But why would Mellencamp veer away from heartland rock precisely when Hootie and Dave Matthews Band are cashing in on it? ''I'm the guy who started that s---,'' drawls Mellencamp. ''I feel like Little Richard a bit. I've already done what Hootie's doing. My goal is to go out and search for new sounds — like marrying me and Junior together — and to come up with something fresh. Who do you know that's got jungle beats with rock guitars?'' he asks excitedly. ''I'm not saying we invented f---ing brain surgery, but it's different.''

Originally posted May 10, 1996 Published in issue #326 May 10, 1996 Order article reprints
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