
Bridgestone Arena Auxiliary Hall
Friday, February 24, 2017
I hope you all had a good weekend. Lynley and I began ours Friday night with a chance to attend the CMT Crossroads taping of Darius Rucker and John Mellencamp. A friend of ours at the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce passed along an email that stated there were some spots still available. It reminded me of a Dwyerwire (my old blog at News-2) entry I wrote back in 2009. Growing up in Indiana and following Mellencamp religiously, I’m sure he could have benefited from a Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) program at Seymour High School but you could say things worked out for him. By the way, Indiana now has a great JAG state affiliate.
Here’s that blog entry:
It’s not good to meet your heroes, we’re told. They will disappoint you . I met John Mellencamp the other day. I’m an even bigger fan.
Silly, but I always believed our paths would cross. A local TV “head” always seems to “know somebody” that can get them tickets to a sold-out show or a chance meeting with a big-name star that passes through the area. I’ve had a few “near misses” with Mellencamp but the years were adding up and it still hadn’t happened.
Until my friend Timmy called.
Timmy and I worked together for several years in a past TV life. He now works at CMT and his assignment was to road trip to Bloomington to interview Mellencamp and Karen Fairchild. Karen is with the rising Country group “Little Big Town“. They sang a duet on the song “A Ride Back Home” (click HERE for video) from his “Life Death Love and Freedom” CD.
The video shoot took place at the Beck Chapel the heart of the Indiana University campus. It’s a quaint place that couldn’t hold more than 50 people. Tim’s assignment (along with his newly appointed “associate producer”) was to monitor a freelance crew videotaping the making of the video and then sit Karen and John down for a few questions.
It’s important to state right here that the “Forrest Gump” line about a box of chocolates is appropriate; “You never know watcha gonna get.” Big stars can be more fickle than a chameleon walking by a stained glass window.
What I got was one of the most memorable afternoons of my life.
I was doing my job very well of simply watching the shooting of the video and staying invisible until a woman approached me, stuck out her hand and said,
“Hi, I’m Elaine.” I replied, “Hi, I’m John Dwyer with the Country Music TV Channel.”
Actually, I only said that in my head multiple times on the 5-hour ride home. What I really said was,
“Uh, Hiya… I’m uh, John… here with my friend.. . I mean the guy over there.”
I’m sure Elaine Irwin-Mellencamp (UPDATE: they divorced in 2011 after 18-years of marriage) has has met plenty of guys that thought they had “game” and choked but it has probably been awhile since a guy dribbled the ball of his foot as clumsily as I did. I picture her turning her back and smirking with a “yeah, I still got it” grin every time I replay my response in my head.
A watched John and Karen “lip sync” the song no less than 20 times. After a half-dozen takes, the camera and lights would be reconfigured for another angle. During the breaks, Karen would grab her sweater and a bottled water or coffee and flirt with her super cool husband Jimi Westbrook (also a member of “Little Big Town”). John would walk outside for a smoke, an assistant always making sure he had his shades. Mellencamp’s custom three-piece black tuxedo with an ecru big-collared buttoned-down shirt looked crisp. Not once did he raise his voice or cop an attitude. (Although he did jokingly flip Karen “the finger” while she was goofing around with a digital camera and I’ll be darned if it wasn’t eerily similar to the infamous Johmny Cash picture taken some 50-years ago).
John’s longtime friends, who just happen to be members of his band; Mike Wanchic, Dane Clark and John Gunnell, would gather in the back of the chapel between filming sessions and shoot the breeze. I would bounce in and out of the chit-chat but couldn’t help but to gravitate toward Mike. He was the first person in the chapel when Tim and I walked in and he greeted us with genuine openness. Of course, it could have been that he was just looking for a distraction since his wife was in labor. I blew my cover when I asked him a few questions about how he and John met. Turns out they go back 31-years. So many great short stories he rattled off… for another time.
The shoot finally wrapped up. Indianapolis media grabbed John and Karen throughout the filming breaks. John’s manager, Randy Hoffman, kept assuring us that we would get time with them. Randy is a real pro and treated us as if we were much more important than what we were. He told us to move from the chapel to a conference room in the building next door for the interview.
Once the camera and lighting were set up, I was given my responsibility. I held a mini camera about three-feet from John and Karen to give editors another option when splicing the feature together. Timmy sat down and immediately put Karen and John at ease with relevant, thoughtful questions. I sat there with this camera perched between my knees and I listened to Karen and John explain how the union was born, and it’s clear early on that John is in a reflective mood. Timmy peppered him with questions about being a mentor and when he thought “he made it” and John opened up about specific songs and time frames in his life that a Mellencamp fan would find fascinating. I soaked it all in and before I knew it, 25-minutes had gone by.
Right after Mellencamp stood up and took his microphone off, I reached out my hand to say thanks. He gave me a firm hand shake while his other arm gave me a hard tap on the shoulder. A “guy’s guy” kind of gesture. He walked over to one of the walls that was covered with stenciled portraits of, I suspect, Indiana University donors. He stared at them and said, “These are really impressive.” Hoping to somehow engage in small talk, I stood next to him and asked what he specifically admired about them. He said the lines were so distinctive that they almost had to be traced and went off on a brief tangent about how great painters such as Renoir were masters at this. He said matter of factly, “You know I paint some.” I said, “Yeah, I knew that” (and about 5-million other things about you). I thanked him again he walked out of the room.
Thousands of pictures, hours of videotape and film were taken that day. Not one contains a picture of him and me. I just couldn’t bring myself to raise my cellphone camera or the small digital in my coat pocket. I didn’t want to be “that guy” that has special access and steps over a line (just like I’ve never asked a Titan for a picture or an autograph while on assignment).
So, there is no evidence that I was at the video shoot that day. I’m okay with that. Just know when you see the video on country music TV in a few months, there’s a lifelong Mellencamp fan that was there that day. Me.
Thanks Timmy.
You said it nicely..
http://canadianonlinepharmacynnm.com/
buy prescription drugs from canada
canadianpharmacy
canadapharmacyonline.com
top rated canadian pharmacies online
Amazing write ups, Many thanks.
http://www.canadianpharmacymsn.com/
buying drugs canada mexican pharmacies shipping to usa online pharmacy without a prescription canadian pharmacies that ship to us
best price prescription drugs
canadian pharmacy reviews
compare rx prices
mexican pharmacy online
canada pharmacy online orders
ed meds online
You suggested that very well.
http://canadianpharmacyntx.com/
drug price northwestpharmacy buying prescription drugs canada canada pharmaceuticals online
prescription drug assistance
pharmacy drug store
canadian drugstore reviews
canadian rx pharmacy online
online pharmacies canada
best online international pharmacies
Wow loads of amazing knowledge!
http://canadianpharmacysilo.com/
canadian pharmacy reviews canadian pharmacies online prescription drugs without doctor approval global pharmacy canada
drugs online
northwest pharmacy canada
trust pharmacy canada
canadian pharmacy reviews
walmart pharmacy price check
canada drug
Really a good deal of helpful material!
http://canadianonlinepharmacynnm.com/
prescription drugs online without canadian online pharmacies canada pharmacy online no script aarp approved canadian online pharmacies
online prescription drugs
buy prescription drugs without doctor
canadian online pharmacy reviews
no prescription online pharmacy
buy prescription drugs from canada
cialis canadian pharmacy
Fantastic postings. Appreciate it.
http://canadianpharmacysilo.com/
canadian prescription london drugs canada drug costs canada drugs
canadian pharmacies online
canadian pharmacies
canadian pharmacy no prescription needed
canadian pharmacy
canada drugs
canadian pharmacies shipping to usa
You’ve made your stand pretty well..
https://nicktambone.com/
canadian pharmacies online canadian pharmacy prescription drug cost canadian pharmacies online
<a href="https://www.vdnowas.de/soft-silent-spitzen-1.html?filter_price=&submit=Anwenden&field-amount_26=1&comments_name=PeterUnete&comments_email=paille172ync%40brew-master.com&comments_rating=&comments_info=+Helpful+information.+Appreciate+it%21+http%3A%2F%2Fcialispego.com%2F+cialis+e+viagra+insieme+cialis+20+mg+%0D%0Acialis+dysphagia+%0D%0Acialis+online&wpf_captcha_code_comments_shops_products26=vrg”>canadian pharcharmy online
canadian viagra
rx pharmacy
canadadrugs.com pharmacy
canada drugs pharmacy
canada pharmacy no prescription
Kudos. Quite a lot of info!
http://canadianpharmaciesnnm.com/
canadadrugs.com pharmacy canadian pharmacies online cheap prescription drugs online northwest pharmacy
buy prescription drugs without doctor
online pharmacies canada
canadian drug store
prescription drug cost
online pharmacy usa
legitimate canadian mail order pharmacies
You reported this terrifically.
http://canadianpharmacymim.com/
highest rated canadian pharmacies canadian online pharmacy canada pharmacy online orders online pharmacies of canada
online discount pharmacy
canada drug prices
international pharmacy
ed meds online
canadian pharmacy king
canadian prescriptions
Thanks a lot. A good amount of facts.
http://www.canadianpharmacymsn.com/
online pharmacy no prescription needed mexican pharmacies shipping to usa canada pharmacy no prescription aarp approved canadian online pharmacies
canada drugs pharmacy
pharmacy cost comparison
canadian drugstore reviews
safe canadian online pharmacies
mexican pharmacy online medications
canadian pharmacy king
Very well voiced certainly! .
http://www.canadianpharmacymsn.com/
trusted overseas pharmacies canadian pharmaceuticals online pharmacy prices canada online pharmacies
web medical information
most reliable canadian pharmacies
pharmacy price comparison
canadian pharmacy no prescription needed
pharmacy online store
canadian drug store
Seriously all kinds of good information!
http://canadianonlinepharmacynnm.com/
my canadian pharmacy canada drugs board of pharmacy canadianpharmacy
internet pharmacy
canadian drugstore reviews
best canadian mail order pharmacies
canada pharmacies without script
canada drug prices
pharmacy without dr prescriptions
You reported that effectively!
http://canadianpharmaciescubarx.com/
canada pharmacies online canada drugs online compare rx prices online pharmacies canada
drug costs
no prescription pharmacies
online pharmacy reviews
online canadian pharmacy
approved canadian pharmacies online
approved canadian pharmacies online
Regards. I value this.
http://canadianpharmacysilo.com/
no prescription online pharmacy canada pharmacy online canadian pharmacies top best canada drug
prescription cost
drugs online
trust pharmacy canada
canada drugs pharmacy
canadian online pharmacies prescription drugs
canadian pharmacy without prescription
Fantastic tips. With thanks.
http://canadianpharmacymim.com/
drugstore online canada drugs canadian pharmacies online northwestpharmacy
rx online
canadian pharmacy king
no prescription pharmacy
canadadrugs
mail order pharmacies
canada pharmacies prescription drugs
Awesome info, Thanks a lot!
http://canadianpharmacymim.com/
web medical information canada drugs online canadian online pharmacies prescription drugs canadian viagra
pharmacy prescription
canadian online pharmacies
online pharmacy canada
drug price
canadian pharcharmy online
canadian pharmacy meds
You stated this adequately.
http://canadianonlinepharmacynnm.com/
compare prescription prices canadian online pharmacies prescription cost comparison northwest pharmacy
canadian pharmacies that ship to us
canadian pharmacies online
online drugs
prescription drug assistance
highest rated canadian pharmacies
canadian pharmacies
Thanks, I enjoy it!
http://canadianpharmaciescubarx.com/
online pharmacy usa canadian viagra pharmacy near me global pharmacy canada
mexican pharmacies shipping to usa
canada pharmacy online no script
online prescription drugs
prescription drugs online without doctor
legitimate online pharmacies
pharmacy without dr prescriptions
Really a lot of awesome knowledge!
http://www.canadianpharmacymsn.com/
cialis canadian pharmacy canada online pharmacies buy cialis canada drug
best online canadian pharcharmy
online drugstore
buy cialis
discount pharmacy online
canadian pharmacies shipping to usa
canadian drug
With thanks, Quite a lot of info.
http://canadianpharmacyntx.com/
canadian mail order pharmacies canada drugs online pharmacy online store global pharmacy canada
drugstore online
best non prescription online pharmacies
pharmacy without dr prescriptions
canada drugs online
pharmacy price compare
canadian drugs without prescription
You said it adequately..
http://canadianpharmacysilo.com/
reputable canadian mail order pharmacies canada pharmaceuticals online canada drugs online pharmacy top rated canadian pharmacies online
discount prescription drug
canadian cialis
online rx pharmacy
online pharmacies no prescription
prescription drug cost
meds online
Excellent knowledge. With thanks!
http://canadianpharmacysilo.com/
discount pharmacy online aarp approved canadian online pharmacies drugstore online canadian pharmacy online
rx pharmacy
canadian pharmacies that ship to us
canadian pharmacies
legitimate online pharmacies
compare prescription prices
mexican pharmacies shipping to usa
Incredible quite a lot of helpful info.
http://canadianpharmacyntx.com/
canadian discount pharmacy trust pharmacy canada canadian pharmacies online prescriptions global pharmacy canada
canadapharmacyonline.com
pharmacy drug store
pharmacy prescription
canadadrugs.com pharmacy
safeway pharmacy
buy cialis
Regards! Lots of data!
http://canadianonlinepharmacynnm.com/
drugs without prescription northwest pharmacy rx online northwest pharmacy
canadian pharmacy no prescription
canadian online pharmacies prescription drugs
canadian pharmacy king
drug price
top rated canadian pharmacies online
canadian pharmacy uk delivery
Amazing stuff. Many thanks.
http://talahicc.com/
online pharmacy without prescription canadian pharmacies canadapharmacy northwestpharmacy
canada pharmacy online reviews
no prescription pharmacy
canada pharmacy online
cialis online
the canadian pharmacy
canadian discount pharmacy
You explained this adequately.
http://canadianpharmacyntx.com/
canada pharmacy no prescription canada pharmacy online online pharmacy without prescription north west pharmacy canada
canadapharmacyonline.com
pain meds online without doctor prescription
canadian pharmacy no prescription needed
canadian prescriptions
<a href="http://www.era.ks.ua/guestbook/show_item_add_form/?__myform_unique=a9a6586fb97dbafacb4beb1e32aba504&common=king+pharmacy+bica&common=jimmieTum%40gmail.com&common=+Regards%21+Numerous+knowledge.++http%3A%2F%2Fwww.canadianpharmacymsn.com%2F+reputable+canadian+mail+order+pharmacies+canadian+online+pharmacy+%0D%0Acanadian+rx+%0D%0Atop+rated+canadian+pharmacies+online&commoncaptcha]=&submit=%D0%9E%D1%82%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%82%D1%8C”>price prescription drugs
canada online pharmacies
You revealed that superbly.
http://canadianpharmacyntx.com/
best online pharmacies no prescription northwest pharmacy trust pharmacy canada trust pharmacy canada
canadian discount pharmacy
canadian drugs without prescription
canadian drug
no prescription online pharmacy
overseas pharmacies
prescription online
With thanks! I like it!
http://canadianpharmacyntx.com/
top rated canadian pharmacies online canadian pharmaceuticals online visit poster’s website canadian pharmacies
online prescription drugs
cheap drugs online
canadian drug
buying drugs canada
pharmacy tech
canadian drugstore
Thank you! Ample knowledge!
https://nicktambone.com/
prescription price comparison canada pharmaceuticals online most reliable canadian pharmacies trust pharmacy canada
canadian pharmacy viagra brand
king pharmacy
canadian drugstore
us pharmacy no prior prescription
online canadian discount pharmacy
mexican online pharmacies
Thank you! Valuable information!
http://canadianpharmaciesnnm.com/
best canadian prescription prices online pharmacies canada canadianpharmacy canadian pharmacy online
canada meds
rx price comparison
prescription drug assistance
online rx pharmacy
canadian pharmacy viagra brand
online pharmacies canada
Whoa plenty of beneficial tips!
http://canadianpharmaciesnnm.com/
board of pharmacy canadian cialis canada drug prices canadian online pharmacy
prescription drug assistance
canadian pharmacy online canada
pharmacy canada
canadian prescription drugstore
trusted overseas pharmacies
overseas pharmacies