Did you know that John is not only a supporter of Spina Bifida, but is a survivor of it? He was born in 1951 with the disease.

He eloped with his pregnant girlfriend when he was just 17.

He had a major heart attack in 1994, prompting the cancellation of a world tour.

He was instrumental in helping Willie Nelson and Neil Young organize Farm Aid.

Mellencamp iscollaborating with Stephen King (http://www.stephenkingnews.com/musicalsandplays/untitledghostmusical.html) to write a broadway musical.

What cha got to share? :)

I remember that Mtv had a contest where you could win a house in John's hometown..remember the LITTLE PINK HOUSES promotion?

The clapping hands in the JACK & DIANE song wasn't supposed to be in the recording but somehow got into the final cut and a hit was born (at least this is what I heard on an interview report so correct me if I'm wrong)

I've enjoyed his music for many years now...great thread. :)

He released his first album in 1976 under the name "Johnny Cougar".

He formed his first band at age 14.

In 1979, the Top 40 hit "I Need a Lover" was also released. This song also became an AOR hit for Pat Benatar a few years later.

Also in 1979, he opened for some shows on KISS' "Dynasty" tour. You may suppose it was perhaps not a perfect fit as bills go, and on at least one occasion Mellencamp just gave up and walked offstage early on a hostile crowd.

John grew up in Seymour, Indiana, a small town in Southern Indiana.

He is married to supermodel Elaine Irwin and they have several children together.

After suffering from his heart attack, the doctor ordered him to stop smoking, which he has yet to do...

I heard he was smoking 4 packs a day for a long time and dropped down to 1 pack probably after the heart attack

4 packs a day?!!? :eek: Where do you find time to smoke that much? Jeez-a-weez!! At my worst I only smoked 2 packs a day, and that was almost literally chain smoking. But I quit when I had to. He's insane. :lol:

John got the name "Cougar" from David Bowie's manager who told him nobody would buy a record by a "John Mellencamp".

US charts:
John Cougar:
#28 I need a lover 1979
#87 Small Paradise 1980
#27 This time 1980
#17 Ain't even done with the night 1981
#2 Hurts so good 1982
#1 Jack and Diane 1982
#19 Hand to hold on to 1983
John Cougar Mellencamp:
#9 Crumblin' down 1983
#8 Pink houses 1984
#15 Authority song 1984
#6 Lonely ole night 1985
#6 Small town 1985
#2 R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A. (a salute to 60's rock) 1986
#21 Rain on the scarecrow 1986
#28 Rumbleseat 1986
#9 Paper in fire 1987
#8 Cherry bomb 1988
#14 Check it out 1988
#61 Rooty toot toot 1988
#15 Pop singer 1989
#48 Jackie Brown 1989
John Mellencamp:
#14 Get a leg up 1991
#36 Again tonight 1992
#48 Human wheels 1993
#3 Wild night (w/Me'Shell Ndegeocello) 1994
#41 Dance naked 1994
#14 Key West intermezzo (I saw you first) 1996
(my book only goes to 1999)

Bubbling under the US charts:
John Cougar:
#105 A little night dancin' 1980

UK charts:
John Cougar:
#25 Jack and Diane 1982
John Cougar Mellencamp:
#53 Small town 1986
#67 R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A. (a salute to 60's rock) 1986
#34 Wild night (w/Me'Shell Ndegeocello) 1994

album rock charts:
John Cougar:
#44 Ain't even done with the night 1981
#1 Hurts so good 1982
#3 Jack and Diane 1982
#36 Thundering hearts 1982
John Cougar Mellencamp:
#2 Crumblin' down 1983
#3 Pink houses 1984
#34 Serious business 1984
#28 Play guitar 1984
#15 Authority song 1984
#1 Lonely ole night 1985
#2 Small town 1985
#6 R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A. (a salute to 60's rock) 1985
#16 Rain on the scarecrow 1986
#28 Justice and independence '85 1986
#14 Minutes to memories 1986
#19 Under the boardwalk 1986
#4 Rumbleseat 1986
#1 Paper in fire 1987
#1 Cherry bomb 1987
#10 Hard times for an honest man 1987
#3 The real life 1988
#3 Check it out 1988
#7 Rooty toot toot 1988
#17 Rave on 1988
#2 Pop singer 1989
#8 Martha say 1989
#42 Let it all hang out 1989
#20 Jackie Brown 1989
John Mellencamp:
#1 Get a leg up 1991
#5 Love and happiness 1992
#1 Again tonight 1992
#3 Now more than ever 1992
#12 Last chance 1992
#1 What if I came knocking 1992
#2 Human wheels 1993
#35 When Jesus left Birmingham 1993
#35 Junior 1994
#17 Wild night (w/Me'Shell Ndegeocello) 1994
#21 Dance naked 1994
(my book only goes to 1995)

Adult contemporary:
John Cougar Mellencamp:
#37 Lonely ole night 1985
#13 Small town 1985
#36 R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A. (a salute to 60's rock) 1986
#12 Cherry bomb 1987
#31 Jackie Brown 1989
John Mellencamp:
#46 Again tonight 1992
(my book only goes to 1993)