European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - January 22, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse A hero s Welcome for John Cougar Mellencamp Story and photo by Anita Gosch staff writer John Cougar l know what to t or cd when to planned tar eight cily of Europe Nal Tho Indiana Rocker got War. A lot More than he had bargained Lor sold out con cd halts in nearly each town a second How in London s 3.400 capacity Hammersmith Odeon and an enthusiastic crowd wherever tie performed we weren t sure How in was going to said Larry Crane. Mellencamp s Guil Anst for the past 15 years i m Prilly surprised because i did l Thinh to d at race this Many people the numbers and How they Crane live Mellencamp a native of Seymour and. Agreed loan interview just before the band s recent performance in Mannheim Germany Mellencamp himself Van i talking to Iho press ii my encamp was concerned Aboul the europeans to his shows Iho american starts not As Well known Here he did t Neon to worry about Tho response of his Tellow countrymen americans came in drones to the of ran Turl and Mannheim concerts this week in lad in Mannheim s 2.500-sual Rosen Kjarten bringing 6ac memo let of Home american Rocker Mil encamp in concert in Frankfurt Page 16 the stars an d Stripe s Friday. January 22.1933 the1/ outnumbered the by ii Casl two of one. And they sure gave Mellencamp a hero s Welcome. Banners hanging from the Balcony proclaimed allegiance to the Singer s Home Lurl the Midwest sad a and from Indiana u we love you in Germany Indiana s .-, and faded Seymour t Atli dolled one shirt expressed Itiat probably Man the of Iindinn. Sentiment in Tho concil Halls Amon can and proud of in when mall encamp Sauna Rod on stage to Iho opening bars of paper in fire a Roar burst through the Halls Bolh Nihls As the lans paid homage to their King the excitement never let up the american lans Sang along to every word of every song dancing in Iho aisles from Iho Start a lot of those Guys Are away from Tome for the first Lino in their lives so any connection they got with Home they re just Gonna go said Crane. One Guy us blurted Oul United Stales of America that was it thai s All to said " Al least one of Whoso Guys in Mannheim agreed that mall encamp s music and his syncs of Smalt town America brought Back memories for stove Merkel a 23 Yoa. Old native of is Joseph. Mich. At s Hometown Lulf the kind of Stull be a Claro to " slut even europeans can relate to the music. Mil encamp puts on Orro hell of a show 2vi hours Wilh a 20-Rninute intermission of Slraight ahead. No units Rock n rail. Without mincing Orts. Tho 37-year old tears through some 22 tunes reaching a Lar Back As Iho 1982 hits Jack Ana Diane and hulls so Good spanning the albums Ohhi hand scarecrow to last year s Rhc Loneso pc Jub Tacq. Among the Choice numbers Are Iho pm houses and Rock Mth Cusa Ane lond cd version of toy a 1&. During which Mellencamp Breaks into Van Morrison s Dos hit a Torii and Iho Tiggs wild Jami a. And an a oust c hand to hold on to in ring Wilh Sam cookers Chain gang for his first encore Melloncamp performs what to Calls the Best song Hal Ever ," Dob Dylan s like n rolling Stone despite the Assort men of unusual instruments on stage fiddle i Ilo mor. Lap sled guitar Dobro and Mellencamp stand tight backup As one Ian put in the nine performers Como Acinas As one big Happy Amily. The musicians enthusiasm coupled with the jubilant atmosphere in Tho concur Hall Makos one quickly Sorgel Iho gloom and despair Iho hard limes and hard fuck depicted in Many of mall encamp s Lunea. If in seems like we re having a Good Lime it s probably because we Are said Cone. Once the Sorf is written and the message is Oul you might As Wall Juat have fun playing the part of the reason Lor the Good Lime is Iho Small i c Ollic Halls in the european tour compared to the r,lidiuni5 Iho band has become accustomed to playing in the uni cd Stales it s been a Long time. Crane said since the hand has performed in a Hall in which the audience la actually leaning on uie stage. It s kind of fun. It s like a real Rock n Roll show again instead of these big fairly impersonal Bui the relaxed Altitude on Slago ii deceiving. Melloncamp s concerts Are highly structured choreographed performances the musicians have their rotes Down Pat Many of the songs in the Sci Are porno Rcd exactly the Way they arc on the albums. Ando of an occasional sprint Inlo 60s lunch there is Little Roo to jamming. It s not really our style and it s not what we do tics said Crane and to find that modern audiences gel bored Wilh thai the one disappointment in the show i Mellencamp s impersonal Slage Persona Tho Singer hardly lacks to Hie audience he Only announces a Lew of the songs and introduces die . Contact Wilh Iho crowd is limited loan occasional shake of an Ouist Clit cd hand even then he avoids Eye Contact and the Loutfic pulling on stage of a male fan losing Tho chorus of i raft houses communication comes Sli icily through Tho music. Tho fans appreciation of that music must make even Mil encamp feel at Homer for the encore Iho Singer icks Oil his Cowboy boots and appears on stage in stockinged Leet
