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NEWS > ENTERTAINMENT > JOHN MELLENCAMP REPORTEDLY NEAR DEATH IN A SMALL TOWN
JOHN MELLENCAMP REPORTEDLY NEAR DEATH IN A SMALL TOWN
July 21 2010
Seymour, IN – In the early 1980’s the music scene was dominated by synth pop, heavy metal and the early days of hip hop. For the industry it was a schizophrenic time with artists as diverse as Judas Priest, Kenny Rogers, and Laura Branigan all 
sharing the pop charts. Much of that music was heavily criticized for its superficial nature and time has largely borne out those criticisms with few artists from that generation still producing music and the music they did create now seen as quaint and antiquated.
Still, there were voices of conscience and musical longevity that arrived in that era. U2 first established themselves in the early part of that decade, as REM, Sonic Youth, Ministry, New Order, The Police, and Metallica. Other artists such as David Bowie and Frank Zappa produced seminal works in that period, meaning that the period wasn’t a total loss for human culture. In the midst of all those future stars and soon-to-be-forgottens two artists emerged in that decade that spoke to middle America and became for an entire generation the spokesmen of the generation. Those two men were the venerable and widely respected Bruce Springsteen and his slightly less popular and acclaimed stable mate John Mellencamp. For Springsteen success has continued to flow well into the 21st century and for Mellencamp the modern world has been a little tougher, something even more apparent with word that he is near death in a small town.
“His spirits are high but the reality of the situation is really sinking in with him. He realizes how badly things have been going of late and even though he doesn’t want to hear it, he understands completely what the doctors are saying. He’s tough but his toughness only goes so far,” said a Mellencamp insider. “Luckily he’s back in this small town. That gives him a lot of hope and lot of strength and he feels like he can breathe in this small town. He knows that even if he beats this thing this time ultimately he’s gonna die in a small town and that’s probably where we’ll bury him.”
It’s not clear what illness Mellencamp is suffering from or when he might die. His career has been largely dead for two decades now.
“John Mellencamp was always the pop version of Bruce Springsteen and that did him well for a little while but ultimately strong musicianship and a real intellectual depth served the Boss better, as it usually does. Mellencamp painted a picture of how people wanted America to be, Springsteen painted it how it was and the truth always wins out,” said Scrape TV Music analyst Dylan Chambers. “That said he has built up a loyal fan base and made quite a good living for himself which is more than most small town boys can claim. He ultimately won’t be as well remembered when he passes on as Springsteen there will be a handful of people who will be blasting ‘Little Pink Houses’ when that day comes.”
Mellencamp’s wife, former super model Elaine Irwin, is reportedly at his side.
“Mellencamp’s legacy won’t be on that music historians will be exploring in the future, it just isn’t, but that doesn’t make his work any less valid for his fans. Music is music no matter your taste and these notions of quality versus, well whatever it is he produced are really moot when it comes to singing in the shower,” continued Chambers. “Back in the day his songs certainly were catchy and even now that handful of titles can still get you shakin’ a little so even if they fall into the past alongside him in that small town, well I mean he still lived his life.”
Mellencamp is reportedly resting comfortably in a bed in that small town.
Samantha Dryden, Entertainment Correspondent
NEWS > ENTERTAINMENT > JOHN MELLENCAMP REPORTEDLY NEAR DEATH IN A SMALL TOWN
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