Though skeptical at first, John Mellencamp soon realized that the person on the other end of the line was in fact the Piano Man himself. “He goes, ‘Man, I love your new single,'” John recalled. “You never forget something like that” (via Ultimate Classic Rock).
At that point in time, Billy Joel was a highly-regarded and well-known songwriter who was climbing the musical ranks himself. Naturally, his words held powerful sway for a midwestern kid like John who was as green as the pastures of his home state. It’s no wonder Mellencamp chronicles the call as such a precious memory to this day, and considers it a major catalyst for his success. Following the exchange, the two developed a deep and abiding friendship that has stood the test of time. In 2008, Billy Joel himself inducted John Mellencamp into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (per Rock & Roll Hall of Fame).
