John Mellencamp

No Better Than This Tour

February 18, 2011 — February 19, 2011 at Radio City Music Hall

About the Show

Rock legend John Mellencamp will take the stage at Radio City Music Hall on Friday, February 18 and Saturday February 19, 2011 for a night of music and excitement.

This year has seen the release of Life, Death, Live and Freedom (an acclaimed live disc containing most of the songs from Life, Death, Love, and Freedom), and John's participation in the concert event of the summer, The Bob Dylan Show with John Mellencamp and Willie Nelson. During days off John commenced recording of his next studio album, No Better Than This, for release in August 17, 2010. Having stated his intention of making a different kind of album, he recorded at several historic facilities including the first African-American church in the U.S. (in Savannah, Georgia), the legendary Sun Studios in Memphis, and the Gunter Hotel in San Antonio, where blues pioneer Robert Johnson recorded blues staples like "Sweet Home Chicago" and "Crossroad Blues." In order to get the sound and feel of these vintage blues recordings, he taped his new songs using antique recording equipment.

At the same time John compiled a four-CD box set, "On The Rural Route 7609" made up mainly of versions of some of his classic songs other then the well known ones in general release. These included two particularly innovative tracks from two iconic individuals not generally associated with music recordings: race relations expert Dr. Cornel West, who dramatically recited the lyrics to "Jim Crow," and Academy Award-winning actress Joanne Woodward-John's favorite actress-who likewise provided an emotionally charged reading of the lyrics to "The Real Life." "7609" released June 15, 2010.

Work continues on John's hugely ambitious "Ghost Brothers of Darkland County" musical theater collaboration with Stephen King--a project that has been in the works for 10 years.