John Mellencamp was born on this day in 1951 in Seymour, Indiana. His musical career got off to an early start with a band named Crepe Soul when he was just 14. Married and a father within months of graduating from high school, John enrolled at Vincennes University in 1972, where he spent more time high than in school. He played in a glam band known as Trash, cleaned-up his substance use and got a job installing telephones. He set out to become a full time musician and hooked up with Tony DeFries, a manager who worked with David Bowie, Iggy Pop, Mott the Hoople and Mick Ronson. DeFries convinced Mellencamp he needed a catchier name and got him to reluctantly agree to becoming Johnny Cougar. His debut album, Chestnut Street Incident sold fewer than 15,000 copies. A follow-up album was recorded but was shelved and Mellencamp got dropped by the label. Mellencamp then got picked up by Rod Stewart's manager. John moved to London in 1978 and recorded an album titled A Biography. It got UK and Australian release, but was not put out in the US. The Song I Need a Lover became a big hit Down Under. That success paved the way for the song to be on Mellencamp's 1979 self-titled American album. The song did well for John and even better for Pat Benatar, who included it on her debut release. 1980's Nothin' Matters and What If It Did fared decently, but it was American Fool, the album that came out two years later that made Mellencamp a household name and turned him into a major concert draw.
Other Noteworthy Classic Rock events on October 7 include..
1943 Quicksilver Messenger Service singer Dino Valenti born Chester William Powers Jr.
1945 10cc & Godley and Creme singer, percussionist and keyboard player Kevin Godley born.
1949 Kansas bassist Dave Hope born.
1953 Bon Jovi drummer, percussionist Tico Torres born.
1953 Styx, Baby's, Bad English bassist Ricky Phillips born.
1967 The Beatles turn down a $1 million dollar offer from promoter Sid Bernstein to play Shea Stadium.
1970 Janis Joplin cremated in LA, ashes scattered along California coast line from airplane.
1970 Ned Kelly, the film featuring Mick Jagger in the title role, premiers in the UK.
1975 John Lennon deportation order overturned on appeal and he gets his Green Card.
1977 Steve Hackett leaves Genesis.
1978 Dire Straits releases self-titled debut album.
1978 Heart releases Dog & Butterfly.
1978 Rolling Stones play Saturday Night Live.
1980 Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham's death is ruled accidental.
1982 Genesis releases Three Sides Live.
1982 Jimmy Page gets a conditional discharge of a cocaine conviction.
1996 Stone Gossard's guitar stolen after Miami Pearl Jam concert.
1997 Everclear releases So Much For The Afterglow.
2001 Peter Criss does his final concert with KISS in Charleston, South Carolina.
2004 Mick Mars of Motley Crue undergoes a hip replacement.
2008 Bob Dylan releases Tell Tale Signs.
2014 Stevie Nicks releases 24 Karat: Songs From The Vault.
2014 Jackson Browne releases Standing In The Breach.
2016 Rolling Stones do Come Together during Desert Trip Festival set in Indio, California.
2023 AC/DC does fisrt concert set since 2016 when the band headlines Power Trip festival in Indio, California.
