recently bought a copy of James Brown´s live record "Live at the Apollo", a show from 1962.
well...the record sounds funny with the crowd screaming (dont know if they added these later in the studio or if it was real).
but James Brown was really Mr.Dynamite! so much power and soul in his performance.
a great record, and though I love the folk roots, I think it´s people like James Brown that influenced Mellencamp a lot more, his "Salute to 60´s Rock" tells it all.
so let´s don´t forget James Brown!

Uh-huh was an album by a young band, very quickly done and raw, but not even close to the creativity and strength of the past albums. but the style of the music doesn´t matter as long as the quality is there, John Mellencamp often surprised us and rarely repeated himself. a new rock album produced by a grown-up Little Bastard would be fantastic, Rodeo Clown made us hungry for this. I am sure he will do the right next thing!

interesting interview, I hope the european shows will be the same style and quality. I never was that interested in the lighting of a show, always focussed on the music, but after listening to Steve Cohen I will concentrate on what he said, and hopefully he will bring his lights and creativity to europe!

have been waiting for this news for years! and now the dates are confirmed, I dont know what to say except thanks to everyone who was involved in this decision to tour europe! 3 shows in germany, one in the netherlands, hammersmith in london, even one swiss show...this upcoming summer will be special!
I hope the show will be the same as the american, with the new songs and not a greatest hits tour!
again thanks a lot for not forgetting us over here!

Scarecrow

Thanks a lot for this video!
this is a great version of a great song. last year I was lucky to find a vinyl copy of "The Legendary Library of Congress Session" by Blind Willie McTell. great songs and impressive field notes by John A. Lomax (who did the field-recordings with his son Alan):
" After guiding him to the car I told him I didnt know the way to the hotel. "I´ll show you," said totally Blind Willy. Between us and the hotel were six or eight right angled towns and two places where five or six streets crossed. Chatting all the while with me, Blind Willy called every turn, even mentioning the location of the stop lights. He gave the names of buildings as we passed them. Stored in his mind was an accurate detailed photograph of Atlanta."

McTell´s original version is a little faster, but John adds his typical flavour and sings much better. sad music is the best music!

thanks for the tunes and the recipes!
i agree that it´s none of our business. it´s totally private and has got nothing to do with john mellencamp´s music. as fans we are no way part of anybody´s family, this is all too cheap.
i wonder where america´s liberalism and sense of freedom has gone? a liberal artist like mellencamp deserves liberal fans. he has another new album out, a box set, is on an extensive tour, has been more creative in the past years than everyone....and the most important thing here seems to be who he is dating? you must all be very bored, i guess.

despite recession you are in a luxurious situation, because you CAN see him live in concert.
i´d pay anything to see him playing here in berlin, germany...and i think he is surely more worth than styx, stevie nicks or garth brooks.
come to europe, John, no one here is interested in your private life and no one will complain about ticket prices! we just want to enjoy your music!

my current 5:
1. Young Without Lovers ("LET THE PEOPLE HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE DIFFERENT")
2. The West End
3. Rodeo Clown
4. Freedom´s Road ("must be under construction")
5. Rural Route

second and third tour leg...any news about a european leg of this tour?
if not, i would appreciate it a lot hearing about it before the us and canada tour is sold out or ended, then i would travel to the usa to catch a show. dont want to miss out on everything again.
Thanks!
(by the way all this discussion about John´s privacy is a shame here. I thought this site is about music and not who´s dating whom.)

who cares about the grammy awards? nothing to do with music, so it´s just not worth thinking about who gets nominated and who not.

great article, so many interesting details from a band member.
thanks to Jon E. Gee for doing what he does, and thanks for this article!

what a performance of both John and Miriam! thanks for this video!!

I dont believe this. history has seen enough stupid people who knew how to push the right buttons, often ending in desaster.

cool website! interesting combination of glamour and rural look, well done!