Mellencamp's our Mission musician

DOUG LAING
American country rock musician John Mellencamp was today confirmed as the headline act for this summer's Mission Concert, to be held on March 1.
Known early in his 31-year recording career as Johnny Cougar and John Cougar Mellencamp, his was among names on the rumour mill ahead of the 15th concert at the Mission Estate.
The singer, songwriter, guitarist and harmonica player, comes from Indiana, turns 56 on Sunday, and, with 22 albums to his name highlighted by the 1980s hits Hurts So Good and Jack and Diane, has recently been nominated for the US rock music Hall of Fame.
The announcement by promoter Garry Craft, of Queensland agents Sports and Entertainment Ltd, ends the hopes of fans of Celine Dion, Sheryl Crow, and even Barbara Streisand.
Mr Craft said Mellencamp figured on a vast list of artists Mission Club members said they would like to see at the estate, in a survey after guitarist Eric Clapton performed there in January.
"I can't remember the number, but I'm pretty sure it was in the top 20," he told Hawke's Bay Today.
A quick survey among regular Missioners revealed Mellencamp could be a surprise success. Several knew the music, but not necessarily the titles or the artist.
He is reputed to have a strong stage-audience rapport and is considered likely to re-infect the type of "Saturday night fever" common to most of the concerts but missing from the Clapton concert.
Mellencamp, whose Napier concert is expected to start an Australasian tour, first entered the recorded music market in 1976 under the stage-name Johnny Cougar.
He is best known for the singles Jack and Diane and Hurts So Good, which went to No 1 and No 2 respectively in the US, both from his only No 1 album, American Fool (1982).
After a decade unable to make the top 10 on the album charts he is enjoying a resurgence with his latest album, Freedom's Road. It was released this year and had since hit No 5.
He hasn't toured in the last 18 months, but has this year worked on a musical with horror author Stephen King, and recorded his 18th album of original material.
Four weeks ago, he performed at the opening game of the new NFL season, and late this month starts his next tour in his home state.
In the most significant Mission Concert change, the show on stage on March 1 is expected to start at 4pm, an hour earlier than usual.
Mellencamp is selecting his own support act, and Mr Craft has still to name a New Zealand warm-up act, along with local talent which proved a big success at the Mission nine months ago.
Crowd capacity remains at the 26,000 set by reconfiguration of the venue last year, and just over a third of tickets have been sold to Mission Club members ahead of today's announcement. Remaining tickets, at $190 for the reserved enclosure and $99 for general admission, are now on sale.