I guess that you have become the proverbial cranky old man, hurling insults at the people who are out trying to live while you just sit and criticize.

Obviously you don’t have a wife, because if you did, she would have pointed out that when you have absolutely nothing nice to say, EVER, people stop listening.

As you seem overly eager to judge, with no regard to actual facts, I will also address your dig at John’s licensing his song for a commercial. John had had numerous opportunities for decades, and has been offered fortunes, to sell one of his songs. So after 35 years of being his songwriter, who are you to judge what he feels is appropriate for his own music or words? Bottom line, there is no longer a correlation to songs used in commercials and the credibility of the artist. Johnny Cash, no cred? Elvis Costello, no cred? Sting, no cred? Wake up to a new day, blame record company execs if you must, for putting the music industry where it is, but lambasting artists for taking matters into their own hands is just plain short sighted. My husband, I’m sure, pines for the old days sometime himself, but they are gone. We are all looking for a new way. When you write your own song then you can decide its fate.

Elaine Mellencamp

PS I took that photo of John that you mentioned, and he does look rather handsome doesn’t he? So nice of you to mention it.

As far as credibility goes, 23 albums, millions sold, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, etc. etc. etc…..35 years in the business. and for commercials, you mean no "cred" like Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, & U2?

You choose to sit behind your computer and have the illusion that you have an answer….leave your house sometime and get in the real world, the world of struggle, survival and longevity. Nothing is as it seems.

You are either for music or against it. So much negativity, how is that helping?

In the words of the great rock journalist, Timothy White "in the accomplishments of anyone there is real promise for everyone."

PS The one thing you have gotten right is that T Bone Burnett is a wonderful producer and gentleman.