David,
I have been anxiously awaiting this book! I have read some of your articles and somehow ran across something that mentioned you were writing this book.

For years I've tried to explain to some of my friends and family members why I don't automatically like Bruce Springsteen just because I'm a John Mellencamp fan. For me they aren't in the same league. John's song writing appeals to me and Bruce's music doesn't. I also believe Bruce's voice is no where near the voice that John has. When I read your article about the book I sent it to my cousin who is also a best friend/brother to me. He said he now gets what I've been saying for years. I think you pretty much nailed my sentiments exactly!

Thanks!
Lisa Norris
Georgia

I guess we all miss that time in the 80's but honestly I really don't think the band's sound is all that different. John has said in the past that it would be useless to write the same song over and over and I get that. I'm sorry but I really don't think Larry Crane is a better guitarist than Andy York. Miriam and Lisa are very similar but I don't miss Lisa at all when I hear Miriam tearing it up! I do miss John Cascella very much. I won't compare Kenny and Dane because their styles aren't the same and Kenny Aronoff is just a beast! Toby Myers got married and had a son. Who in the world would blame him for retiring and spending time with his family. I guess I look at the big picture. Sure some of my favorite songs were written during the time all of those guys you mentioned were in the band, but I love many more of the songs without them. I just chalk it up to being a part of life. I also miss Pat Petersen. I hope she is doing well!

 Lisa Norris
Georgia

Thanks for sharing Christine! Hope you are doing well! The last part of the interview really struck a chord with me. I truly believe that a lot of the country music out today is heavily influenced by John. Some of the artist do say he was a big influence while others don't. I guess that's okay because we Mellenheads sure do know where it's coming from!

Dear joshuahiderwrites,
I find the comments about the sound of John's music changing after Larry Crane left the band somewhat amusing. The sound started changing on Scarecrow and went even further on Lonesome Jubilee and Big Daddy. Does Larry Crane get all the credit for this? I don't think so. Havin' listened to John Mellencamp since 1982 the one thing about him that keeps me hooked, and I imagine keeps many others hooked, is that his sound is always evolving. He has said so many times that he cannot keep singing the same songs. He probably could have sold a few more records if he just kept writing Hurts so Good and Pink Houses over and over again, but where's the creative spirit in doing that?

This said I will also say that I am a big fan of Larry Crane's. If you read the article closely that Christine posted you will notice that John said the money wasn't the whole issue so, he already stated what you did. As one of many of us that are still listening today I do recall that Larry Crane was the only one who had put out a t-shirt (I still have my Leaping Larry shirt by the way). The rest of the band didn't. As much as we all hated to see it happen; we could see the split coming. Do I believe that John has always done the right thing? No I don't. Hell, he will tell you that himself. What I've always thought about the situation is this. In the beginning of the split Larry Crane performed solo on Farm Aid and John introduced him. He looked like a proud father. It was always hard for me to believe that these guys who had known each other for such a long time could not manage to work on putting that relationship back together regardless of whether they could work together or not. Believe me, I know a lot of people that I care about that I would kill if I had to work with day in and day out. The other thing that stands out to me is that the first song I heard by Larry Crane was on the Falling from Grace soundtrack and is still the best song I've heard him put out. It's my favorite one on that CD. If John didn't want him to succeed as a solo artist I wouldn't think he would have allowed Larry to have a single on there and if memory serves, write and help produce the thing. I have Larry's cd's by the way and I feel he was trying way too hard to not have that "heartland" sound you mentioned. It took too much way from it to me and I haven't listened to those in a while.

I know some of you had heard that there was talk of the band getting back together for a tour. I was so excited about it that I emailed Larry about it. He was very short and to the point. It did make me a little sad since I told him I was still a fan of his and would be excited to see everyone back together again. I wasn't expecting him to kiss my butt or anything but, still.... Anyway, he wrote back that because no one wanted to record new music together and then tour to support this new music the reunion type tour idea fell apart. I was hoping that this meant that Larry and John were at least talking to one another and repairing things. Especially now that John has talked about losing so many people who were close to him. Life is short.

All of this rambling brings me to the last thing. Is this book going to be a book about how bad John treated everyone or is it a story about Larry's life and career? I wouldn't mind reading the book about his life but if it's going to turn into "this is why I hate John Mellencamp", I don't know if I would even bother with it. I do hope it isn't.

I tried to visit but your page wouldn't load. 

Thanks Christine! I had tickets to the show in Atlanta but that was canceled as well.

Lisa Norris
Georgia

When you think about music and other intellectual property in this manner (as we should!) John is spot on!

Keep on keeping on John!

Lisa Norris
Georgia

Mary,
    I've been trying to figure this out also. It is sad and a little hard to get used to I guess. I married my husband the year before John and Elaine got married so when John would forget how long he was married and jump it ahead, I would always laugh and so no, one year less than me. I guess that one is gone now.
    The main reason I am replying is that what you have experienced on this board is the very reason I stopped participating on clubcherrybomb and haven't really done a lot on here. No one wants to start world war III with a post and it shouldn't! I enjoy reading your messages, on the board and on the mailing list, so keep on plugging away!

Lisa

Awesome lists! I've been asked several times over the years what my favorite John Mellencamp song is and I can never answer the question! I suppose the reason is like many of you it changes. Pretty close to the top will always be songs from American Fool and Uh-Huh because that's when I began listening. Golden Gates will always be one of those songs because it reminds me of my Mom who died Jan. 5, 1984 from lung cancer at the age of 35. She gave me that album for Christmas so it sticks.
Lately I've been stuck on Save Some Time to Dream and The Real Life. Next month, who knows!

Lisa in Georgia

Not sure if anyone else has seen this but John filed for a divorce last Friday. The same story mentioned that Elaine was in LA for a weekend and attended a Golden Globes party with some guy whose name just slipped my mind! It said they are only friends and that she and John had been separated for months. It's sad; that's all that can be said. I wish everyone involved well and hope things will work out for them. Especially Hud and Speck who I know has to be suffering through this with all the internet buzz and things. My parents divorced when I was 9. I couldn't imagine how it would be if the whole world knew about it!

This is all odd to me! One thing that I keep thinking about is that the last time I heard John perform Small Town (right now I can't remember when it was, but it was recent) I noticed he had gone back to singing "married an LA doll and brought her to this small town". Ever since then I had been wondering what was going on with him and I even got on the computer and googled them to make sure I hadn't missed something. I hate this for everyone involved, especially the boys.
It is a shame that now you can search John on the internet and gets lots and lots of news. I looked early this morning after a coworker told me about the Meg Ryan thing(I have slow stupid dial up at home and sometimes don't bother getting on!). Since this morning there's tons of articles. Things are so backwards these days. His music should be making news, instead we get to hear about these things. Oh well, maybe something good will come of it.