John Mellencamp talks touring, 'American Dream', artistic process at namesake IU event

When the “greatest musician in the state” lives just down the road, the Indiana University community gets to have an inside look at his life and his accomplished career as a singer-songwriter, painter and activist.

John Mellencamp candidly spoke about growing up, his artistic process and lessons learned during his decades-long career at a namesake symposium Friday. The event was a full day of scholars, music industry insiders and authors examining how Mellencamp’s career as an artist and activist has had a rippling social and cultural influence.

The few hundred people in attendance were different from the average conference crowd. They jostled anxiously in their seats, peaking over their shoulders while waiting. Conversations about concert memories and niche songs accompanied an instrumental Mellencamp playlist. When he walked into the hall, they gave him the welcome he’s used to seeing.

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Quips with longtime Rolling Stone reporter Anthony DeCurtis, name drops of Bruce Springsteen and other prominent artists as well as his light-hearted and frequent cussing endeared attendees. Just like he would at a concert venue, he knew how to work the crowd.

A common theme from his art and music that Mellencamp covered at the event was the “American Dream” and failures. Growing up in Seymour, Indiana, he said he had no idea what that notion meant, and later in life, came to understand that it’s an idea that looks better on paper.

At 12, he started playing music and realized the pull it had with picking up girls — so he stuck with it. Mellencamp repeatedly described himself as a “bar singer” and added he played at The Bluebird in downtown Bloomington. When asked to write new material for a record deal as a young musician, he asked himself why he was worthy of making his own original music.

“Anything that I could say could be said better or has been said better by somebody else,” Mellencamp said.

After decades of doing the thing he said he couldn’t do and creating 23 studio albums, Mellencamp gave the crowd some advice. He said a person cannot direct a song to be about a topic, but instead, a song needs to create itself and come naturally.

“True art is when the artist is surprised himself,” he said. “If the artist is surprised, you could well imagine how surprised the listener's going to be.”

DeCurtis asked if he’s ever experienced writer’s block, to which Mellencamp definitely answered no and added “look out the window.” Mellencamp said he’s written hundreds of bad songs, but practicing everyday and committing oneself to the process of creating art is how someone can become good at it.

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When it comes to performing, Mellencamp said he’s started to reincorporate some older songs he hasn’t played in years back into his sets. Songs can bring a person back to a specific moment in their life like no other medium, he said, but now, his music also is taking on new meaning as he’s aged.

His tour dates are no longer in large venues, and Mellencamp said that wasn’t because he couldn’t fill them. He made that decision after two people died at a three-show stretch he played years ago. Crowd control became a big issue, he said, and his concerts were devolving into a bar-like party atmosphere. Now, he expects his audiences to be respectful and to conduct themselves so everyone can appreciate what they came for: the music.

“If you're going to disrupt that, get the f--- out — that simple,” he said.

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Mellencamp changed gears at times to dip into his political views. He warned that “this country is not in good shape” and talked about how a once thriving Texas town he stayed in 10 or 15 years ago now looks desolate. He also later said people need to mind their own business, especially when it comes to the lives of people in the LGBTQ community.

“I never had a clue what I was doing. I've never planned anything in my life. I've never done anything for money. I've never done anything for fame,” Mellencamp said. “I only tried to figure out how to improve myself and the people that I have around me and do the best that we could do with what we had.”

Timing the Mellencamp seminar, future events

It wasn’t too difficult for the event organizers to get the musician on board for the event, but the pandemic did set back the timeline. Doug Booher, assistant vice president of events and conferences, said they initially started planning the academic seminar years ago during the university’s bicentennial. It was perfect timing to flesh out the program when Mellencamp embarked on his new tour earlier last month. Booher said there are no current plans to make the event an annual occurrence, but there will likely be other events and celebrations as this newly strengthened partnership develops.

“We're really excited to be able to embark on this journey with him, particularly in the incredible gift that he's partnering with us to host his archives,” Booher said. “The opportunities are limitless.”

The event also served a capstone for what has been a long relationship between the artist and the university. Previously, Mellencamp donated $1.5 million in 1996 to which the university dedicated a pavilion used by IU athletes in his honor. Multiple IU officials said he supports the university routinely and without the need for public recognition in exchange.

At its conclusion, IU President Pamela Whitten announced Mellencamp will be donating a collection of artifacts and memorabilia to be housed at the university. Additionally, a statue in his honor will be constructed near the IU Auditorium, and an exhibit of Mellencamp’s paintings will be on display at the Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art sometime in the next year.

While many present thought they were lucky to see the rocker in-person, Mellencamp insists he’s the lucky one. After surviving a high-risk surgery as a child to correct his spina bifida, he said it’s a miracle he was able to live the life he has had.

“I do believe you have angels, and if you believe you have angels, you have them — whether you really do believe in it,” he said. “I know I've got that around me right now.”

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: John Mellencamp talks touring, music, artistry at Indiana University