John Mellencamp

For me to pretend I'm the keeper of the small town mentality or that's all I'm interested in is wrong.

People in Indiana have known me for 25 years. They've known George Bush four.

I've just been fortunate to havehad a lot of hit records, though Human Wheels doesn't qualify as a hit record-but it's really the best single I've ever had.

I think when judges are in the position of authority, they really get bent out of shape when someone tells them they acted inappropriately.

I don't really have time to watch too much, but I like 'Family Guy' and 'Entourage.' I'm also obsessed with the YouTube series 'Balls of Steel.' It's hilarious.

Although I write to entertain, and try to keep my work free of didacticism, I do have a rather passionate belief in our need to be connected to - and to learn from - history.