Cherry Bomb-The Runaways 1976
Cherry Bomb-John Mellencamp 1987

China Girl-John Mellencamp 1982
China Girl-David Bowie 1983

Miami-John Mellencamp 1979
Miami-Bob Seger 1986

This Time-John Mellencamp 1980
This Time Bryan Adams 1983

Posted by Aaron O'Donnell on Saturday, 10/12/2013 @ 12:36pm

One of the greatest RRHOF decisions was to elect John Mellencamp.I guess induct is the better word choice. Carried the Heartland baton when Dylan,Seger,etc. started it rolling.

Such timeless songs.Mellencamp songs told beautiful Midwestern stories.He even wrote about his life,his mistakes,& the common man.

Mellencamp was brilliant in bringing issues to light. His angry & soaring vocals on Scarecrow illustrated the plight of generations of farmers losing their farms. Love most of his songs. So many hits:Jack & Diane,Hurts So Good,What If I Came Knocking, Pink Houses,The Authority,R.O.C.K in the U.S.A. etc.

I see Mellencamp & Tom Petty similarly. Made so many sheer volume of great songs over a period of time.Had to be inducted.

Two things tipping the scales in John Mellencamp favor:1.He was one of the leading artists starting up The Farm Aid concerts.2.The excellent Cutting Heads CD which broadened his appeal to a newer younger audience. KING

Posted by KING on Thursday, 02/20/2014 @ 14:00pm

Saw him last weekend in St. Louis! Very great show. Did a lot of his new songs (which were actually pretty good) and his 80s classics. No middle ground, meaning hardly any 90s or 2000s stuff. Still, no complaining. He still knows how to pack a house, and rock it! I can tell he's kind of showing his age, judging by the way he was walking. Maybe its just me. Either way, he's a legend in his own right. I hope to continue to my quest to see more RRHOFers this summer

Posted by Jason Voigt on Saturday, 06/6/2015 @ 23:51pm

The recent death of Tom Petty makes me hope God gives Mr. Mellencamp another 5-10 years hopefully more. I have always lumped Mellencamp & Petty together since they both have October birthdays and had a large volume of quality songs. Authentic singers. Both have their rightful place in the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. An early 66 birthday salute to John Mellencamp October 7th. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Nominees unveiled tomorrow October 5. Should be very interesting. They will have to play a few Petty songs in the final jam at the April RRHOF induction ceremony. KING

Posted by KING on Wednesday, 10/4/2017 @ 16:58pm

2018 Songwriter Hall of Fame inductee!

Posted by Roy on Sunday, 02/11/2018 @ 17:10pm