I'm flipping out!!!! Today marks 3 years since I've seen the legendary John Mellencamp live. It was June 10th, 2015 and it was my first EVER Mellencamp show. I was only 15! Now I'm turning 19, I already feel so ancient as if time passed in the blink of an eye... LOL. But I know I'm going to be a fan until I'm a 100 years old, or at least 77 with God as my witness...
But nothing is more important to me than my life's experiences and precious memories. I adore to look back and reflect upon some of the amazing things that I have accomplished seeing this man live 3 times. I am so proud to say that at all 3 shows, I have landed in the front row! There were amazing wishes that came true at each show. Just the first night alone, John spoke to me and I touched his hand 3 times! Now I must've shaken his hand at least 10 times, which to me is just MIND BLOWING. Like, how much more lucky can a person get? Well, I tell you how!
The last time I saw him live, I had a rose for him, and I was anticipating the following moment for years. I mustered the courage to step forward and hand it to him, which to my surprise, he leaped right in and took it gracefully from my hand. A part of my heart exploded after that, lmao! But then he was so kind enough to wink at me, and the moments later, he pointed at me and blew me a kiss! As a girl who's never even been kissed before, that was the closest thing I've ever experienced and I started to fall backwards from feeling in love! It was ASTONISHING. The people behind me gasped and held me up because my knees were giving out before me. But I didn't care, I just had the best thing happen to me right then and there.

The fact that this is my 3 year anniversary since the best days of my life occurred, this is a very special day for me. Forgive me if I've already mentioned this here (I don't go on here much), but several months ago I was in the hospital because I tried to kill myself. There was something very wrong with me and I just didn't know what. My emotions were all over the place, and I was throwing myself on the floor, hitting and inflicting severe pain on myself because I was so depressed. There was no reason for me to be depressed, because so many incredible things have happened to me, as expressed above. I didn't understand why I felt like I should die, and tried to successfully reach that point.
I went to a mental hospital for a week, where they evaluated me and controlled my every move. Since I was 18, I was amongst many other adults, but it was still uncomfortable because I was so young in relation to their ages. I was so scared, nobody was there to comfort me or love me. There were no cellphones, no comfy beds or recliners, you could only wear up to 3 outfits, you couldn't be alone in one room, you had to sleep with the lights on, you could only eat the meals they provided, you HAD to take your medication or they'd force you with injections, and the list goes on and on. It was so horrible for me because I was always cold all the time, and they wouldn't let me have my own blanket!! I also have an eating disorder and when I tried to tell them that I needed someone else to bring me my own food because I was unable to eat the food they had there, they thought I was LYING and forced me to sit down in their cafeteria. I didn't eat more than one meal a day, I was so scared and defeated.
One of the nights there, I found a room where nobody was watching one of the TVs. I asked the nurses if I could have the remote, and then I changed it to the music channel. I put on classic rock. And I waited, and waited. I just wanted to feel something inside other than pain and fear. I was so lonely, so afraid, I can't even express it in words here. All of a sudden, Jack and Diane came on the TV, and I never felt so emotional in my life. Let's be honest here, most "diehard" Mellencamp fans are sick of hearing that song and most of his other hits on and on. We want the deep tracks, the side of John that nobody else really knows. I was no different, I never really played this song and I didn't have much of a care for it. But when you're quite literally here dying at a hospital, and your chance to listen to music is highly limited, you start to realize how much you've taken things for grated. I never realized how much I loved John and his music until that song came on. No doubt I bawled my eyes out, just sobbing and sobbing so far down into the chair so nobody would see my face. But I was so in tuned to the music, it became a part of my body, my mind, and my soul. At that moment in time, all I could think about was love, what it meant, and what it has done for me. Love made me a Mellencamp fan, love brought me to his shows, love created John his career and love is what he gives to his fans... and as I was sitting there on that cold and lonely hospital chair, love is exactly what I needed most of all.
When I look back at that moment, I can't help but feel shivers down my spine. The hospital frightens me. People concern me. Death haunts me. But I still move on, even after such a tragic time. I am Bipolar, which now explains my random, severe depression, and I'm making progress now with treatment. Though I can't help but go back and ponder what life means to me. I always wondered what I was going to do with myself. But now, it is very apparent to me, and clearer than daylight. I have learned something very crucial from John in my weakest moments. To give love and share it with all is why I'm here, and is what I'll always do here and on out. I never, ever want to see another person go through the same thing I did. Nobody would need to go though such pain if all they felt was a little bit of love. Whether is love as deep as the hospital walls, or love as sweet as a kiss at a concert, love is all we need.

And to think how this all started 3 years ago is unimaginable.

Damn, I haven't listened to it yet, but I want to! I know it's gonna be good because it's Bob Seger! I should get the record now but I usually wait because I'm a frugal cheapskate hahaha

I agree, something remastered with nicer, fuller quality would be special! I guess it's just not in high enough demand for anything like that to happen as of now. Vinyl is like a whole 'nother experience when you combined it with the technology today- it's like you're really sitting there beside  John and the band.
The albums I would most like to see reproduced are American Fool, Uh-Huh, Scarecrow, Big Daddy and The Kid Inside...

I'm helping out a fellow friend and fan who lives in Switzerland. He wants to watch the movie "It's About You" but can't because the DVD coding and whatnot is not compatible with the devices there. To my knowledge, there are no other versions of "It's About You" that can play over in Switzerland, or are there? If there aren't, how would somebody be able to watch the movie in other such countries?  They shouldn't have to miss out! Is there a way the movie can be streamed online or anything of that sort so somebody in a situation like him could watch it? Thank you.

[Cassettes]

Fuuuuuuck I'm back after like a year or two long hiatus! I already feel quite nostalgic. I can't remember if I had friends here but if I did then did anybody miss me!? *giggling* I left because I was on board in a different forum for a lad from England named Elton John, who stole my heart from John for awhile. Shame on me!

A lot has happened to me since I last posted here; whenever that was! First off, I went to my 3rd John Mellencamp show last October! (Some theater I can't remember the name of LOL) on October 21st, 2016 in Toledo, Ohio. It was INCREDIBLE. For those of you who either don't remember me or don't know me, I'm only 18 so that's why it's only my 3rd show. Believe me, my little tush would've been to at least 50 of John's shows right now had I been born earlier.
Anyways, this concert must've topped all the ones that I attended! First off, I got a brilliant idea from a friend to give John a rose. I had bought VIP tickets and got in the 4th row so I knew he would see me and all. Plus John's shows are very relaxed and chill, so I knew I'd have no issue getting up to the front of the stage. Hell, I'd been front row at all the other Mellencamp shows I saw lol!
I did in fact make it to the front sometime when 75% of the show was completed, and I waited for John to walk over to my side of the stage when he didn't have is guitar in his hands anymore. I think he remembered me. I'm quite often the youngest at his shows and sometimes the most enthusiastic, except for my friend who goes to the shows with me and is also obsessed like I am. I don't know though. But I made it up there and John came up to me and blew me a kiss with a wink!! I felt quite special after that; you know that feeling when you're all-time idol talks to you and you're ready to swoon and fall over? It was like that for me, but a million times more intense. I dare to ask: Who here on this entire forum can actually say they've gotten a kiss blew to them by John Mellencamp!? Ask any of the hundreds of people there. It happened. And I'm glad to say I wasn't dreaming!
And I did give him that rose that I spoke of earlier. I was shy but gave him a weak smile as I handed it to him, and he gave me the cheesiest grin I've ever seen come out of that man's face as he took the rose very kindly from my trembling hands and walked off with it! He put it it in Mike Wanchic's mouth first, then he put it in his suit pocket for the rest of the show! I cried! It was incredible and they made me feel so wonderful. His shows are so personal, it's like having him play in your own living room, I swear.

After that concert, I went to a record store in Toledo. I can't recall what I bought. I think I bought some Elton John LPs and a Warren Zevon CD. But I do remember buying couple of John Mellencamp cassettes. They had them at 50 cents, I'm thinking, "Well fuck, at this low of a price, I might as well buy them all" so I bought every cassette of his there LOL.
Later on a few months later I was able to go to some more record stores. I actually finally made my first trip ever to Indiana! Sadly, I was too far north of Bloomington or Seymour. Either way, I was still in Indiana and I ADORED my trip there. I fell in love with the state instantly- I loved the people there and the whole friendly Hoosier atmosphere. They have great icecream there, by the way. I felt so comfortable and happy and now I understand competently why John wants to live there for the rest of his life. It was happiness like I never experienced it before.
I also went to several record stores while I was there. I was sporting my Mellencamp sweatshirt although sadly nobody seemed to say a word (must be sick of all the outsiders thinking every person living in Indiana is a Mellencamp fan! LMFAO!) But I freaked out at the prices of his records. His is very, very expensive there! They had nearly all of his LPs there for outrageous prices like $35! Now granted, they were new/mint condition but please, I'm poor, I don't have money to spend like that, haha. So I got some of the cheapest things there, but I was still happy to have it because it's the real deal.
I have all of John's music on CDs but it's something very different when you hold an actual record. I come from a time when records and cassettes didn't "exist" so to speak, so it was awfully new and incredible for me to experience his music on a record. It sounded very different, but very pleasant on vinyl! I enjoyed all those crackles and pops, it made me feel like I was going back in time to the 80s when John was very huge and still so young. I only have his music and a couple of pictures/videos to help me picture what those times were like! I was like a kid in a candy store when I picked out those records and brought them home. They can be happy knowing that they won't be tossed out ever again as their new owner will always love them- there's always a Mellencamp tune playing in my room!

Before I conclude this, I also want to mention that last month I went to another record store and came across some John Mellencamp tour books there! Decent prices too, all $13! I can't remember which tour books there were. I know one of them was from 1999, the Rural Electrification Tour. I should've flippin' gotten it since 1999 is my birth year but I don't know why I didn't! Chances are, it's still probably there so next time I go back I'll be sure to get it. I don't know what the other tour book(s) were. I just remember being completely shocked because that stuff is slightly rare, and these were in excellent condition. I couldn't believe my own local record store had them. I'll be back for sure to pick up my babies lol!!

Lastly, I finally took note of all of his music that I bought these past few months to help my collection grow:

Cassettes
Kid Inside
Whenever We Wanted
Dance Naked
Mr. Happy Go Lucky
John Mellencamp

45s
Rain On The Scarecrow/Pretty Ballerina
Crumblin' Down/Golden Gates

LPs
John Cougar
Nothin' Matters And What If It Did
Scarecrow

I haven't been on here in like a yeaaaar, haha. But I heard a sample of John's new single, "Grandview", and I just knew I had to get on and post about it. What does this song sound like to you? From what I heard, his voice is definitely a 1990s era John Mellencamp to me. If you listen to "Whenever We Wanted", and compare that album to "Grandview", you'll hear that his voice is eerily similar. I also found that the guitars and music sound like that of the early 90s. My best guess is that maybe "Grandview" was recorded in the same sessions as "Whenever We Wanted", but didn't make it on the album for whatever reason.
Somebody else here mentioned that the album sounded more like a late 80s Mellencamp, like the "Lonesome Jubilee" sessions. Could be. But I heard more early 90s personally. Either way, we all know and can tell as Mellencamp fans that this was definitely his voice 100,000 cigarettes ago! Haha! This is simply a song from a previous record that he has just released now.
As for the song, I do like it a LOT. I think it's catchy, and will make lots of fans happy who didn't like his newest records so much. It will be very interesting to hear him play this one live, as it's most likely a song from 20+ years ago. What do you guys think about it?

Oooh, I'm so happy someone took the time to start a chat about this marvelous record. It's fantastic! I haven't found time to listen to it recently, sadly, but I will have to take some time out of my day to do it soon. My favorite on that album was definitely "Clumsy Ol' World", and I really wish he would play it live.

Hmmm... 80% of his songs on his previous tour(s) are all hits. He pretty much HAS to play them... fans love them so much and they're always in "high demand". He throws in some new stuff off of Plain Spoken which is a nice touch.
If you're expecting to hear things like "I Need A Lover", well, I don't think it will be happening any time soon. There are certain songs he just rarely/doesn't do.
I am not sure what his plans are next year, but I do know that he is making an album with Carlene Carter and is most likely going to go on tour to promote it- but don't take my word for it. I'm just making assumptions. 

Oh I totally get the struggle you are having. To lose an item like that would be utterly horrible.
But... I can't imagine that they would just throw your cap away if you sent it in hopes of it to get signed. If they opened up the package and saw that you went through all this effort to send it, I don't think they'd just say "nope" and throw it out. They might as well go through and get it signed.
However, reading the instructions again on how to mail items to John is interesting, because it says, "Please do not send any item that is a one of a kind." So would your cap be one of a kind? I would ask somebody who works for John to verify what that means. The whole contact page is here: http://www.mellencamp.com/contact.html

It's a 50-50% chance with your cap. There's only one other way I can think of to get it signed. If you go to any of his shows, stay after the show by his tour busses, becuase he sometimes comes out to sign a few things. That's sorta rare, but he has done it a couple times when he's in the mood and the audience was nice to him at the show. Since he doesn't have backstage passes or any other methods to really meet him, it's pretty difficult to actually meet the man. I have tried 3 times on the Plain Spoken tour to wait for John outside the show, and he has not come. But I did meet his violin player, Miriam.
Don't lose hope, I'm sure you could meet him someday or find a way to get that cap signed. It's not like you're asking for John to sign 100 records, it's just a ball cap. At last resort, you could just send in a CD cover or something like I did and just keep it beside your ball cap to go "with it". It's still cool to have. Good luck!

It's probably too late for me to reply, since you're probably at the show now, but I'll reply here in case anybody else had the same question lol.
Each time I saw him live, the show either started at 7:30pm or 8pm. That is when Carlene Carter (his opening act) actually comes on. So if you make it to the venue at the exact time the show starts, you'll be just fine. Carlene's act seems to last about 30-45 minutes.
If you still need to go the box office to get your tickets, then get to the venue at least an hour early, because you will be late for John's act if you have to wait in that line so long.
Always try to make it to the venue at least half an hour before the show starts, just to be safe. Because traffic can back up in front of the venue, especially when it's closer to when the concert starts.

Indeed. I saw John two more times since I wrote that comment. I saw him at a casino back in April and it was pretty horrible. Not John, of course lol, but the actual way the concert was set up sucked. The venue stopped selling drinks when John came out at John's request so that there would be no drunks at his show. I totally get that (and I prefer that), but man the security was SO uptight! NOBODY was allowed to get up from their seats so dance... can you freakin' believe that? Luckily I was in the front row so I could see him well, but the security was so RUDE to everybody. And totally way too strict. The setlist was also cut short by 6 songs or so.
From my observations, you should avoid casino shows at all cost, unless there is no other show available to you. Theater shows are much nicer, and I have seen that John is usually in a better mood playing at them. If I recall he has said once that he tries not to do a lot of casino shows becuase he doesn't like them and/or the drunks. I can't remember where I heard that thought.
I also wanna mention that I saw him a few days ago, and it seems that he has added "Pop Singer" to his setlist at a few of the shows. That's a rarity, so enjoy it! He sounded REALLY nice when I heard it live. The band was so tight and it sounded great! Also I saw at a show recently that he did "Hurt So Good", but I think that's for "special" shows. I don't know. I think he just throws random songs into the mix at random concerts.

Ahh thanks  They're just so fun to make!

Try sending him a letter. It worked for me twice. Sending a cap might be more difficult so I'd ask somebody else if they knew if you could send a cap or not. If you flatten it enough it may be okay to send. You  don't wanba send big and bulky items.

Oh yes. Bob Seger is a legend. I've been a fan of his since I was 12 or 13, that's a lot considering I am young myself, haha! I've been a fan of Bob Seger's longer than I have John Mellencamp... but if I had to choose I still prefer John Mellencamp.
I would love to see John and Bob do a song together. They are great "heartland" rockers and I'm sure they'd get along to do a song!

If you recall in earlier posts I made, I talked about how I accidently ruined the John Mellencamp autograph I had. Well I got a back a few days ago! I sent John a letter and he finally replied back. It took a painful long 6 months... may times I doubted that he would ever give it to me. But last week I got a package in the mail from John Mellencamp and I really squealed when I got it!! He signed my CD cover for me. I wish I could write him back and send him a thank you note and all, but I figured he'd be sick and tired of sending letters to me! 

Thank you so much AGAIN John, you are the best and this is why!