European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 2, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse Entertainment / message from the heartland John Mellencamp rocks Frankfurt at age 40, John. Mellencamp shows no sign of slowing Down. S4s Ron Mckinney by Ron Mckinney staff writer an energetic John Mellencamp returned to the Frankfurt fest Halle on saturday night with hard edged guitar chords that match the Darker lyrics of his latest albums. The 2 i hour show kicked off Mellencamp s whenever we want tour in Europe dressed in Black Slacks and boots and with his White shirt sleeves eventually rolled to his elbows Mellencamp had the crowd of 7,000 dancing and singing along from his opening numbers of paper in fire and Jack and Diane. Mellencamp pranced around onstage appearing to thoroughly enjoy himself As he Sang the hits that spanned his 17-year career. When he was t laughing it up with the crowd he was flashing his midwestern dancing Steps. For rain on the scarecrow Mellencamp played along with an acoustic guitar that looked impossibly big next to the diminutive heartland Rocker who stands Only 5 feet 6 inches. But onstage Mellencamp is a giant. After his 1982 no. 1 album american fool made Mellencamp a pop Star he turned his Back on the commercial Industry to produce poignant songs detailing the american economic woes. That was never More evident than in his last four albums a scarecrow the lonesome Jubilee big daddy and whenever we wanted a As Mellencamp became a voice for the heartland. From big daddy Mellencamp went so far As to release Don t Wanna be no pop Singer which not surprisingly did t fare very Well on the pop charts. Mellencamp brought National attention to the plight of the american Farmer with rain on the scarecrow. That was Only part of a series of songs Mellencamp has written about the common Man Mellencamp has found in his neighbourhood. As the decade wound Down Mellencamp s commercial Success also waned As his lyrics turned Darker with each song. In the late 1980s, Mellencamp turned his attention to a new creative medium to express his anger. He is gaining a reputation for his Oil painting which offers As dark an approach to Art As does his music. He stayed out of the recording studio for nearly three years while painting and piecing his personal life Back together. He shuttled Back and Forth Between Homes at Bloomington ind., and Hilton head s.c., where his sex wife and two girls now live. Now 40 years old and a Grandfather he hardly shows it onstage. He scoffs at the suggestion he is too old to Rock and the hard edged guitars in whenever we wanted seem to be his answer to criticism. Mellencamp is still fit and trim and still has the looks of a toughened teen Ager who has never really grown up. His Youthful exuberance onstage suggests he s going to be playing concerts for years to come. It s obvious he s still having fun onstage and it shows As he bounces around from Side to Side waving to his fans and slapping hands reaching out to him. At one Point in the concert Mellencamp jumped up and landed on the shoulders of his Lead guitar player a and while the guitar player strummed along Mellencamp himself played his version of an air guitar. One of the Early highlights of the concert was when Mellencamp played his acoustic guitar accompanied Only by Lisa Germano on violin for his haunting Ballad Jackie Brown. Other than that the High Energy show never stopped rocking. Mellencamp played several tracks off his latest album and blended them nicely with his biggest hits As Pink houses Hurt so Good and . In the . After a 15-minute break Mellencamp returned in jeans Tennis shoes and a White to shirt to play one of his strongest songs from his latest album now More than Ever. While playing . In the ., a tribute to 1960s Rock Mellencamp let a German on the stage and handed him the microphone. Then Mellencamp stood off to the Side and laughed As the German dashed around the stage while growling the Lead vocals. In his Only encore Mellencamp returned to the stage to sing Cherry bomb. Missing in action was Mellencamp s breakthrough hit from 1979, i need a Lover As Well As his current top-40 hit again tonight. But that took Little away from Mellencamp s Complete feast of Rock hits. The crowd a dancing cheering and singing along a never ran out of Gas As Mellencamp suggested they might Halfway through the show. Instead they stayed with him to the end like the Blue Collar workers Mellencamp has always reached out a sinc Estop a albums 1. Save the Best for last Vanessa Williams 2. Tears in heaven Erie Clapton 3 remember the time Michael Jackson 4 masterpiece Atlantic Starr 5 to be with you or. Big 8 i m too sexy a right said Fred Charisma 7. Breaking my heart pretty Brown eyes a mint condition 8. Make it happen Mariah Carey 9.1 can t dance genesis 10 Beauty and the beast Celine Dion and Perabo Bryson 1 Wayne s world soundtrack 2. Roping the wind Garth Brooks 3. Never mind nirvana 4. No fences Garth Brooks 5. Meta Luca Metallica 6. As ugly As they want to be ugly kid Joe Star dog 7. Achung baby u2 8. Unforgettable a Natalie Cole 9. Dangerous a Michael Jackson 10. Time love and tenderness Michael Bolto country a singles 1. Is there use out there Flea Mcentire 2. She is his Only need Wynonna 3. Dallas a Alan Jackson 4. Only the wind Billy Dean 5. Take your memory with you Vince Gill 8. Born country Alabama 7. The tips of my fingers Steve Wariner 8. It Only hurts when i cry Dwight Yoakam 9. There ainu to nothing wrong with the radio Aaron top plan 10 outbound plane Suzy Boggust amp by singles t. Save the Best for last Vanessa Williams 2. Ain t 2 proud 2 beg tic 3. Here i go again a Glenn Jones 4. Somebody loves you baby Patti Labelle 5. Masterpiece Atlantic Starr 6. Done to be afraid a Aaron Hall 7. Take time Chris Walker 8. Remember the time a Michael Jackson 9. Uve and learn Joe Public 10. When you get right Down to it Phyllis Hyman 10 stripes Magazine april 2, 1992
