John Mellencamp survived an early phase as a glam-rocker to become one of America's most successful mainstream rock singers of the 1980s. After playing in a local band, he was signed by David Bowie's manager Tony de Fries to a recording deal in 1976. His name was changed to Johnny Cougar, and he was given a James Dean-style image, but a rush-released album of cover songs did not chart. Shortly afterwards, he signed to Riva Records, owned by Rod Stewart's manager Billy Gaff, who presented the singer as the next Bruce Springsteen. Mellencamp's first chart action came with the Top 30 single "I Need a Lover" in December 1979. He and his band toured constantly, a strategy which paid off in 1982 when his third Riva album, "American Fool," topped the album chart, while "Hurts So Good" (which earned his only Grammy) and "Jack and Diane" were certified as gold singles.
The following year, the singer changed his billing to John Cougar Mellencamp, and his chart successes continued with "Uh-Huh" in 1983 and "Scarecrow" in 1985. Many of his songs were now dealing with social problems, and he was one of the organizers of the Farm Aid series of benefit concerts. His straight-ahead rock numbers also brought a string of big hits in the late '80s, such as "Small Town," "R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A.," "Paper in Fire" and "Cherry Bomb."The 1987 album "Lonesome Jubilee" used fiddles and accordions to illustrate bleak portraits of America in recession, while "Pop Singer" from 1989's "Big Daddy" expressed his disillusionment with the music business. In addition to ditching the "Cougar" nickname, he then took time off to concentrate on painting but returned with "Whenever We Wanted" in 1991, which recaptured the muscular rock sound of his earlier albums.
In 1992, John Mellencamp directed and starred in the movie Falling From Grace. Despite radio's dismal reception to 1993's album "Human Wheels," he made a strong comeback with "Dance Naked" and its Top 10 cover version of Van Morrison's "Wild Night." Mellencamp returned in 1996 with "Mr. Happy Go Lucky" . The album spawned the catchy hit single "Key West Intermezzo (I Saw You First)."
In 1997, Mercury Records released "The Best That I Could Do (1978-1988)." That collection of hits has sold 3 million copies, while "American Fool" and "Scarecrow" have been certified for sales of 5 million each. "Lonesome Jubilee" and "Uh-Huh" rest at 3 million, and six other albums have been certified platinum.
After parting ways with Mercury, a self-titled album arrived on Columbia in 1998, and "Cuttin' Heads" followed in 2001. Both have been certified gold. The blues album "Trouble No More" was released in 2003.

Let us connect you with a John Mellencamp Agent now to book John Mellencamp to appear at your next corporate, private or special event!

Previous | Next

*Please Note: Headline Entertainment will not respond to inquiries related to any of the following (sorry, no exceptions):

• Upcoming public appearances of artists on this site.
• Contact info for artists or requests to fwd messages.
• Artist's TV, stage or film projects or representation.
• Invitations to appear to accept awards, etc.
• Requests for artists to donate items for auctions, etc.
• Media requests for print, radio or TV interviews.
• Non-paying or expenses only fundraisers.
• We will not forward jokes, songs, screenplays, etc.

*Headline Entertainment, LLC, the booking agent working on your behalf, acts only as an entertainment broker/producer for corporate functions, private engagements and special events and does not claim or represent itself as the exclusive booking agent, booking agency or management of any artist on this website.

___________________________________