Mellencamp Continues to Fight Authority (entertainer cluelessness alert!)

The Washington Post ^ | 12/7/2004 | Sean Daly

[Radio Free Tuscaloosa]

BLOOMINGTON, Ind.

Smoking is a major no-no in the Buskirk-Chumley Theater, a revered old showplace just a few watering holes away from the sprawling campus of Indiana University. John Mellencamp, however, doesn't really care about the old joint's clean-air policy. Not when he's rehearsing for a live national telecast and feedback is ruining an otherwise rocking version of "Small Town."

"When the host is not onstage, turn his [bleepin'] microphone off!" the rock icon snaps at technicians working for A&E, the cable channel airing that night's "Live by Request" event. The host with the noisy mike, David Adelson, flashes a here-we-go-again smile and raises a hand in mock surrender.

[Radio Free Tuscaloosa]

Keep talkin' John. The more you talk, the redder those states are gonna get.

[Recovering_Democrat]

Mellencamp can shove it. And I wish CMT and my local country station would quit trying to peddle his crap to me. I have no problem with artistic liberals. I do have a problem with hate-filled, cram-it-down-your-throat, anti-values liberals. Like Mellencrap.

[Bikers4Bush]

Well then according to his song he's just stupid because as he already knows authority always wins.

[injin]

these fools just need their CD's boycotted I guess

just sing and get off the soap box

[Beckwith]

THis guy's music has always sucked.

[Larry381]

This guy sounds like a major jerk-off.

[JennysCool]

Mellencamp's among the clueless millions who still believe it is the "liberals" who are pro-freedom and anti-PC, when just a cursory examination would reveal it's actually the conservatives who would let him light up that smoke, and probably have one with him.

[Stevenc131]

Mellencamp has a very poor reputation in the entertainment industry due to his mistreatment of just about everyone he comes in contact with. There are a lot of people who won't work with the guy.

[Fruitbat]

Wasn't Mellencamp just on one of the halftime shows? I remember seeing him, he looked like a munchkin is all I can remember. His best days are clearly past. I guess he thinks he's still the cat's meow in entertainment. I expect to see him "filling" 200-seat arenas soon.

[EnquiringMind]

I agree. He makes my skin crawl.

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

Never mind the heart attack that almost felled him 10 years ago.

Better luck next time.

[mysto]

"I fight conservatives, conservatives always win..."

[Welsh Rabbit]

Mellencamp has a very poor reputation in the entertainment industry due to his mistreatment of just about everyone he comes in contact with. There are a lot of people who won't work with the guy.

It was pretty clear from reading the lead-in excerpt to this article that he's probably an *$$hole. First he ignores the venue's smoking rules, then he acts like a pissy little brat about the host's microphone.

[JimmyMc]

"Wasn't Mellencamp just on one of the halftime shows?"

He sang 2 songs. I wonder how many people who were watching had any idea who John Mellencamp is/was. Bet not many.

[bmwcyle]

John Mellonhead

[KJC1]

I remember in the 80s I picked up some type of entertainment magazine, and a reader in a letter to the editor called him "John Booger Melonhead." Heh!

[asgardshill]

I expect to see him "filling" 200-seat arenas soon.

If I've told them once, I've told them a thousand times ...

Its "JOHN COUGAR MELLENCAMP AND PUPPET SHOW"
NOT
"PUPPET SHOW AND JOHN COUGAR MELLENCAMP"

[sodpoodle]

What was the reason he gave for changing his stage name of John Cougar to his birth name Mellencamp? I was of the opinion he wanted to appear more traditional and grown up.

Oh style over substance - it'll ruin yah!

[durasell]

He's had a tough life. Cut the guy some slack.

[1066AD]

Another one whose appeal mystifies me - like Springsteen.