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Over the weekend, John Mellencamp told Bill Maher on "Real Time with Bill Maher" he was forced to put "R.O.C.K. in the USA" on his hugely popular album "Scarecrow" back in 1985. He hated the tune, and didn't want it on the album, saying "it was f-ing stupid and silly," but someone from his record company had a chance to hear it, and he says the record company "just went nuts." saying "that's a number 1 hit!" Mellencamp says he arm wrestled the record rep to see if he was going to have to include it, and since they tied in arm wrestling, according to him, the song went on the album. Turns out, the song peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 200, bested only by the #1 "Jack and Diane." Mellencamp also will be playing all his big hits on his upcoming tour, which starts July 10th in Grand Rapids, and ends in Mountain View California August 12th--nearest to Pittsburgh stop is Blossom Music Center in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, July 21st." Here's more: https://ultimateclassicrock.com/john-mellencamp-rock-in-the-usa-arm-wrestling/