Heartland rock icon John Mellencamp is looking to tell the world a story of Jack and Diane once again with a string of live tour dates across the United States and Australia this year.
The man will kick off the trek on April 1, live at the Brady Theater in Tulsa, OK, only to continue running across the land until the end of the month, marking stops in Portland, Mount Pleasant, Springfield, and other notable cities.
On some of the dates, John will share the stage with American country singer and songwriter Carlene Carter.
After taking a break, the man will hit the land down under for a 10-date trek across Australia in mid-June. Starting with the June 14 show at the HBF Stadium in Perth, the run will cover all the prominent points in the country and wind down with the June 24 gig at the Entertainment Centre in Newcastle, NSW.
John Mellencamp US Schedule & Tix Prices
| Date | Time | Location | Tix Prices | Venue |
| Apr 01 | 7:30PM | Tulsa, OK | $93-$486 | Brady Theater |
| Apr 02 | 8:00PM | Thackerville, OK | $79-$837 | Winstar Casino |
| Apr 04 | 7:30PM | Springfield, MO | $59-$491 | Juanita K. Hammons Hall |
| Apr 05 | 7:30PM | Davenport, IA | $57-$539 | Adler Theatre |
| Apr 07 | 7:30PM | Duluth, MN | $86-$473 | DECC |
| Apr 09 | 7:30PM | Lawrence, KS | $72-$396 | Lied Center |
| Apr 10 | 7:30PM | Springfield, IL | $298-$450 | Sangamon Auditorium |
| Apr 12 | 7:30PM | Muncie, IN | $62-$405 | Emens Auditorium |
| Apr 13 | 7:30PM | Huntington, WV | $234-$464 | Keith Albee Theater |
| Apr 15 | 8:00PM | Mount Pleasant, MI | $81-$478 | Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort |
| Apr 16 | 7:30PM | Wheeling, WV | $108-$531 | Capitol Music Hall |
| Apr 17 | 7:30PM | Erie, PA | $85-$473 | Warner Theatre |
| Apr 19 | 8:00PM | Hartford, CT | $61-$234 | Mortensen Hall – Bushnell Theatre |
| Apr 20 | 7:30PM | Portland, ME | $122-$320 | Merrill Auditorium |
| Apr 23 | 7:30PM | Albany, NY | $57-$473 | Palace Theatre Albany |
Biography
John Mellencamp, aka Johnny Cougar, aka John Cougar, aka John Cougar Mellencamp is a hero of the American heartland rock genre, mostly known for a vast array of his chart-topping singles from the ’80s such as “Hurts So Good,” “Jack & Diane,” “Crumblin’ Down,” “Pink Houses,” “Lonely Ol’ Night,” “Small Town,” “R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A.,” “Paper in Fire,” and “Cherry Bomb.”
John formed his first band at the age of 14, and by the time he was 18 he already eloped with his pregnant girlfriend, becoming a father six months after graduating high school. His daughter Michelle became a mother at age 19, making John a grandfather at 37.
Back to his musical career, John released his debut album “Chestnut Street Incident” in 1976, garnering nothing but mild success, much like his next three albums, 1978’s “A Biography,” 1979’s “John Cougar, and 1980’s “Nothin’ Matters and What If It Did.”
The success finally knocked on John’s door in 1982 with his fifth studio album “American Fool.” Thanks to lead singles “Hurts So Good” and “Jack & Dianne,” the record debuted at No. 1 on the US Billboard 200 chart and ultimately sold over 5 million units around the world.
It is worth noting that despite his rebel image, John never advocated alcohol and drug abuse. Apart from his nicotine consumptions issues, he was living a straight-edge life.
Back to Mr. Cougar’s musical journey, John’s next major step took place in 1987 with the release of his eight studio album “Scarecrow.” With three top 10 hits, the record debuted at No. 2 on the US Billboard 200 chart and remains John’s second highest-charting release to date.
What makes Mellencamp stand out from some of his fellow classic rockers is the constant studio activity. He is always busy in the studio and typically releasing albums with gaps no bigger than one to four years. He always emphasizes that his passion for writing music easily overshadows the desire for commercial success despite the fact that he sold well over 40 million albums worldwide.
Mellencamp is also known for somewhat turmoil-fueled personal relationships. He had three marriages, resulting in five kids and three divorces. He is currently dating popular actress Meg Ryan.
Back to the music track once again, John’s constant studio activity hasn’t lost its spark even in the modern times when classic rock giants evade studios due to the crush of record industry. Even in the grunge-riddled ’90s, John presented six studio albums. The piracy-rich 2000s came along, and so did four Mellencamp albums. And as the 2010 are possibly marking the complete crash of the industry, ole Johnny has unveiled two brand new albums.
His latest studio effort, “Plain Spoken,” saw its release in September 2014, marking an impressive No. 22 in John’s catalogue. The world keeps spinning and this cowboys is hanging in there; after all, “they say life goes on long after the thrill of living.”
