Vanity Fair Magazine: John Mellencamp Featured Celebrity In Vanity Fair's "Proust Questionnaire"

Caricature Portrait By Robert Risko

The acclaimed rock musician, songwriter, actor, and painter discusses tea parties, Steinbeck, and why he wishes his grandparents were still alive in the famous "Proust Questionnaire" on the last page of the 2015/2016 Holiday issue of Vanity Fair Magazine currently on newsstands now.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
It's not our God-given right to be happy. So, if a man can laugh out loud once or twice a day, that would be happiness.

What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Ungratefulness.

On what occasions do you lie?
I make stuff up for a living, so I'm always in a constant state of creation.

What do you dislike most about your appearance?
My appearance.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
My conversatoin is way too peppered with the f-word.

Which talent would you most like to have?
Being a better "people person," but I know I have not been put on this earth to have small talk at tea parties.

If you could change one thing about your family, what would it be? I wish my grandmother and grandfather were still alive, because they were able to keep me grounded.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Life should never be viewed from the vantage point of achievements. It is total folly.

What is your most treasured posession?
Everything I have is for sale. Material items are just things that pass through your hands that mean very little or nothing.

What is your favorite occupation?
I'm doing my favoirte occupation. I work for no one, never have worked for anyone. I haven't had a boss since my father, so I've been very fortunate in the fact that I've been able to live for myself and live the way I have chosen to live.

What is your most marked characteristic?
My pleasing, positive, upbeat personality.

What is the quality you most like in a man?
Knowing when to mind his own business but also when it's time to get involved.

What is the quality you most like in a woman?
Women don't seem to like me much.

Who are your favorite writers?
Steinbeck, Tennesee Williams, Faulkner, bob Dylan. People who have something to say that is unique and relatable.

What is it that you most dislike?
Having to glad-hand people and put on a show for peole I don't respect.

How would you like to die?
I need a long and lingering death to make sure that i have time to have deathbed conversion.

What is our motto?
"There's is no reward in this world for settling for something you don't want."