Marc Hauser/Republic RecordsA new exhibit focusing on John Mellencamp‘s life and his multifaceted career as a creative artist will open this Thursday, November 10, at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland.
Titled simply “Mellencamp,” the exhibit will tell the heartland rocker’s story from his early pop success under the stage name John Cougar to his development as a mature and insightful songwriter and beyond, while also looking at his career as a visual artist and his philanthropic work a co-founder of Farm Aid. The attraction will feature more than 100 pieces of memorabilia, most from John’s personal collection.
Among the items that will go on display are Mellencamp’s handwritten lyrics to such classic songs as to “Small Town,” “R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A.,” “Cherry Bomb” and “Pop Singer”; the Dove acoustic guitar John used for recording and live shows from the 1970s through the 1990s; six of his original paintings; stage outfits; rare photos; and the singer’s 1966 silver Honda Scrambler 305 motorcycle. Visitors also will be able to watch segments of a lengthy video interview conducted with Mellencamp specifically for the exhibition.
“I would like this exhibit to let people know, or discover, that I really have spent my entire life living the way that I want to live, and doing what I want to do,” says Mellencamp, who was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2008. “And, that I consider myself the luckiest guy in the world for being able to do that.”
The “Mellencamp” exhibit will be housed at themuseum’s Ahmet Ertegun Main Exhibition Hall.
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