You have to admire a guy who tells his record company that " this is a working album " . Strap your boots on and go to work ! Gotta love it . When guys like this pour their heart and soul into their lyrics and music, it's going to be good . I'm often taken back by the way that guys like him can put what seems to be the most simple issues into song lyrics and they make the most cynical people sit up and take notice . In todays world we NEED people like John Mellencamp to shine a little light on some major issues that are tearing our country apart . Race, Government corruption , Greed, the list goes on ! Hats off to you Sir for a career of speaking for the people that don't have a voice !

Love John, always have. He yells it like it is and writes amazing songs.

incredible ... I been a huge fan from the beginning and somehow have always identified with him. Found him to be just a friendly dude playing great music at a concert in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan Canada. He played it like it was the most important gig he was doing. Thanks so much.

as a man living in Indiana with a family and a job and just living I have came to appreciate Scarecrow as some of the best social commentary ever put to record. And as a musician I also think his band is top notch and absolutely unique

So much great music from Mr Mellencamp!! I have loved him since 1985!! Have had his music on cassette, vinyl album and CDs!! I just love him!

John mellencamp is a music genius and a good human being.

I'm new to John's music, and "Scarecrow" made my jaw drop. Even today, it authentically depicts the harsh plight of American farm life, and it's actually frightening! :O

I met him and his 3rd wife in an outlet mall in hilton head a few weeks after i had my baby and they came up and told me how beautiful my baby was, i almost passed out lol . love me some jcm

He is my MOST Favorite Male Artist of all times!!!!! ( Prince is in there too) My very first concert my husband took me to in 1985 I never Knew all of this! I have been to 9 of his concerts and wish he would go on tour again! I love his family value.. and Love the unity of all people!!! We all Bleed red!!!

Ive been listening to his music for years. Im glad i found this documentary and learned more about his interesting life and music.

Small town boy does good. He definitely looks like his mom. Have seen him in concert many times and he is always awesome.

I became aware of him with the songs 'Jack and Dianne' & 'Ain't Even Done With the Night' love his voice. 🎼

I'm one of those Aussies who fell for Johnny Cougar, cos of 'I Need A Lover'. A very cute guy with a good rocking song. He has remained one of my favourite artists.

"An American legend" Damn right!!!!

In an interview with Sammy Hagar, John Mellencamp said that he wanted to be a painter, and being a musician was an afterthought. This documentary and John's interview with Sammy is an interesting paradox into the real story of John Mellencamp, the singer, and John Mellencamp, the artist (painter).

I first hear John's music when I was around 12 years old and it was my father who had Hurts so good on in his garage. From that first taste of his music, I was hooked. And despite the amount of music that he has come out with, it seems that hardly anyone has heard of him in the uk. With very rare broadcasts on BBC radio 2 of just the 1 song of 'Jack & Diane'. John mellencamp is by far my favourite artist of all time past, present and will definitely be future for me.

As the song says John, “Nothing compares to you.” Great documentary.

The Lonesome Jubilee is some of John's best work.

I have always loved John Mellencamp. How can you not love that adorable face & that great voice! ❤️

I grew up with his music, my dad would play the records to me, especially SCARECROW and LONESOME JUBILEE and I was so taken by the lyrics and rocking guitars which inspired me to become a musician.

This was on CMT, as part of its "Inside Fame" series. It always reminded me of a country "Behind the Music"

I've loved John's music since the beginning and still do. I had goosebumps watching this video.

I have watched this multiple times. Thank you for sharing.

John Mellencamp is arguably the most influential rocker of his or any generation. His relationship with the blue collar everyday working man has captured people's attention for years. His talent is unmatched, he was wise beyond his years even when he was a young man.

Mellencamp is the real deal. Love you Johnny!

I was born in the mid 80s and I have fond memories of hearing his song on the radio while growing up. Fantastic music

You, sir, have informed the development of my soul.

This was great, thanks!

I heard an interview with John years ago, where he said his grandpa got him going back to church, saying, "Why don't you go to church anymore?" John said, "I'd rather go to a bar. A church is full of hypocrites." And his grandfather said, "And a bar's not?"

Saw John in concert with Donovan as opener, one of the best shows I’ve seen (have been to many). Donovan had me in a 60’s psychedelic trance & John had me dancing~singing the whole show, everyone there was! 🎉 😅

Yes Yes, when you meet the love of your life you just know it , if you should be blessed enough to be given that chance.Good fer yu mellenball.

John has carved a unique spot out in the world of music, even has his very own studio in his home state of Indiana. 🥴

Many sides of John... Great illustrative documentary

Would Love to meet him in person ....He's the hero of my childhood. The Coolest❤❤❤😊😊😊😊

TFS John Mellencamp!!! Woot! Legend John Mellencamp!!!

I remember he played a show at the Artcraft Theater in Franklin,In, my hometown. It was late 70s. I don't think there were more than 40/50 people there. Most of us thought wtf is this Mellonhead...little did we know. Before it was all said and done l think l attended every Indiana show he ever did. He's a homeboy. He even told my brother and l to 'fuck off ' one night in Bloomington, In....shit, we thought that was the coolest fucking thing he could have said. I still listen to his music, heartland badass....you go John..!

How come the doctor that saved his life and only charged his parents a dollar wasn't even mentioned? If it wasn't for him we probably wouldn't have his awesome music to listen to! He is by far the BEST in my opinion! I. Am a die hard fan of John!!!

All I can say is that he is an icon with his own style and upbeat music totally awesome!! I love his 2-CD Collection Words and Music Energy,moving music!!Love You so much 🌹❤️💯

Great report, love John. Hoosier here, I feel so connected to him.

I love his music.

No one will ever see anyone like the Great John 'Cougar' Mellencamp again. He told the world what middle class America was really like.💖 He wasn't perfect & he knew that he WAS middle class America. 👍 was John Mellencamp - a modern day 'James Dean. Australia

I don’t care what his name is I got every day and one of his albums oh I’m sorry am I dating myself CDs downloads etc. damn good artist damn good writer😎❤️👍🏻🎤 Long live John Mellencamp!

love his music

An inspiring writer... saw his band rock a venue in Dothan AL way back when. Also once in germany... the man could rock.

Growing up in Minnesota I think I could relate to John Mellancamp more than any other rock singer. I bought more of his cassette tapes than anyone else. David Lee Roth came in 2nd. And some young people reading this will do a Google search for what is a cassette tape.

I have always love john since I need a lover I remember it on countdown, Australia see we got taste! Lol

Lonesome Jubilee is the greatest album ever recorded

Remember listening to the song, I need a love that won't drive me crazy, in 1980, at a party. The guy I was interested in had a girl friend away at school. It made him a little crazy!

good on you. more to come!

Artist like him don't exist anymore.

Here is a story: my hubby worked for Ticketmaster in the eighties and John was playing with Ticketmaster managing the event in Indy I believe, his wife at the time as described by hubby was not made of grace to say it gently and came to the TKMSTR office and demanded "cash" so she could go shopping, she left with a paper bag full of cash. UGH, I LOVE JOHN, I am originally from central Indiana and admire John for not ending up in the Hollywood cesspool, I believe he is now living on Monroe Lake near Bloomington. I still love your music and it makes me nostalgic for my indy home.

John threw a bucket of water on me one time. Long story. Also, the silver Corvette you can see for all of 3 seconds parked next to the gas station in Pink Houses was mine after John traded it in for I believe a new Jaguar. I used to drive it to Bloomington all the time and it wouldn't be long before a car full of girls started following me around. My hair was pretty long at the time and I was just a couple years younger than John, so I don't know who they thought I was, but they thought I was somebody. One time I took the car to a local drag strip, Brown County Dragway and raced it against a few cars. Sadly, I beat a guy who had a brand new 1985 Mustang GT, which i liked a lot. It ran 9.70's in the 1/8th mile. I got to know Toby, his bass player. He had originally played bass with a band called Roadmaster which had some success. If you search on here for 'Toby Myers live at Players Pub'. that is a video i did a while back. Nothing professional, just for fun. Toby had an album called 'Big in Japan' and John recorded a song he wrote once. Everyone I met was really nice.

Lonesome Jubilee+ greatest Album ever recorded

82 was the first year i became aware of John I was interested to see what he went threw, interesting.

Enjoyed it, thanks.

Great artist great musician Raw real life rocker

Excellent 🎉 Thankyou for sharing.💖

I've always liked John Mellencamp just the he is.!!!

@ 10:40...In Aug '74, while visiting older HS schoolmates at IU, my big brother suggested I go visit a friend of his that had a Bloomington recording studio. The afternoon I showed up, there was a local guy, soon to become Johnny Cougar, taping his first-ever demo. @ 18:05...that grandfather/grandson portrait was shot by Chicago photographer, Marc Hauser, and the Scarecrow album cover.

Love his music!

i love John Mellencamp, especially the early stuff.. but these behind the music stories just all seem the same after awhile.

I first heard John at a small bar called Pacers Den In Indy, He was not a big band at that time. I never thought he would go anywhere.

I think ain't even done with the night was the best song

Thanks for this

greatest songwriter EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Id like to see a autobiography movie about his light and music journey. I think it would be the best since walk the line!

Mr. I don't give a damn ...except for the working family man ...he will go down in history as the farm aid organicer .....

" dribble off those Bobbie Brooks let me do what I please" You youngins dont know what the hell I'm talkin about do yinz?

The song of his that stuck in my head for 3o odd years is Cherry bomb

The reason John Mellencamp was called John Cougar was due to his first manager, Tony DeFries (formerly David Bowie's manager), not taking a liking to Mellencamp's surname, believing it to be too ethnic and therefore hinted that nobody would buy a record by a man with that name; John himself did not like being called "Johnny" as he was never addressed as such in his early life. Chestnut Street Incident, released in 1976, failed to make an impact regardless (critics at the time had derided him for being a Bruce Springsteen knockoff), and MCA Records, which handled U.S. marketing and manufacture of Chestnut Street Incident, refused to accept his second album, The Kid Inside (initially scheduled for a 1977 release), which DeFries would release on his own in 1983 after the success of Mellencamp's American Fool album that came out the year before. Mellencamp then moved to England, hoping for better success, and signed to Riva Records, which was run by his new manager Billy Gaff, who also managed Rod Stewart's solo career. A Biography was his first album for that label, released in 1978 and distributed by PolyGram Records, but was not released in this form in the U.S. In 1979, after "I Need a Lover" took off in Australia (as well as a subsequent cover version by Pat Benatar having success in the U.S.), Riva Records then released A Biography in the U.S., but it was retitled simply John Cougar and having a different track listing. Neither this album nor his next one, 1980's Nothin' Matters and What If It Did, had any significant chart impact and he was pressured to come up with another hit album or risk being dropped by the label... his 1982 album American Fool would change all that, with the successes of "Hurts So Good" and "Jack and Diane," the latter being his first and only Hot 100 number 1 hit to date; the album itself was also Mellencamp's only number 1 album to date. His 1983 album, Uh-Huh, was the first one on which he assumed the name John Cougar Mellencamp (Mellencamp being his real surname). This extended moniker would continue on his next three albums (1985's Scarecrow, 1987's The Lonesome Jubilee and 1989's Big Daddy), before he finally dropped Cougar from his stage name for good in 1991, the year Whenever We Wanted was released.

Love it 🌞🤓

His movie Falling From Grace (nothing to do about his career) was pretty good too.

That's where teddy gets the phrase "the long and short of it". She says that all the time on the real housewives. That aside, John is a legend. I grew up on his music

I love paper and fire because it’s real, I’m a mixed family and this is a beautiful video and real song. People are people and color has nothing to do with it. Dam people there is no superior to this world. Stop being so hateful to others but seems it’s going on now days and I’m saying this in 2022.

John always made good music; BUT.... his first 3 albums are phucking EPIC! "To M.G. , Wherever She May Be" probably the most PERFECT song ever recorded.

I’m not new to John’s music, but I admire the man and what he stands for. I first new him as Johnny Cougar then John Cougar Mellencamp , however I much prefer John Mellencamp. I love all his music and I think Paper in Fire if I have a favourite that’s it. 🎼❤️🇦🇺❤️🇺🇸🕺🏻💃🎸☘️

Legend.

I am honored to hear he is not a bigot I'm a big fan

How do you leave out any story behind Small Town?

Ahhh yes, Jack and Diane. Me "Diane" and my new boyfriend "Jack" I was just 16. The words made m e blush every time I heard it! lol.

There are a lot of complainers in America. "Corporations" didn't kill any local businesses. People get used to the status quo and complain when they have to change. If a local hamburger joint is struggling because of corporate hamburger joints then it's time to THINK and GROW. black people are equal in America. Anyone can do anything they want, if they are willing to work hard and make good choices

him & his daughter Teddy are like twins!

The greatest song Rudy to to God made in the shade like a ball through a hoop your greatest song ever brother

No easy feat getting kicked off the Kinks tour back in the day

JOHN. I DID LOVE YOU AND YOUR PAINTINGS ARE FANTASTIC ALL I CAN SEND IS PHOTOS THE BEST THE VERY BEST SO A PIEACE OF AUSTRALIA IN YOUR HOME????? XXXOOO

Who doesn’t love a rebel fighting authority?❤️❤️👍👍💯💯💯

Yes,he has done it his way including addictive cigarette smokeing that has ravaged his voice, and sending him to his demise.

I do things my way... and I pay a high price

Even when you complain in songs! If you're Popular You ARE a Pop Singer!!! 🍺🍺🍺🍺🍺🍺🍺🍺

❤️

❤❤❤

fix the bloody sound

HA HA HA!! JOHN HAD LIPSTICK ON! RESPECTO!! HOW TOUGH DO YA GOTTA BE, TO PULL THAT OFF, AND WALKAWAY WITH WORLD-RESPECT! RESPECTO!~

Does anybody know the name of the song starting at 14:57 ???

This was good

John help our farmers

That's quite an accomplishment to be kicked off a KISS tour because of stage antics!

COMRADE JOHN

Johnis Crugar Mellencramp Rocks!

I read from a reliable source that John's real sir name was Melonhead!