John Cougar Mellencamp: The Heartland Rocker's Unforgettable Journey

Never quite the glitzy and glamorous ideal of a rock star, John Mellencamp is irascible, says what's on his mind, and occasionally gets grumpy. (He knowingly gave himself his own unflattering nickname: "Little Bast***.") In. One such track is John Cougar Mellencamp’s unforgettable hit, “Hurts So Good.” Released in 1982, this infectious rock anthem continues to captivate audiences today with its. Mellencamp’s uncompromising stance against corporate sponsorship has made him feel anomalous in an age when even esteemed figures like Lou Reed, Steve Winwood, Robert Plant and Eric Clapton... Heartland rock hit full stride in the ’80s as Bruce Springsteen was filling up stadiums with his anthemic hits and John Cougar Mellencamp’s roots music was pumping out. In May of 1983 I did my first interview with John Mellencamp, or at least that’s who he wanted to be. Back then the heartland rocker was still known as John Cougar, and was riding high on the breakthrough success of his latest.

In May of 1983 I did my first interview with John Mellencamp, or at least that’s who he wanted to be. Back then the heartland rocker was still known as John Cougar, and was riding high on the breakthrough success of his latest. John Mellencamp began his musical career in the mid-1970s as Johnny Cougar. A pop sensation in the 1980s, Mellencamp has evolved into one of rock’s most enduring acts. He often gave a voice to... John Cougar Mellencamp is a name synonymous with heartland rock, a genre that reflects the struggles and joys of everyday life in America. His music, characterized by its raw. For ‘C’ we are looking at, and appreciating, the transformation of John Cougar Mellencamp from AOR-radio-friendly hit seeking pop-rocker, to gritty roots activist. Somewhere in the early to mid-1980s John Cougar seemed to. Heartland rock hit full stride in the ’80s as Bruce Springsteen was filling up stadiums with his anthemic hits and John Cougar Mellencamp’s roots music was pumping out. The idea of a young heartland rocker on the MTV airwaves might seem like an unlikely prospect today, but the nascent video network welcomed Mellencamp with open arms in the early '80s. Never quite the glitzy and glamorous ideal of a rock star, John Mellencamp is irascible, says what's on his mind, and occasionally gets grumpy. (He knowingly gave himself his own unflattering nickname: "Little Bast***.") In. John Cougar Mellencamp is Billboard's Greatest Pop Star of 1982 for how he exemplified rock stardom while it was still at top 40's center.

Formerly known as John Cougar Mellencamp and earlier as John Cougar, John Mellencamp stands out as a unique American artist. His rock and roll, characterized by. Mellencamp’s uncompromising stance against corporate sponsorship has made him feel anomalous in an age when even esteemed figures like Lou Reed, Steve Winwood, Robert Plant and Eric Clapton... For ‘C’ we are looking at, and appreciating, the transformation of John Cougar Mellencamp from AOR-radio-friendly hit seeking pop-rocker, to gritty roots activist. Somewhere in the early to mid-1980s John Cougar seemed to.