"John Mellencamp is not your typical rock star. Not only has he absorbed into his own work the influence of Faulkner, Williams, Steinbeck, and other such literary giants, but he himself could have stepped straight from the pages of any of their great American novels. A complex, colorful, and larger than life character, Mellencamp, like Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash before him, walks to the beat of his own drum. Or, as he told author and veteran music journalist Paul Rees: 'I just refuse to take shit off anyone.' [This book charts] the life of one of the most fascinating characters in all of American music"--
(Book). Foreword by Neil Peart. Talent, energy, dedication, discipline, passion, innovation, education, drive, mind, body, spirit, vision, honor, truth, and drums make the man: Kenny Aronoff. Voted by Rolling Stone magazine as one of the greatest drummers of all time, Aronoff is arguably the most sought-after recording and touring beat master ever. Ignited by the Beatles' appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964, Aronoff's passion for drumming fervently grew and carried him from the kit in his childhood living room in the Berkshires to Bernstein at Tanglewood to Mellencamp, Etheridge, Fogerty, Smashing Pumpkins, the Rolling Stones, the Beatles his heroes and beyond. But none of this would have been possible without his fierce work ethic and unique approach to drumming an integration of all parts of his being, along with meticulous attention to note-for-note detail, feel, and what the song needs . Both a leader and a team player in the mission to realize a greater good an unforgettable recording, a riveting show Aronoff brings it every time. Through any setbacks heartaches, failures, injuries, or plain fatigue from the rigors of the biz Aronoff has stayed the arduous and wild rock 'n' roll course. His tale of what is possible with unrelenting dedication to one's bliss is an inspiration to all. Sex, Drums, Rock 'n' Roll! details Aronoff's youth in the Berkshires and the Midwest, from his early inspirations to his serious classical and jazz study, which gave him the foundation to be able to play anything. The failure of a first rock band in his early twenties had a silver lining: it freed him up for an audition that would change his life John Mellencamp. His work with Mellencamp catapulted Aronoff to the top of the charts with such hits as "Hurt So Good," "Little Pink Houses," and "Jack and Diane" and paved the way for session and recording work with droves of remarkable artists: Melissa Etheridge, John Fogerty, Bon Jovi, Stevie Nicks, Smashing Pumpkins, the BoDeans, Paul Westerberg, Celine Dion, Iggy Pop, Elton John, Bob Dylan, Alice Cooper, Brian Wilson, Meat Loaf, Joe Cocker, and countless others. In addition to his work as a world-famous recording and touring drummer, Aronoff finds time to be a dedicated teacher and has shared his expertise with students all over the world, teaching clinics for Tama and Zildjian. Heading into his fourth decade of rocking hard, Aronoff shows no signs of slowing down. Featuring rare photos, testimonials from major artists and from those who know him best, a chronology of live performances, a discography, and a foreword by Neil Peart, this book is the story of one of the greatest musicians of all time.
Includes: I Need a Lover * Hurts So Good * Jack and Diane * Crumblin' Down * Authority Song * Lonely Ol' Night * Rain on the Scarecrow * plus many more!
John Mellencamp is one if the true Renaissance men of popular music. In the public spotlight for over twenty-five years, with a string of number one hits and multiplatinum records side to his artistic talent that is celebrated in the full-color selection of evocation paintings.Mellencamp began pursuing oil painting in 1988 as a means of further artistic exploration. His first subjects were friends, family, and landscapes reminiscent of the French impressionists, which have since evolved into a personal style of portraiture.Critics have drawn parallels between Mellencamp's work and the dark, shadowy paintings of the German expressionists. Mellencamp believes in art as a means of self-exploration and as an incentive to make people more curious about the world. He has exhibited extensively in the Midwest and the South, and most of his paintings have been purchased for private collections.With seventy-five full-color representations if the artist's favorite paintings, twenty-five black-and-white photographs taken from his personal collection, and an introduction by Billboard magazine's editor-in-chief, Timothy White, Mellencamp: Paintings and Reflections is the perfect gift for any Mellencamp fan or anyone who appreciates fine art. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
This heartland hero's '07 offering is "a rootsy, excellent blend of electric & acoustic guitars, fiddle, big fat drums, and lots of space," according to the All Music Guide. Our folio features all 10 tunes: Ghosts Along the Highway * Heaven Is a Lonely Place * Our Country * Someday * more.
Traces the history of Cleveland's WMMS radio station from 1973 to 1986, exploring how the station helped recreate rockradio and the city of Cleveland by showcasing new, influential musicians and inspiring listeners.
The First Definitive Biography of John Mellencamp! Johnny Cougar⦠John Cougar Mellencamp⦠John Mellencamp⦠the name may have changed but the man has remained a steadfast champion of American roots music and rock ânâ roll for over thirty years. Featuring interviews with everyone from childhood friends to band members, producers and engineers, this is a portrait of the real man who grew up in Indiana and still lives there todayâa passionate musician and a tireless campaigner for the lifestyle and values of the American family farmer. Here then is the complete John Mellencamp story, tracking his progress as he matured from youthful rocker with a made-up name to major star with a social conscience. It is a journey typified by his 2007 release Freedom Road, an impassioned call to arms to rediscover Americaâs founding traditions of freedom, justice and never-say-die spirit. Itâs an unlikely story but in the end an inspirational one that reveals a remarkable and unique fusion of heartland values and rock ânâ roll stardom. Fully Illustrated.
The best, most provocative reviews, interviews, columns, and essays written by the entertaining, idiosyncratic, and influential music writer Chuck Eddy over the past twenty-five years.
Los Angeles music journalist Dean Goodman sneaks you backstage to hang with righteous reporters, paranoid publicists, and surly stars. "Strange Days" documents unusual encounters with 22 musicians and bands, from a tearful David Bowie and a gloomy Michael Hutchence, to warring members of the Doors, Aerosmith, Guns N' Roses and Lynyrd Skynyrd
