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Is it possible for two people to share remarkable similarities, yet be strikingly different?  The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductions answered that with a resounding, "yes."

Madonna provided me with one of the most uncomfortable nights of my life.  If your expecting a story about "Truth or Dare" coming on with my mom in the room, forget it.  This has nothing to do with racy content, and everything to do with the temperature.

It was summer before last.  My wife and I managed tickets to see the "Queen of Pop Divas" perform at Madison Square Garden in New York.  As you might expect on a July night in any city, it was pretty warm.  Thanks to Madonna, things got even warmer.  It seems that Madonna believes air conditioning is bad for her voice.  Since "the customer is always right" does not apply to fans of egomaniac rock stars, Madonna ordered the A/C turned off.  She put on a heck of a show, but we endured 85 degree temperatures inside an arena to watch it. 

For John Mellencamp (formerly John Cougar) the stories of ego meltdowns have more to do with temper tantrums.  I remember a friend looking forward to one of his performances back in late 80's.  He reported to me the next day that the hot headed star sang a few songs then blew up.  It seems he didn't like the crowd's reaction, so he cussed them out, threw down his mic, and stormed off stage.    I've been to his home town (yes, Small Town) of Seymour, Indiana, and there they'll tell you that, at least back in the day, "that's just how Johnny was." 
Here's what's interesting to me about this pair:  they met in the same room last night, being celebrated for the same kind of success, and remembered for some similar fits of self-absorption, yet they couldn't be much more different.

Madonna keeps homes in New York, Los Angeles, and London, and is seen only at the poshest events.

Mellencamp moved from little Seymour to a big town...nearby Bloomington, Indiana (population 69,000) where locals will tell you that bumping into him at the grocery is not unusual.

Madonna is a health nut.  She'll turn fifty later this summer yet, as my wife often says, "you could bounce a quarter off her butt."

When Mellencamp  had a heart attack in 1994  he reportedly cut back from 4 packs of cigarettes a day to just one.  The Associated Press story about last night's hall of fame induction describes him stamping out a smoke before walking on stage. 

Mellencamp in known to be the champion of the farmer. 

Madonna is know to be the champion of....Madonna. 

Mellencamp fought the record companies to allow him to use his last name.  (Where did "Cougar" come from anyway?)

Madonna shunned her last name before many of her fans today were born.  (For the record it's Ciconne)

There's no question Madonna and Mellencamp are an odd couple.  But now, there's one more observation to add, which any music fan can appreciate. 

Madonna is a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer.

Mellencamp is a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer.

Tags: Madonna John Mellencamp Rock and Roll Hall of Fame