Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Happy Tuesday. I have been sitting on this one … I believe there are some Earlisms at the end!
“Cherry Bomb" is a song by American rock singer John Mellencamp. It was released as the second single from Mellencamp's ninth studio album, The Lonesome Jubilee (1987). The single was released in the United States in October 1987, backed with the B-side "Shama Lama Ding Dong".
"Cherry Bomb" features a female voice (Mellencamp background singer Crystal Taliefero) and two other male voices (band members Toby Myers and Mike Wanchic) in addition to Mellencamp's on the second verse. Mellencamp told GQ magazine in 2022 what inspired him to have voices other than his own take turns singing lead: "Sly and the Family Stone. He had all those hit records when I was in junior high, and I love the fact that all of a sudden there's a female voice, then a male voice."
Lyrics
"Cherry Bomb" is a nostalgic song that reflects on Mellencamp's teenage years hanging out at the Last Exit Teen Club. The opening line of the chorus, "That's when a sport was a sport" is often misinterpreted as "That's when a smoke was a smoke.
Personnel
John Mellencamp – vocal, guitar, autoharp on Cherry Bomb
Kenny Aronoff – drums, percussion, backing vocals
Larry Crane – guitars, mandolin, harmonica, autoharp, banjo, backing vocals
John Cascella – accordion, keyboards, saxophone, melodica, penny whistle, claves
Lisa Germano – fiddle
Toby Myers – bass guitar, banjo, backing vocals
Pat Peterson – backing vocals, cowbell, tambourine
Crystal Taliefero – backing vocals
Mike Wanchic – guitars, dobro, banjo, dulcimer, backing vocals
Gretsch - 14x20, 8x12, 10x14, 16x16
Ludwig Black Beauty - 6.5x14
Zildjian 14" Armand Hi Hats
Paiste - 12" 2002 Splash, 16" 2002 Thin Crash (2), 24" Giant Beat, 18" Giant Beat, 18" PSTX.Medium
Avenir WackStack Alloy Clap Effect Cymbal Stack 11/13/15
Logic Pro X
Focusrite 18i20
Behringer ADA 8200
Seventh Circle Audio Preamps (J-99 (2), N-72, A-12)
Now available Earldrum's Spring Store
https://my-store-d51346.creator-sprin...
Please check out my series on how to make a drum cover in this playlist
• How I Make A Drum Cover (Series)
Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational, or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.
No Copyright Infringement Intended. All copyrighted material remains the property of the respective copyright owner(s).
Happy Tuesday. I have been sitting on this one … I believe there are some Earlisms at the end!
“Cherry Bomb" is a song by American rock singer John Mellencamp. It was released as the second single from Mellencamp's ninth studio album, The Lonesome Jubilee (1987). The single was released in the United States in October 1987, backed with the B-side "Shama Lama Ding Dong".
"Cherry Bomb" features a female voice (Mellencamp background singer Crystal Taliefero) and two other male voices (band members Toby Myers and Mike Wanchic) in addition to Mellencamp's on the second verse. Mellencamp told GQ magazine in 2022 what inspired him to have voices other than his own take turns singing lead: "Sly and the Family Stone. He had all those hit records when I was in junior high, and I love the fact that all of a sudden there's a female voice, then a male voice."
Lyrics
"Cherry Bomb" is a nostalgic song that reflects on Mellencamp's teenage years hanging out at the Last Exit Teen Club. The opening line of the chorus, "That's when a sport was a sport" is often misinterpreted as "That's when a smoke was a smoke.
Personnel
John Mellencamp – vocal, guitar, autoharp on Cherry Bomb
Kenny Aronoff – drums, percussion, backing vocals
Larry Crane – guitars, mandolin, harmonica, autoharp, banjo, backing vocals
John Cascella – accordion, keyboards, saxophone, melodica, penny whistle, claves
Lisa Germano – fiddle
Toby Myers – bass guitar, banjo, backing vocals
Pat Peterson – backing vocals, cowbell, tambourine
Crystal Taliefero – backing vocals
Mike Wanchic – guitars, dobro, banjo, dulcimer, backing vocals
Gretsch - 14x20, 8x12, 10x14, 16x16
Ludwig Black Beauty - 6.5x14
Zildjian 14" Armand Hi Hats
Paiste - 12" 2002 Splash, 16" 2002 Thin Crash (2), 24" Giant Beat, 18" Giant Beat, 18" PSTX.Medium
Avenir WackStack Alloy Clap Effect Cymbal Stack 11/13/15
Logic Pro X
Focusrite 18i20
Behringer ADA 8200
Seventh Circle Audio Preamps (J-99 (2), N-72, A-12)
Now available Earldrum's Spring Store
https://my-store-d51346.creator-sprin...
Please check out my series on how to make a drum cover in this playlist
• How I Make A Drum Cover (Series)
Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational, or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.
No Copyright Infringement Intended. All copyrighted material remains the property of the respective copyright owner(s).
