Free Republic

John Mellencamp has no interest in being a "(Expletive) clown" for his fans. During an appearance on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast, the singer explained why he recoiled from playing arena and amphitheater-sized shows in recent years. “I got tired of going on tour and being a cheerleader, which is what I was,” Mellencamp admitted. “’Let's do a rounding hit of 'Small Town!' ‘I was born…’ You know, and everybody’d stand up and sing. I was playing to 20,000 people and everybody was drunk and I was just kind of the cheerleader.” “I just thought, I'm here to be a...

John Mellencamp has issued a blunt, powerful statement calling for gun control in America. Posting on his social media channels, the 72-year-old singer/songwriter writes, "Excuse me for stating the obvious truth. I do so out of love for this country and the pain of learning, once again, that children have been killed by gun violence. "If we as a country want to find the collective will within ourselves to change our gun laws, let’s stop playing silly political games. Show the carnage on the news. Show the American people the dead children and others who have been struck down. Show...

Rocker John Mellencamp's two teenage sons face battery charges for allegedly punching and kicking a man during a fight that left the victim with serious facial injuries. On Thursday, prosecutors in Monroe County, Ind., charged 19-year-old Hud Mellencamp of Nashville, Ind., and 18-year-old Speck Mellencamp, of Bloomington, with one count each of battery resulting in serious bodily injury. Ty A. Smith, 19, of Bloomington, Ind., faces the same charge in the early morning July 29 attack.

Anyone else peeved as I am at this nonsense? I am assuming it is a patriotic song. The images you see during this commercial are Vietnam War protestors, the peace sign, Nixon waving goodbye before he gets on his helicopter, and Katrina flooding. What a depressing commercial. Kind of defeatist if you ask me. Thoughts?