John Mellencamp Fun Facts, Quotes and Tweets
15th October 2015
Fact: Country rock icon John Mellencamp is to join John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16 singer Keith Urban for a duet at the CMA Awards next month (Nov15). Urban references the Jack & Diane singer, who used to go by the moniker John Cougar, in his new song. Thomas Rhett and Fall Out Boy will also perform together during the three-hour gala, which will open with a Hank Williams Jr. and Eric Church collaboration.
28th April 2015
Fact: Rocker John Mellencamp ignored studio no-smoking rules during an appearance on America's The Late Show with David Letterman on Monday (27Apr15) by strolling out onstage with a lit cigarette. Host Letterman poked fun at his old pal by pretending to write down the Surgeon General's number for Mellencamp to help him quit, but he responded to the jab by explaining, "I'm only good at about three or four things; smoking is my strong suit... I figure my body is so polluted now that nothing can live in there now. Cancer would go in and say, 'I'm not going in there, there's gotta be somebody else better to go into!' So I'm just gonna keep smoking."
28th April 2015
Quote: "I hate the road, but it's the only life I know, so I'm there all the time... It's kind of a way to keep the songs alive." Grouchy rocker John Mellencamp isn't a huge fan of touring.
26th September 2014
Quote: "The first job I had when I got out of school was in sales. I lasted one day. I was like 21 or 20-something. You know, I can't sell anything, that's what I found out, and then I thought I would do (Tv broadcasting) or be on the radio, but I got a job in sales and I couldn't do it. I just said, 'Ok, I'm going back to music'." Singer John Mellencamp gave up plans to pursue a career in Tv broadcasting to pursue music.
25th September 2014
Quote: "I was just with Neil and I was teasing him at Farm Aid a couple weeks ago all day about getting a divorce: 'After 36 years, Neil! How do you get a divorce after 36 years?' Then he says, 'Oh, I'm very happy.' Then I find out two days later he's dating Daryl Hannah. I bet you are happy, Neil! He didn't seem as sad as I thought he would." John Mellencamp now understands why his old pal Neil Young was not too upset about divorcing Pegi, his wife of 36 years. He has since been romantically linked to the Splash star.
11th February 2014
Fact: Singer/songwriter John Mellencamp has the lyrics to his song For The Children printed on a huge mural in his Dafuskie Island home in South Carolina. He tells Architectural Digest, "I meant it as a blessing for the house, then my kids saw it and laughed at me."
17th October 2010
Quote: "Willie deserves the Nobel Peace Prize. We're all just Willie's little helpers." John Mellencamp is a big fan of Willie Nelson.
22nd June 2010
Fact: Bob Dylan and John Mellencamp are to take over the Las Vegas venue built for Celine Dion for one night only. The two troubadours will perform at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace on 18 August (10).
18th February 2010
Quote: "A guard came in and said, 'That chair was made in 1896 - please sit in it properly.' Then a Secret Service guy said, 'That's John Mellencamp. He can sit wherever he wants.'" Rocker JOHN MELLENCAMP was reprimanded for sitting on the arm of an antique chair during his recent visit to the White House, where he performed for U.S. President Barack Obama.
26th April 2009
Fact: Folk legend Bob Dylan is to team up with Willie Nelson and John Mellencamp for an extensive tour of U.S. ballparks this summer (09). The dates will kick off on 2 July (09) at the GCS Ballpark in Sauget, Illinois and conclude on 15 August (09) at the Banner Island Ballpark in Stockton, California.
17th January 2008
Quote: "My two heroes right now are Bob Dylan and THE DALAI LAMA. He held my hand for five minutes, man. It was weird. You're not supposed to touch him. I thought, well, I kind of feel like his girlfriend." Rocker John Mellencamp on his experience in the presence of the world's most famous Buddhist monk.
5th September 2007
Quote: "I was sitting in an alley in Los Angeles, smoking a cigarette and a woman walks up and she says, 'Your smoke is wafting into my store.' I thought, 'You live in this filth and you're worried about my cigarette.'" Rocker John Mellencamp is upset with Los Angeles' strict non-smoking rules.
26th March 2007
Quote: "(That) is pretty neat - particularly when you know she can't drive." Rocker John Mellencamp is proud of his model wife, ELAINE IRWIN, who was the first female to drive the Indianapolis 500 pace car.
30th January 2007
Quote: "JAMES was angry. I'm not kidding you, he scared me to death." John Mellencamp, who once fronted a James Brown tribute band, on his first backstage meeting with late hero.
4th October 2006
Fact: Dave Matthews, Steel Pulse, GOV'T MULE, Jerry Lee Lewis, Steve Earle and Allison Moorer joined co-founders Willie Nelson, Neil Young and John Mellencamp at the 21st anniversary Farm Aid fundraiser at the Tweeter Center in Camden, New Jersey on Saturday (30SEP06).
2nd October 2006
Fact: Dave Matthews, Steel Pulse, GOV'T MULE, Jerry Lee Lewis, Steve Earle and Allison Moorer joined co-founders Willie Nelson, Neil Young and John Mellencamp at the 21st anniversary Farm Aid fundraiser at the Tweeter Center in Camden, New Jersey on Saturday (30SEP06).
John Mellencamp
