A Ride Back Home Video - Song From Life Death Love and Freedom
Troubled Land Music Video - Song From Life Death Love And Freedom
“My Sweet Love” Music Video – Song from John’s New Album Life, Death, Love & Freedom
My Sweet Love Web Only Video
“Jena" Music Video – Song from John’s New Album Life, Death, Love & Freedom
John Mellencamp Life, Death, Love & Freedom EPK
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. His professional music career began in earnest in 1976 when
MCA Records released his first album, The Chestnut Street Incident. His manager
dubbed him Johnny Cougar out of his belief that nobody would buy a record by
anybody named Mellencamp. John protested but was overruled -and eventually, of
course, reclaimed his birth name as his public name.
After releasing a few albums, he broke out in 1979 with his first hit, "I Need A Lover" In 1982 his fifth album American Fool was the year's best-selling album
on the strength of two huge hits, "Hurts So
Good," and the number 1 single "Jack & Diane,"
In 1985, John's concern for the plight of the American farmer, which had been
voiced in the Scarecrow album, brought him together with Willie Nelson and Neil
Young in launching Farm Aid. It became an annual event and has helped make
people aware of the issues farmers face and their effect on the entire nation.
By the early 1990's "Cougar" was finally gone from John's name and a string of
successful albums as John Mellencamp--Whenever We Wanted, Human Wheels and Dance Naked (including the number 2 single "Wild Night")--were released. In 1991 John
made his film debut, starring in and directing Falling From Grace, a modest box
office success that was well received by critics. He met model Elaine Irwin that
year when she starred in the video for his hit "Get A Leg Up." They were married
later that year and now have two boys, Hud and Speck. John also has three
daughters, Michelle, Teddi Jo and Justice, from earlier marriages.
John continued to tour throughout 1999, 2001, 2002, 2005 and 2006. He received
the 2001 Billboard Century award in recognition of all that he had accomplished
over the course of his career and was honored with the Woody Guthrie Award in
2004. Previously, he was awarded a Grammy and had been nominated a total of 11
times.
Words & Music: John Mellencamp's Greatest Hits was released in 2005. It was his
first career-spanning collection and featured 35 of his biggest hits plus two
new songs, one of which, "Walk Tall," was backed with an award-winning video
that condemned discrimination. It was followed in January of 2007 by a new
studio album,Freedom's Road. It featured the hit song "Our Country" and the singles "Someday" and "The Americans." Bowing at number 5, it was the highest
debuting album of his career and led to a Grammy nomination for "Our Country" in
the best Solo Rock Performance category. John promoted the album extensively by
performing on numerous TV shows and touring throughout North America from the
Fall of 2007 to early 2008.
By summer 2007 John had already begun working on his next album with Grammy
winning producer T Bone Burnett. Life, Death, Love, and Freedom was released on
July 15, 2008, with John and the Mellencamp band commencing on a corresponding
summer tour that included a stop in Australia in the Fall. But a career landmark
occurred on March 10, 2008, when John was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall
Of Fame by previous inductee Billy Joel at the annual induction ceremony in New
York City.
He hardly rested on his laurels. This year has seen the release of Life, Death, Live and Freedom (an acclaimed live disc containing most of the songs from
Life, Death, Love, and Freedom), and John's participation in the concert event
of the summer, The Bob Dylan Show with John Mellencamp and Willie Nelson. During
days off John commenced recording of his next studio album, No Better Than This,
for release in early 2010. Having stated his intention of making a different
kind of album, he recorded at several historic facilities including the first
African-American church in the U.S. (in Savannah, Georgia), the legendary Sun
Studios in Memphis, and the Gunter Hotel in San Antonio, where blues pioneer
Robert Johnson recorded blues staples like "Sweet Home Chicago" and "Crossroad
Blues." In order to get the sound and feel of these vintage blues recordings, he
taped his new songs using antique recording equipment.
At the same time John compiled a four-CD box set, "On The Rural Route 7609" made
up mainly of versions of some of his classic songs other then the well known
ones in general release. These included two particularly innovative tracks from
two iconic individuals not generally associated with music recordings: race
relations expert Dr. Cornel West, who dramatically recited the lyrics to "Jim
Crow," and Academy Award-winning actress Joanne Woodward-John's favorite
actress-who likewise provided an emotionally charged reading of the lyrics to
"The Real Life." "7609" is due for release in late 2009.
Work continued, too, on the stage production of the "Ghost Brothers of Darkland
County," John's musical theater collaboration with Stephen King, as well as a
novel CD/book product that T Bone Burnett was producing. Due also in early 2010,
the package involves big name music artists speaking King's dialog and singing
John's songs.
Meanwhile, John also continued his other career activity-painting. Having first
come to New York with the intention of studying painting if his music career
aspirations didn't pan out, he started painting in earnest in the 1980's as a
way to be creative in a more self-contained manner. His style has evolved over
the years as evidenced by several gallery shows and published portfolios, and in
recent years he has increased his output by completing nearly 100 new works.
Incidentally, some of John's paintings can be seen here on his Myspace home
page; more recent work can be found on his web site.
John has said many times in interviews that you will never meet anyone luckier
than John Mellencamp. He is grateful for the support of those who have enjoyed
his work and career over the years. If he has any advice to offer, it is to be
tenacious: John's found that far too many people quit too soon in the face of
early disappointment. While his own early efforts may have been faltering, he
stayed with it--and that tenacity has been rewarded with the successes that
continue to the present.
I did my best with this lol! I hope you like it! Read my blogs sometime when your resting! Some you'll laugh, some will make you sad, some you'll say WTH??? I have 40 of them. Thoughts of a friend in MySpace land...
After you've finished here, you may like to hear this folk-carol on myspace... Poem 230 of 230, WalkaboutsVerse (see my blog for details): CHRISTMAS SUNG SIMPLY
As gospellers have said, Beneath signalling skies, On land dusty to tread, A trough in a stable Was the strawy first-bed Of a divine baby - The forgiving Godhead.
A season for new hope - There then and here now; The yuletide of goodwill - There then and here now.
In respect of this chance, Beneath bright or dark skies, Faith's the star that we glance Attending Christ's churches And trying to enhance, With singing and ritual, Our God-loving stance.
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