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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.