Rock legend John Mellencamp tells concertgoers to ‘STFU’

This rock legend is famous for his grit, and he proved he deserved the reputation when he told a recent audience to “shut the f**k up”.

John Mellencamp has told a recent audience to “shut the f**k up mid-show”.

Rock legend John Mellencamp is famous for being one of the genre’s most headstrong artists, and he proved he deserved the reputation this week when he told an audience to “shut the f**k up” mid-concert.

Mellencamp, 71, played Playhouse Square in Cleveland in the American Midwest on Thursday as part of his latest tour, but shocked the crowd when he threatened to cut the performance short.

According to local outlet Cleveland Scene, fans were warned well ahead of time about the rockstar’s strict behavioural expectations. The venue posted signs in its lobby that read: “This show respects theatre etiquette”, the publication reported.

Rock legend John Mellencamp told an audience in Cleveland to “shut the f**k up”. Picture: Ernie McLintock

Following the 30-minute classic movie montage that opened the show, Mellencamp let it be known that “I don’t like people screaming from the f***ing audience”.

But his warning didn’t stop one ticket-holder from shouting “play the f***ing music” after the star reportedly appeared to criticise the United States.

That’s when tensions really ramped up.

“Listen, hey, you guys, if these people don’t shut the f**k up I’m just going to leave, OK?” Mellencamp told the audience.

“Because I’m not used to this crap. Look, guys, if I wanted to play in this type of drunken environment, I’d play outside or I’d play in an arena.”

“If I wanted to play in this type of drunken environment, I’d play outside or I’d play in an arena,” he said.

The “Hurt So Good” singer issued a similar warning during a March performance in Texas, telling the crowd before the mid-show acoustic portion: “This is the quiet part, so keep your f***ing mouth shut”, according to the Dallas Observer.

When a woman in the audience broke the singer’s rule and shouted his name, Mellencamp fired back: “What did I just f***ing say? But thank you.”

Some fans had glowing reviews of the performance, with one writing: “His rudeness is legendary. The only thing that would surprise me is if he actually started a show on time.”

“It’s his show … you go to listen to the music!” another said.

The singer is known as one of rock’s most headstrong artists.

Others, though, had a more measured response to the incident.

“After decades of listening, we got last minute tickets to see John Mellencamp while we were in Cleveland,” shared one attendee.

“He was cocky and antagonistic as expected, but he still sounds good … He almost walked off stage the night before because someone in the crowd yelled at him while he was talking.

“He’s exactly who I thought he was, but he’s written a lot of good songs. Glad we got to see him, not sure I’d see him twice.”

Originally published as Rock legend John Mellencamp tells concertgoers to ‘STFU’