Like a Rolling Stone (Live 1992)

Yo, Zoo Freaks, the Zoo Crew’s got a righteous vibe going with "Like a Rolling Stone (Live 1992)" by John Mellencamp, ripped from the Bob Dylan - 30th Anniversary Celebration album. This track’s a blazing cover from the October 16, 1992, blowout at Madison Square Garden, where Mellencamp kicked off the night with a fearless take on Dylan’s 1965 classic. According to Mellencamp’s official site, he’d been weaving this song into his live sets for years, and for this gig, he brought in Al Kooper, the organ legend from Dylan’s original recording, to nail that iconic sound. The result? A high-energy, faithful rendition that had the 18,000-strong crowd roaring, with backup vocalists Pat Peterson and Sue Medley adding serious soul. Fun fact: Rolling Stone noted Mellencamp’s “Follow that” swagger, like he was channeling Jerry Lee Lewis setting a piano ablaze.

Another cool tidbit comes from the concert’s liner notes by Bill Flanagan, who praised Mellencamp’s band for their tight, versatile groove, with Lisa Germano’s violin subtly weaving through the mix, though some critics, like Alan Bumstead, felt the female vocalists nearly stole the show. Mellencamp himself has ties to Dylan beyond this tribute—he directed Dylan’s 1989 “Political World” video and was a key player in Farm Aid, which Dylan sparked with a comment at Live Aid. The Bob Dylan site calls this performance a standout, with Mellencamp’s gritty heartland rock vibe meshing perfectly with Dylan’s defiant anthem. Zoo Freaks, this track’s got history, passion, and a whole lotta soul—crank it up!

Now, let’s rewind to how John Mellencamp got his start. Born October 7, 1951, in Seymour, Indiana, this heartland rocker grew up with a rebellious streak, forming his first band, Crepe Soul, as a teen. According to his Wikipedia bio, he was a scrappy kid, getting into music after a brush with spinal surgery at birth left him resilient but restless. By the mid-1970s, he was hustling in New York, where he landed a deal with Tony DeFries, David Bowie’s manager. DeFries slapped the name “Johnny Cougar” on him—against Mellencamp’s wishes—thinking it sounded snappier. His 1976 debut, Chestnut Street Incident, flopped, but he kept grinding, eventually scoring big with 1982’s American Fool, featuring “Jack & Diane” and “Hurts So Good.” Mellencamp fought to ditch the “Cougar” moniker, reclaiming his real name by 1983’s Uh-Huh, cementing his raw, rootsy sound. His 2013 Rolling Stone interview reveals his hustle: “I would have signed the bottom of a shoe” to make it, even as critics initially trashed him as a “phony.”

Stay connected with Mellencamp’s world, Zoo Freaks! His official hub is mellencamp.com, packed with tour dates and news. Follow him on Facebook for updates and throwback pics, Instagram for behind-the-scenes snaps, and X for his unfiltered takes. Fans go wild on the John Mellencamp Fan Club Facebook group, swapping stories and rare vinyl finds. Check out Mellencamp’s official fan club for exclusive merch and pre-sale tickets. For deep dives, mellencampfan.com is a killer fan site with setlists and archives. Keep rockin’ those roots, Zoo Freaks, and let’s keep the Mellencamp love rollin’ like a stone!