Before ‘Jack & Diane’, John Mellencamp was inspired by a singer he called a “miracle”

John Mellencamp said Buddy Holly was a defining influence on his music, praising his instincts and the freedom to follow his own style. The article links Holly’s example to Mellencamp’s later success and to the wider development of rock and roll and pop.

Mellencamp made his comments in a 2010 Rolling Stone feature on influential musicians, where Holly was ranked 15th. He highlighted Holly’s short, tightly written songs, including some only a minute and 25 seconds long, and called the music he created “nothing short of a miracle”; Holly died aged 22.