 (many years after Mellencamp first reached the all-genre Billboard
200 chart back in 1979). Before Stuff, with three -- 2007’s Freedom Road,
2008’s Life Death Love and Freedom and most recently, 2017’s Sad Clowns &
Hillbillies reaching No. 3.
The album also represents Mellencamp’s 11th top 10 on the Billboard 200, his
first since 2010’s Nothing Better Than This and best-charting album
since Freedom 10 years prior.
Stuff features covers in its tracklist, including songs by Robert Johnson,
Jimmie Rodgers and more. Read More
