Centered on IndyStar, John Mellencamp is one of about three brothers, more youthful brother off Joe Mellencamp. Joe had a guy off his personal, Ian Mellencamp, which he raised in the Cincinnati town. The famous stone star's nephew searched his very own path to glory about 2000s. The guy played football at the Indiana College–Purdue School Indianapolis and you may went over to a career all together of your finest male habits worldwide to possess a spell, looking within the large-profile tips for Ralph Lauren, The Pit, and you can Calvin Klein. He is and additionally a musician, using a ring entitled Bluf and you will establishing this new electronic-tinged "Visions" EP not as much as his personal name when you look at the 2013 and "Love for the D" from inside the 2019.

More recently, Ian Mellencamp suffered with a huge wellness scare. From inside the , the guy undergone open-heart surgery, predicated on his Instagram webpage, where the guy released a photograph from himself having a big scar for the their breasts. Mellencamp recovered on ordeal, which often afflicts some one far older than those in the very early 30s.

His young brother died

John wasn't the only real Mellencamp relative so you can ply their change regarding music industry. Their more youthful sis, Ted Mellencamp, remaining a mark on the top rock audio of your own eighties, too.

Centered on Voss and you can Sons (through Obitio), Ted Mellencamp spent almost the fresh new totality of your seventies working as an excellent journeyman electrician, prior to the guy got the phone call to 1980 to join elderly sister John on the go, and try to be his tour director, immediately following his singing career come to cut off. Ted parlayed their achievements controlling the road factors regarding a well known rock work towards the a job once the a promotional affiliate having Polygram Details, where the guy aided shape the newest production and you can picture of acts such as for instance Def Leppard, Kiss, Rips to own Worries, Kool therefore the Group, Scorpions, and you will John Mellencamp.

John Mellencamp does not consider we realize our selves

During the 2022, John Mellencamp put out their 24th facility album, "Strictly a one-Eyed Jack." It absolutely was a departure away from Mellencamp's well-known and best-identified work with many ways. Extremely substantially, their voice songs drastically some other on twenty-first millennium than it did regarding 1980s. "We had been laughing, as soon as we was in fact making it checklist, it was including, 'John, your voice has evolved much as you already been.' And that i told you, 'Well, the new tobacco are starting to settle,'" the guy explained to Forbes, arguing you to definitely their prodigious cigarette smoking habit triggered his sound to be like regarding one of his sounds heroes, Louis Armstrong. "It was not one thing I tried accomplish, it's just you to definitely smokes grab the f***ing toll in your vocal cables."

The message out-of "Purely a-one-Eyed Jack" was also far-removed out-of Mellencamp's '80s output regarding socially-mindful and you will serious party audio. The songs was ebony, troubled, and you may unsettled, and you can mirror Mellencamp's worldview when he enacted 70 years of age. "What I've discovered inside my ancient ages is that we're all in single confinement in our own skins, therefore we don't very familiarize yourself with individuals," he advised NPR's "Day Version." The guy hammers that insight house toward list, alternately singing which he "usually lays so you're able to visitors" hence "the nation is run by males more jagged than just me."

John Mellencamp is a teenage dad

That idea p suffered a stroke into the 1994 during the seemingly early age from 42. "I didn't feel great, I became on trip, and i returned to help you Bloomington [Indiana], in which they have genuine dp told you on the Late Let you know having David Letterman (through United states Weekly). "He examined me personally in which he said, 'You've got a heart attack.' I went nuts. We called your all things in the publication. The guy said, 'John, you can state everything you need to me personally otherwise work any means need, but a primary-season medical pupil will show you you have had a coronary arrest.'" Nevertheless, Mellencamp don't quit smoking cigarettes – he told The new Georgia Straight (via Ear canal of Newt) in the 1999 which he did reduce in the past . of four packs day to one.

John Mellencamp's close friend and you can songwriting spouse died out of the blue

"My personal man and i got conditions," Mellencamp told you to your "The brand new Later Reveal having David Letterman" whenever inquired about brand new wound. "The guy had a punch in the and that i didn't," Mellencamp added. One to child: 18-year-old Speck. "He or she is 6'2" and weighs in at nearly two hundred lbs." Letterman incredulously pondered, "What makes your selecting a fight with a kid?" Mellencamp coyly demurred. "My personal kid punches myself and you may my father phone calls myself up and claims, 'John you need to alter your thoughts.'"