Mellencamp never allowed his music to be used in commercials until he made a deal with Chevrolet to use his song "Our Country" in a 2006 advertising campaign. Mellencamp's reasoning was that music industry consolidation had forced quality songs off the airwaves, and using songs in commercials would be the best way to reach an audience.
His manager, Tony DeFries, gave him the name "Johnny Cougar." He started using "John Cougar Mellencamp" in the early '80s and eventually dropped the "Cougar." DeFries is the same guy who persuaded David Jones to change his name to David Bowie.
In 1985, he turned down Live Aid, but helped organize the first Farm Aid benefit concert, becoming a regular performer at the event.
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