Popular American actor Sean Penn recently appeared in a John Mellencamp trailer to announce the singer’s amphitheater tour. In the trailer, which was in the form of a short film, Sean and John were sitting inside a diner having a conversation in which Mellencamp expressed his reluctance to organize a tour where he would perform only his hit songs.
Sean Penn said:
“God forbid you become generous with your hits and the soundtrack of people’s lives. I can’t imagine you would do that. Maybe actually let yourself enjoy it. Just because they’re hits doesn’t mean they’re not great songs.”
Following their conversation, John Mellencamp’s hit song Jack & Diane begins to play on the jukebox, and all the diners join in to sing along, prompting John to agree to the tour.
“Let’s do it,” he said.
More details on John Mellencamp’s tour
John Mellencamp announced on Wednesday that he would embark on a 19-date run of U.S. amphitheaters. The tour titled Dancing Words Tour — The Greatest Hits will have John performing his greatest hits of all time. In a recent interview with Associated Press, the musician discussed the upcoming tour and revealed that he wasn’t doing it for the money, but rather because he wanted to make his fans happy.
“Let me tell you something. You’re looking at the luckiest guy in the world … I’ve never given a (expletive) about money. I always wanted to get paid, but I never did do anything for money. As the little commercial that Sean and I made together, Sean just kind of said — and that was all ad lib — there’s nothing wrong with it.”
He continued:
“And I agree, there is nothing wrong with me going out and playing my hit records. It will make people happy. It will probably make me happy because I haven’t done it for so long. I imagine some snarky people will say Mellencamp’s just doing it for the money, but I gotta tell you, I don’t give a (expletive) about money.”
When asked if there might be a chance of expanding the US-based tour or if he would take it outside the country, John Mellencamp answered negatively.
“I’d say slim or none. I agreed to do this, and I can’t imagine doing any more than that. People ask me if I like touring, and I go, I like the first 20 shows. And then all of a sudden it turns into something else. It turns into a job for me.”
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Edited by Onuh Eunice