John Mellencamp
John Mellencamp’s career in music, spanning more than 35 years, is that of one of the most highly respected singer / songwriters of a generation. Mellencamp is incredibly acclaimed; he is a member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and a recipient of the John Steinbeck Award, as well as the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) Foundation’s Champion Award, The Woody Guthrie Award, the Americana Music Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award, and, more recently, the Founders Award, the top honor assigned by the ASCAP. He is also a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and one of the most successful live concert performers in the world.
In 1985, Mellencamp, together with Willie Nelson and Neil Young, created Farm Aid. The social activism reflected in his songs helped catalyze Farm Aid, and the concert series and organization has addressed the struggle of American family farmers for more than 25 years. John has spent most of the past year continuing to focus on another facet of his artistic expression: painting. His style has progressed over the years as evidenced by several gallery shows and published portfolios, and in recent years he has increased his output by completing over 150 new works. A self-curated book of Mellencamp’s work, John Mellencamp: Paintings and Assemblages, is out now via Rizzoli New York. “Legends of Rock: John Mellencamp,” a permanent exhibition at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, opened in fall 2022. There, Mellencamp confirmed his massive “Live and In Person 2023,” which sold out across the US and included four nights at New York City’s Beacon Theater. In March 2024, Mellencamp will continue the tour with “Live and In Person 2024,” performing for one night only in 27 new cities. A reissue of his seminal album Scarecrow is out now to critical praise, and features a wealth of bonus tracks, rarities, and more. Mellencamp released his 25th full-length studio album Orpheus Descending in spring 2023 via Republic Records. It was recorded at his own Belmont Mall Studio and produced by Mellencamp.
John Mellencamp continues his journey as the walking embodiment of rock icon: passionate, plain-spoken, and a self-proclaimed rebel. He continues to live and work in Bloomington, Indiana.
