View this email at http://media.mellencamp.com/email/09_05_2008.html
Web Site Exclusive: Mellencamp Covers "The Times They Are A-Changin'"
John has posted a home video of himself performing Bob Dylan's "The Times They Are A- Changing'" on Mellencamp.com. WATCH IT NOW. Here is the text that accompanies the video:
One of the resounding themes of this election year is change.
"Change we can believe in" is Barack Obama's key campaign slogan, and as this is written, the Republicans are hailing John McCain's vice presidential choice Sarah Palin as a "change agent."
Be that as it may, this remarkable moment in our nation's history has for very many evoked the sense of hope from 40 years ago, when for a brief moment leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King and Robert F. Kennedy truly embodied change.
That moment was musically foreshadowed in 1964 by the title track of Bob Dylan's third album, "The Times They Are A-Changin'." But this veritable battle-cry for a generation ("Come senators, congressmen, please heed the call") has never seemed more timely than now. And now John Mellencamp, with this homemade, Web site-only performance, offers it to a new generation at a time of renewed hope.
Dylan, of course, was one of Mellencamp's biggest influences.
Mellencamp performed "Like A Rolling Stone" during 1988 "Lonesome Jubilee" tour stops (a live version of the song was included as a B-side) and also sang it and "Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat" for "The 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration" at Madison Square Garden in 1992 (both songs are included in the commemorative album). Also that year he performed "All Along the Watchtower" on "MTV Unplugged" and in 2003 he did "Highway 61 Revisited" at shows and for "Sessions @ AOL."
He covered Dylan's "Farewell Angelina" on his "Rough Harvest" album, and even directed the video for Dylan's "Political World" track from his 1989 album "Oh Mercy" (if you look closely you can spot Mellencamp's guitarist Mike Wanchic playing in Dylan's band). Both artists also appeared in "A Vision Shared: A Tribute To Woody Guthrie & Leadbelly," a 1991 documentary including performances by artists influenced by the two folk music legends (Mellencamp, like Dylan before him, was hugely influenced by Guthrie).
As for "The Times They Are a-Changin'," Mellencamp's "Peaceful World," which addressed racism and saluted the words of Dr. King, echoed the Dylan song's most powerful line ("Please get out of the new [road] if you can't lend your hand") with "if you're not part of the future then get out of the way." Here, on this new Web site exclusive, he goes directly to the source in reliving the once-again relevant ideals of the past. - jim bessman
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Mellencamp to Sing "Notes of Hope"
As part of events surrounding the 7th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, John Mellencamp will perform at the first annual "Notes of Hope" dinner in New York to benefit the National September 11 Memorial & Museum (VISIT WEBSITE).
Mayor Michael Bloomberg will host the $1,000-a-plate benefit dinner, which will take place Sept. 9 at Cipriani Wall Street and will star actor/comedian Denis Leary as MC. Also performing is acclaimed Russian piano virtuoso Lola Astanova.
The National September 11 Memorial & Museum is currently under construction at the World Trade Center site and will feature twin reflecting pools built over the Twin Towers' footprints at ground zero, surrounded by a plaza of oak trees. The building materials include steel beams that have toured the country and have been inscribed with "Notes of Hope" containing the reflections and thoughts on 9/11 written by tens of thousands of Americans.
"No matter where you were on that day, every American was affected by the events of 9/11," said Mellencamp. "All of us came together as one people in support of each other back then. The hope is that this national memorial will remind us again about how much we all have in common and at stake. I'm proud to support its creation."
The benefit dinner will also honor several individuals, including Tribeca Film Festival founders Robert De Niro, Craig Hatkoff, and Jane Rosenthal, who will be presented with the Distinction in Rebuilding award recognizing their work in helping revitalize Lower Manhattan. Click HERE for more info about the event, click HERE for ticket details.
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Vote for John's "My Sweet Love" Video on VH1, CMT and GAC!
As members of the Mellencamp mailing list, we know you are one of John's most devoted fans and we could use your help!
"My Sweet Love" is in video rotation on VH1, CMT and GAC and is eligible for the top video countdown on all of these networks. If you can take a minute every day and show your support of this great Mellencamp song, by simply casting your vote, you can help it climb the charts.
VH1's Top 20 Video Countdown: The video is just outside of the Top 20, which airs Saturday mornings at 9 AM ET, but we need YOUR VOTES TODAY to help get it over the top! Please be sure to log on and vote EVERY DAY!
CMT's Top 20 Countdown: Voting opens at 6 AM each Monday and closes at midnight the following Sunday. To vote, click the link above, select John's video and hit VOTE! It's as easy as that!
GAC: The video is featured on their website as a Top Picks Video, go there and watch it daily to help push it up their charts!
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Farm Aid 2008 to Air LIVE on DirecTV
Farm Aid has announced that its Sept. 20 New England music festival will be broadcast live on DIRECTV's The 101 Network, which reaches more than 17 million viewers. This broadcast will mark the first time that Farm Aid's annual benefit concert airs live in HD.
The show will broadcast from Farm Aid 2008 at the Comcast Center near Boston. The show will feature performances by Farm Aid president and founder Willie Nelson; board members Neil Young, John Mellencamp and Dave Matthews, along with others including Kenny Chesney. Coverage on The 101 Network will begin at 4 p.m. and end at 11 p.m.
For those that do not have DirecTV, FarmAid.org will also feature a free live webcast of the entire concert starting at 4pm.
Farm Aid also announced that The Pretenders, moe., Arlo Guthrie, Jerry Lee Lewis, Nation Beat, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, Jakob Dylan and The Gold Mountain Rebels, Danielle Evin, Jamey Johnson, Jesse Lenat, Will Dailey and One Flew South will join previously announced performers Nelson, Young, Mellencamp, Matthews and Chesney.
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John Mellencamp "My Sweet Love" Social Network Contest
Help blast John Mellencamp's new single "My Sweet Love" out speakers across the internet and win an autographed Fender Squier Telecaster Guitar!
Mellencamp.com and Hear Music are sponsoring a contest to help spread the word about John's awesome new album, Life, Death, Love and Freedom, and his new single.
To enter, post the audio or video for John's "My Sweet Love" to your personal social networking websites (MySpace, Facebook, iLike, Imeem, YouTube, etc). Then come back to Mellencamp.com and enter your information and the URL(s) of your personal site(s) into the contest form. On September 8, 2008 we will select from the submissions the grand prize winner (the Mellencamp autographed guitar) and two runner up prizes ($100 Best Buy gift card)!
Click HERE for more information about embedding songs into your profile. Click HERE to tell your fellow Mellenheads what pages YOU have put "My Sweet Love!
Post "My Sweet Love" up on your page and ENTER TODAY!
Club Cherry Bomb Farm Aid 2008 Auction
Guitar String Bracelets Highlight Club Cherry Bomb's Farm Aid Charity Auction
Bidding continues for Club Cherry Bomb's 4th Annual Farm Aid Charity Auction, and among this year's goodies is an exclusive: John Mellencamp Guitar String Bracelets.
Six bracelets made from Mellencamp's acoustic and electric guitar strings are available. Bids start at $75 each.
The bracelets and the other memorabilia up for auction are all donated by Mellenheads (Mellencamp fans, for the uninitiated) and sent to John's for signing before being bid upon via email on the Club message board.
"From the small towns across the U.S., we, as John Mellencamp fans, pull together each year to help raise money in support of the Farm Aid cause and to assist the family farmer in providing the American people with safe, fresh and locally grown organic food," explains Sharon C, coordinator of the Club's Farm Aid activities.
Said to be the only fan club that helps support Farm Aid, Club Cherry Bomb, along with the members of the Human Wheels Mailings list adds Sharon C, raised $2,500 from last year's auction, up from $2,100 in 2006 and $1,615 in 2005.
This year's bids must be in by Sept. 8. Click HERE to see images of all of the items and for more information about bidding. The merchandise being offered includes:
* A framed "Mr. Happy Go Lucky" Poster - Autographed by John
* A vintage Australian John Cougar T Shirt - Autographed by John
* The 2007 NFL Kickoff Poster from the Indianapolis Colts Kickoff game in Indiana - Autographed by John
* A 1985 Farm Aid silk jacket and sticker - Autographed by John
* A rare "Trouble No More" poster - Autographed by John
* A Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame simulcast poster and magnet - Autographed by John
* An "American Fool" cardboard stand-up - Autographed by John
* A framed John Cougar Mellencamp poster - Autographed by John
* An ASCAP program from last year's prestigious Champion Award presentation to Mellencamp - Autographed by John
* A book bag, set list, program, Mellencamp guitar pick, and Dane Clark's drumsticks from Mellencamp's benefit concert at New York's Housing Works Bookstore - Autographed by John
* A Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame program also signed by the Ventures' Nokie Edwards and Don Wilson, Leon Huff from Gamble and Huff, and Rick Huxley of The Dave Clark Five
* A framed "Little Pink Houses For You And Me" sheet
* A framed "Life, Death, Love And Freedom" sheet
* A "The Lonesome Jubilee" varsity jacket
All funds raised will be credited to "The members of ClubCherryBomb.net - The John Mellencamp Fan Club," with the total collected to be presented by the Club at Farm Aid.
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Club Cherry Bomb - The Official John Mellencamp Fan Club provides Mellencamp fans insider access to John's career. The Club is a great way to meet other Mellencamp fans, learn more about John, and experience great member's only access. Visit www.clubcherrybomb.net to join today!
For a $40 annual membership fee, members will receive the following Club benefits:
Access to premium John Mellencamp concert tickets in advance of the public on sale.
Member's only Club website featuring: news and updates, multimedia content, message board, Minutes to Memories Online Fan Journal, online membership card, and JohnMellencamp.com email address.
Member's only contests including: autographed items, CD's, posters, concert tickets, and more!
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