John Mellencamp Biography

Fast Facts

• Was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2008
• Helped to organize the first Farm Aid concert in 1985 and has continued to work for the charity ever since
• Was born with spina bifida, a condition that at the time had no effective surgical correction, until a doctor in Indianapolis attempted an experimental operation on him
• His breakthrough album came in 1982 with "American Fool," a chart-topping album that included the songs "Hurts So Good" and "Jack & Diane․"
• Joined his first music group, a cover band called Crepe Soul, in his early teenage years
• Released his first album, "Chestnut Street Incident," under the name Johnny Cougar in 1976
• Quote: "Music was so important to the culture when I was growing up in the sixties and seventies ․․․ It's not like that today, because nobody ․․․ cares about the music․ Music does not speak the way it used to for my generation․"
• Rock musician and singer-songwriter whose hit songs include "Hurts So Good," "Jack & Diane" and "Crumblin' Down․"