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Drive-in concert: Bon Jovi show will be shown nationwide at outdoor theaters

Bon Jovi is ready to go back on tour. Sort of.

>> Read more trending news

On May 22, the New Jersey-based rock ‘n’ roll band will appear in a virtual show at approximately 300 drive-in and outdoor theaters nationwide.

Bon Jovi will team up with Encore Live for a May 22 show that will be broadcast at outdoor venues in the United States, Canada and Ireland, along with several indoor facilities worldwide, according to BusinessWire .

Tickets for “ Encore Drive-In Nights ” will go on sale Thursday at noon at bonjoviconcert.com , according to a news release . Tickets start at $68 per vehicle , and are good for up to six people in a standard passenger car or truck.

“Bon Jovi is a global icon and we’re so happy that the band will be launching our 2021 concert season,” Walter Kinzie, CEO of Encore Drive-In Nights, said in a statement. “The pandemic has taught us that there are new avenues for live entertainment and this model is one of the safest and most innovative options for world-class, fun events for the whole family. There are millions of fans who don’t usually attend live shows, whether it’s because they live far away from the big touring arenas or because of the cost. Artists can now connect with these fans in a completely new way.”

RVs and limousines are not permitted, WABC reported. Gates will open an hour before the show, and general admission parking is based on a first-come, first-serve basis, the television station reported.

Encore Drive-In Nights featuring the one and only @bonjovi will air at drive-in theaters across the United States and Canada on Saturday, May 22. 🤘🎸⚡ 🤘ONE NIGHT ONLY🤘 🎟️ Tickets Go ON SALE April 29th at 12pm EST! https://t.co/BlFwy9Pofh pic.twitter.com/BKuS4cQSNL — Encore Drive-In Nights (@encoredrivein) April 26, 2021

Encore Live began offering Drive-In Nights concerts in 2020, “ Good Morning America ” reported. Some of the featured acts included Gwen Stefani, Metallica, Blake Shelton and Kane Brown, according to a news release .

Check with local venues for gate times and restrictions. A full list of venues can be found at encorenights.com.

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Bon Jovi Heads Back on the Road This Spring: ‘We Have All Missed Touring’

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees will hit U.S. arenas throughout April.

By Taylor Mims

Taylor Mims

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Bon Jovi will be back on the road this spring with their 2022 North American tour. Produced by promoter Live Nation, the tour is scheduled to kick off April 1 in Omaha, Neb., at CHI Health Center.  

The 15-date trek will run through arenas in Minnesota, North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Missouri and more. Bon Jovi will make three stops in Texas before closing out the dates on April 30 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.   

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Jon Bon Jovi

“We have all missed  touring  and we know that nothing can replace the energy of a live show for the fans or the band,” said Jon Bon Jovi in a release.  

Pearl Jam Delivers a Muscular, Tribute-Heavy Show on Night 2 at Los Angeles' Kia Forum

The tour will be in support of the band’s most recent album 2020 , which was released in October 2020 and reached the top 20 on the Billboard 200 album chart. The band has also been working on new material over the course of the pandemic.   

In addition to new music, the band launched Bon Jovi radio on SiriusXM. The limited-run channel celebrates the career of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducted group and features insight from Jon Bon Jovi and band members, as well as their crew. The channel also provides fans with exclusive weekly live concerts directly from the band’s archives.   

Trending on Billboard

The 2022 tour is sponsored by Hampton Water, a wine company founded by Jon Bon Jovi and his son, Jesse Bongiovi.   

Tickets will go on sale to the general public for most markets beginning Jan. 14 at 10 a.m. local time. Head to BonJovi.com for specific details on VIP packages as well as on-sale dates and timing. The JBJ Experience member pre-sale will begin on Tuesday, Jan. 11, at 10 a.m. local time. Check out a full list of dates below.  

It’s official! We’ll be headed back out on this road this April for the #BonJovi2022Tour . Pre-sales begin January 11th and tickets will be available to the public beginning January 14th. For more information on tickets and VIP, head to https://t.co/6OX1pkc5GD . See you soon! ❤️🗡 pic.twitter.com/HqJ1rGACMb — Bon Jovi (@BonJovi) January 7, 2022

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• April 2, 2018 Setlist

Bon Jovi Setlist at TD Garden, Boston, MA, USA

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Tour: This House Is Not for Sale Tour statistics Add setlist

• This House Is Not for Sale Play Video
• Knockout Play Video
• You Give Love a Bad Name Play Video
• Whole Lot of Leavin' Play Video
• Lost Highway Play Video
• When We Were Us Play Video
• Born to Be My Baby Play Video
• Who Says You Can't Go Home Play Video
• It's My Life Play Video
• We Weren't Born to Follow Play Video
• I'll Sleep When I'm Dead Play Video
• We Got It Goin' On Play Video
• Keep the Faith Play Video
• Amen Play Video
• Bed of Roses Play Video
• Lay Your Hands on Me Play Video
• God Bless This Mess Play Video
• Have a Nice Day Play Video
• Bad Medicine Play Video
• Wanted Dead or Alive Play Video
• Livin' on a Prayer Play Video

Edits and Comments

23 activities (last edit by Syl76 , 21 Aug 2019, 20:45 Etc/UTC )

Songs on Albums

• God Bless This Mess
• This House Is Not for Sale
• When We Were Us
• Bed of Roses
• I'll Sleep When I'm Dead
• Keep the Faith
• Lost Highway
• We Got It Goin' On
• Whole Lot of Leavin'
• Bad Medicine
• Born to Be My Baby
• Lay Your Hands on Me
• Livin' on a Prayer
• Wanted Dead or Alive
• You Give Love a Bad Name
• Have a Nice Day
• Who Says You Can't Go Home
• It's My Life
• We Weren't Born to Follow

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Bon jovi gig timeline.

• Mar 25 2018 Smoothie King Center New Orleans, LA, USA Add time Add time
• Mar 26 2018 American Airlines Center Dallas, TX, USA Add time Add time
• Apr 02 2018 TD Garden This Setlist Boston, MA, USA Add time Add time
• Apr 07 2018 Prudential Center Newark, NJ, USA Start time: 8:35 PM 8:35 PM
• Apr 08 2018 Prudential Center Newark, NJ, USA Add time Add time

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Bon Jovi Concert Coming To Massachusetts, New Hampshire Drive-In Theaters In May

April 26, 2021 / 10:33 AM EDT / CBS Boston

BOSTON (CBS) -- Bon Jovi fans in the Boston area missed out on seeing the New Jersey rock band in 2020. But a one-night only performance is coming to drive-in movie screens and indoor theaters around the region next month.

Bon Jovi is having its first-ever drive-in concert on May 22. Tickets go on sale Thursday. Prices start at $68 per vehicle, up to six people.

Our 1st drive-in concert is 5/22! One night only! Airing at drive-in theaters & cinemas near you. Presale for The JBJ Experience members is Wednesday 4/28. Public onsale this Thursday 4/29 at https://t.co/epbX9QykAa pic.twitter.com/JVnwamSQqd — Bon Jovi (@BonJovi) April 26, 2021

The Marshfield Drive-In, Mendon Twin Drive-In, Topsfield Drive-In and West Springfield Drive-In will all be screening the concert, according to promoter Encore Drive-In Nights. In New Hampshire, the Mildford Drive-In Theater and Northfield Drive-In will be showing the performance.

A list of indoor theaters showing the concert can be found here.

Bon Jovi was supposed to play two shows at the TD Garden in the summer of 2020, but they were canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

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Bon Jovi concert airing at drive-in theaters, cinemas throughout New England

In this image from video, Jon Bon Jovi performs during the Celebrating America event on Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021, following the inauguration of Joe Biden as the 46th president of the United States. (Biden Inaugural Committee via AP)

BOSTON (WHDH) - Fans will be able to rock out with Bon Jovi during their first drive-in concert next month.

The band will be playing on May 22 at drive-in theaters and cinemas across the United States, as well as parts of Canada and Ireland. Several of the locations are in New England.

Presale tickets will become available for The JBJ Experience members on Wednesday, with tickets going on sale to the general public on Thursday.

A full list of drive-in concert locations can be found here .

Our 1st drive-in concert is 5/22! One night only! Airing at drive-in theaters & cinemas near you. Presale for The JBJ Experience members is Wednesday 4/28. Public onsale this Thursday 4/29 at https://t.co/epbX9QykAa pic.twitter.com/JVnwamSQqd — Bon Jovi (@BonJovi) April 26, 2021

(Copyright (c) 2024 Sunbeam Television. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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Jon Bon Jovi doesn't know when he'll tour again as he recovers from major surgery

Bon jovi's 18th studio album 'forever' will be released june 7.

Jon Bon Jovi celebrates 40 years being music legend

Legendary musician Jon Bon Jovi tells Fox News Digital what he’s most proud of in his 40-year music career.

Nearly two years after undergoing major surgery to reconstruct a vocal cord injury, Jon Bon Jovi 's impending return to the stage is still unknown. 

The Bon Jovi frontman spoke with Boston’s Mix 104.1 radio station last week to discuss the band's upcoming album and gave fans an update on his health. 

"I don’t know about a tour," Bon Jovi said. "It is my desire to do a tour next year, but I’m just still recovering from a major surgery."

JON BON JOVI ON WHAT HE'S MOST PROUD OF IN 40-YEAR MUSIC CAREER: 'IT'S BEYOND WORDS'

Honoree Jon Bon Jovi performs during the MusiCares Person of the Year gala at the Los Angeles Convention Center, Feb. 2, 2024. (Getty Images)

During Hulu's panel for the new docuseries "Thank You, Good Night: The Bon Jovi Story" at the Television Critics Association last month, the singer opened up about his surgery and revealed one of his vocal cords was "atrophying" at the time, according to People.

"So the strong one was pushing the weak one aside, and I wasn’t singing well," said Bon Jovi, who described one vocal cord being "thick as the thumb" and the other being "thick as a pinky." He added, "My craft was being taken from me."

"But nonetheless, and I say in the film, and in the latter episodes, if I just had my tools back, the rest of it I can deal with," he said. "I can write you a song, I can perform as well as anybody. But I need to get my tools back."

Jon Bon Jovi says he's still healing from vocal cord surgery. (John Nacion/Getty Images)

"Saturday morning is the first time I woke up without multiple voices in my head," he said during the TCA panel, referencing his vocal cord recovery. "It was just me. And that was the best feeling. It was just me."

On Feb. 2, Bon Jovi performed live for the first time post-surgery at his MusiCares Person of the Year honor and tribute concert. 

"I'm obviously humbled just to be here and most proud of our being here 40 years on… still about to release our 18th album," he told Fox News Digital at the event. "We're very excited about that. The documentary, everything to celebrate this 40th."

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Jon Bon Jovi performs with Bruce Springsteen during the MusiCares Person of the Year gala in Los Angeles, Feb. 2, 2024. (Getty Images)

During the event, the legendary artist performed the song "Who Says You Can’t Go Home" with Bruce Springsteen , and was greeted with many more performances in his honor. 

Ahead of the tribute event, his band members praised their "brother" and shared the secret behind the band's major success throughout the years.

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"The fact that this family has been around for 40 years and John's our brother… the catalyst of the reason we're here, it's kept us together for 40 years, which is not easy to do," his band members said.

WATCH: JON BON JOVI BAND MEMBERS: IT’S BEEN AN ‘UNBELIEVABLE RIDE’ WORKING WITH MUSICIAN

"It's been an unbelievable ride, and in the words of Bon Jovi, ‘we're halfway there.’"

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The Hulu docuseries on Bon Jovi will premiere on April 26 and be released in four parts. Bon Jovi's upcoming album "Forever" will be released June 7.

Fox News Digital's Stephanie Giang-Paunon contributed to this report.

Christina Dugan Ramirez is a freelance entertainment writer for Fox News Digital. 

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Legendary rock band Bon Jovi has released their latest song, "Living Proof," from their upcoming 16th studio album, Forever , set to release on June 7, 2024 . Forbes Magazine and others have highlighted Bon Jovi's impact on 2024 so far. The release of "Living Proof," is just the latest offering, joining their hit single "Legendary", their 40th anniversary online museum, HULU's docu-series " Thank You, Goodnight" - The Bon Jovi Story, and being honored at this year's MusiCares "Person of the Year". It's truly been the year of Bon Jovi. The release of "Living Proof" follows the success of their hit single "Legendary," which quickly soared to #1 on the Billboard Digital Song Sales Chart and #2 on the Rock Digital Song Sales Chart. The song's music video has garnered over 3.5 million views on YouTube and has amassed millions of streams. Jon Bon Jovi will mentor and perform on American Idol's finale this Sunday, May 19. Forever is available for pre-order now, along with exclusive editions.

Today marks a thrilling moment for Bon Jovi fans worldwide as the highly anticipated documentary series, "Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story." Is released on Hulu.

The docu-series promises an intimate, raw and compelling look into the legendary rock band's journey through their over 40 year career. It takes viewers behind the scenes, from their humble beginnings in New Jersey to becoming one of the most iconic rock bands in history. Through exclusive interviews, never-before-seen footage, and candid moments with band members, the documentary captures the highs, lows, and pivotal moments that shaped their music and legacy.

LISTEN TO “LEGENDARY”    |    WATCH OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO

PRE-ORDER FOREVER HERE

BON JOVI , Grammy Award®-winning, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band, and one of history’s most iconic acts, continues their 40th anniversary celebration, with the release of “Legendary,” new single + video out now via Island Records. The monumental new track sets the stage for BON JOVI’s upcoming 16th studio album, FOREVER , arriving on June 7, 2024. The new album is now available for pre-order HERE where fans can find exclusive colored vinyl options, CDs, cassettes, and limited edition signed copies. An extremely limited run of Ocean Waves colored vinyl will include a one-of-a-kind instant photo of Jon.

In conjunction with last month’s 66th annual Grammy Awards®, Jon Bon Jovi was named 2024 MusiCares Person Of The Year and was honored with an all-star tribute concert at the L.A. Convention Center featuring Bruce Springsteen, Shania Twain, Melissa Etheridge, Sammy Hagar, Jason Isbell, Jelly Roll, Pat Monahan of Train, and many others.

“This record is a return to joy. From the writing, through the recording process, this is turn up the volume, feel good Bon Jovi,” said Jon Bon Jovi.

The commemoration of BON JOVI’s 40th anniversary year continues tonight at the SXSW Conference, when HULU premieres Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story. The career-spanning four-part docu-series will have its official debut on HULU on April 26th. This marks the first-ever docu-series on the band’s history that has been made with full cooperation from all past and present members of BON JOVI. The docu-series is a ROS production, the banner of filmmaker Gotham Chopra. For further info, please see the HULU press announcement HERE .

BON JOVI: FOREVER – track listing

• We Made It Look Easy
• Living Proof
• Kiss The Bride
• The People’s House
• Walls Of Jericho
• I Wrote You A Song
• Living In Paradise
• My First Guitar

“The Fastest Seats in Sports” on Sunday March 10 were occupied by none other than Jon Bon Jovi, and four-time winner of the indy 500 Helio Castroneves. The two of them paced the field during race warmup laps at the Firestone Grand Prix in St Petersburg, Florida. “Crazy” Jon said of the experience “This was a chance of a lifetime” and after asking if he’d like to come back to race he quipped “How about I buy a team, we’ll start there”

That wasn’t where the Bon Jovi take-over ended either. Driver Felix Rosenqvist was on the front row of the starting line as the race was just about to begin, his Indycar decked out in SiriusXM Bon Jovi Radio decals, and Hampton Water Wine, the award winning rosé owned and operated by Jon’s son Jesse.

Then engines roared, and the race was on, speeding into the Florida afternoon.

MusiCares named Jon Bon Jovi as the 2024 MusiCares Person of the Year. He is the honoree of the 33rd annual Person of the Year benefit gala. Proceeds from the event provide essential support for MusiCares, the leading music charity providing music professionals health and human services across a spectrum of needs. The MusiCares Person of the Year tribute ceremony is one of the most prestigious events held during GRAMMY Week.

Bon Jovi, Brandy Clark, Damiano David of Måneskin, Melissa Etheridge, Goo Goo Dolls, Sammy Hagar, Jason Isbell, Jelly Roll, Marcus King, Larkin Poe, Mammoth WVH, Pat Monahan, Orianthi, Bruce Springsteen, Shania Twain, The War and Treaty, and Lainey Wilson performed at the MusiCares tribute to Bon Jovi’s legacy and his impact on rock and roll since the 1983 inception of his eponymous band. The benefit gala was hosted by GRAMMY-nominated comedian Jim Gaffigan. Joining the evening’s host were presenters Gayle King and GRAMMY Award-winning musician Kylie Minogue.

“MusiCares is thrilled to honor Jon Bon Jovi at the 2024 Person of the Year Gala,” said Laura Segura, Executive Director of MusiCares. “His remarkable contributions to rock and roll have not only left an indelible mark on the music industry, but also in the hearts of countless fans around the world. Furthermore, his long-standing commitment to serving food insecure and unhoused individuals inspires us all. We’re looking forward to celebrating him and the many ways he has made a difference in this world.”

In addition to his extensive musical achievements, Jon Bon Jovi is recognized for his impactful philanthropic work. In 2006, he established the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation, an organization dedicated to disrupting the cycle of hunger, poverty and homelessness. The organization’s objective is to recognize and maximize the human potential in those affected by hunger, poverty and homelessness by offering programs that provide food and affordable housing while supporting social services and job training programs. As a health and human service charity, MusiCares is proud to shine a light on Jon Bon Jovi’s impactful philanthropy and hopes to raise awareness for these important human rights issues.

“I’m truly humbled to be this year’s MusiCares honoree. MusiCares’ work with music professionals is vitally important in creating much needed support and wellness programs that cultivate a healthier and more vibrant community for us all.” said Jon Bon Jovi. “Philanthropic work has been a cornerstone of my life and has always run in tandem to my music career and achievements. Nearly two decades ago when I formed the JBJ Soul Foundation and JBJ Soul Kitchens, I saw firsthand and continue to see today the impact of charitable community-based work. I know this for sure: helping one’s community is helping one’s self.”

Since 1991, money raised from this gala goes toward MusiCares health and human services programs that assist the music community with physical and mental health, addiction recovery, preventative clinics, unforeseen personal emergencies, and disaster relief.

MusiCares helps the humans behind music because music gives so much to the world. Offering preventive, emergency and recovery programs, MusiCares is a safety net supporting the health and welfare of the music community. Founded by the Recording Academy in 1989 as a U.S.-based 501(c)(3) charity, MusiCares safeguards the well-being of all music people through direct financial grant programs, networks of support resources, and tailored crisis relief efforts. For more information please visit: www.musicares.org.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band BON JOVI commemorates the 40th anniversary of its self-titled debut with the digital release of BON JOVI DELUXE EDITION on all streaming platforms, an exclusive limited-edition ruby color vinyl LP, and limited-edition cassette.

BON JOVI DELUXE EDITION consists of the remastered original album in addition to a total of nine bonus tracks, including unreleased studio recordings and four rare live cuts. Jon Bon Jovi co-produced BON JOVI DELUXE EDITION alongside longtime sound engineer Obie O’Brien who also mixed the bonus material.

Remastered from the original tapes, the limited-edition ruby color vinyl of the band’s original 9-track LP boasts an alternate cover design, high-end tip-on jacket, and an exclusive lithograph of an early Ross Halfin photo session.

Finally, the limited-edition cassette features all of the original album tracks with an enhanced design that now includes lyrics and the original band photo from the LP’s inner sleeve, elements missing from the original U.S. cassette release.

Listen & Pre-Order Now: https://bonjovi.lnk.to/BonJovi40

Hulu is about to (willingly) take some bad medicine.

The streamer has acquired a four-part series about Bon Jovi. Titled Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story, the project comes from Gotham Chopra’s Religion of Sports banner and will chronicle the mega-selling arena rock band’s 40-year run of riding steel horses and giving love a bad name.

Thank You, Goodnight is also the first retrospective on Bon Jovi’s history that will feature participation from all present and past members of the band. It’s set to premiere April 26 on Hulu in the United States and later in the year on Star+ in Latin America and Disney+ in the rest of the world.

The announcement comes on the 40th anniversary of the release of Bon Jovi’s self-titled first album, which peaked at No. 43 on the Billboard 200 chart. Two years later, the band’s Slippery When Wet exploded, spending eight weeks at No. 1 and selling 12 million-plus copies on the backs of singles like “You Give Love a Bad Name,” “Livin’ on a Prayer” and “Wanted Dead or Alive.” The band has placed 13 albums in the top 10 of the Billboard 200.

The docuseries will cover those highs, as well as low points and “public moments of friction” in the band via interviews with lead singer Jon Bon Jovi and other band members, personal videos, unreleased demos, lyrics and previously unseen photos.

Thank You, Goodnight is directed and executive produced by Chopra (Kobe Bryant’s Muse, Man in the Arena). Giselle Parets and Ameeth Sankaran of Religion of Sports also executive produce. Alex Trudeau Viriato produced and edited the series.

Article Link: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/bon-jovi-documentary-hulu-1235803400/

Photo Credit: KOH HASEBE/SHINKO MUSIC/GETTY

Arena rock is a genre of music that will never die, as long as crowds convene inside hockey arenas around the country to sing along to our favorite anthems from our favorite artists. That’s exactly what took place when Bon Jovi kicked off their 2022 tour in Omaha, NE at the CHI Health Center on Friday, April 1st, for their first public in-person concert since the pandemic started.

Bon Jovi brought their New Jersey flare to the heartland, led by lead singer Jon Bon Jovi. Bon Jovi is an expert showman, first and foremost. He has a young soul to him, and on Friday, he pulled off an incredible Mick Jagger-like crowd control with the audience that was both engaging and entertaining.

It was also Bon Jovi’s first official concert since the pandemic started – they’d had to cancel a planned 2020 run – and it was clear they were very excited to finally play in front of a crowd. “It’s been a long time since I said good evening,” said Bon Jovi, before they kicked into “You Give Love A Bad Name.”

As for the rest of the band, they were in top form. Phil X has had some major shoes to fill playing lead guitar for over five years, but he does it flawlessly. During “Keep the Faith,” he impressively went through three guitars during the whole song, breaking one of the strings during the process. Elsewhere, Tico Torres was a beast behind the drum kit, while you can hear David Bryan’s signature synth sound from a mile away. Also, is it possible for guitarist/producer John Shanks to be made a permanent member of Bon Jovi? The man shared lead guitar duties and was a phenomenal rhythm player, earning the spotlight more than once during his guitar solos.

The band also paid tribute to Ukraine, performing “It’s My Life,” a song that has been adopted as an anthem for Ukrainians, and “We Don’t Run,” which was being filmed as part of a Global Citizen special. Elsewhere, they dusted off songs released over the past couple of decades, including five cuts from their latest album, 2020, with Jon Bon Jovi stating he is “proud of this album.”

Finally, they ended their main set with the iconic “Livin’ On a Prayer,” which immediately had the whole arena singing in unison. At last, it was time for the two-song encore, starting with “Love’s the Only Rule” and ending with “Bad Medicine.”

Bon Jovi remain one of the most influential rock bands, while proving arena rock is far from dead. Sometimes, you just want to sing along to a great hook, and that’s exactly what you’ll get on this run.

Tickets for the rest of the tour are available via Ticketmaster and BonJovi.com.

Consequence of Sound article: https://consequence.net/2022/04/bon-jovi-concert-review-2022-tour-setlist-photos/

Photos Credit: Dustin Jack

(February 16, 2022) – Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band Bon Jovi announced today the chance for local bands across the country to perform on the highly anticipated Bon Jovi 2022 Tour. Bands are encouraged to submit an audition video of original music for the chance to open for the band at a concert stop on the tour. One local band will be selected for each tour date. For more information and to upload a submission, visit www.bonjovi.com/openingact

The Bon Jovi 2022 Tour will launch this spring in arenas nationwide. Tickets and VIP packages are on sale now. Click here for tickets and more information.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band Bon Jovi announced today the Bon Jovi 2022 Tour, produced by Live Nation and sponsored by Hampton Water. The tour is scheduled for arenas this coming Spring. Tickets will go on-sale to the general public for most markets beginning Friday, January 14th at 10:00am local time. For early access to ticket and VIP packages, The JBJ Experience member pre-sale will begin on Tuesday, January 11th at 10:00am local time.

The band spent much of the past two years recording and releasing new music, while also creating livestream performance content and launching Bon Jovi radio for their fans. Bon Jovi’s 2020 was one of the most critically acclaimed album releases of that year with USA Today calling it “BRILLIANT” and Associated Press highlighting the depth of lyrics within the songs that “chronicle pain, loss, fear and death from the coronavirus, police killings and mass shootings.”

Bon Jovi remains one of the most prolific and sought-after tour tickets in live music today, and getting back on tour was a top priority for the band. “We have all missed touring and we know that nothing can replace the energy of a live show for the fans or the band,” said Jon Bon Jovi.

TOUR DATES:

* On-Sale date January 21st ^ On-Sale date February 4th

The JBJ Experience member pre-sale for Milwaukee and Indianapolis will begin on Tuesday, January 18 at 10am local time and will go on sale to the general public on Friday, January 21 at 10am local time.

The JBJ Experience member pre-sale for Houston and Nashville will begin on Tuesday, February 1 at 10am local time and will go on sale to the general public on Friday, February 4 at 10am local time.

View the article here:

https://variety.com/2021/music/spotlight/intrepid-museum-gala-jon-bon-jovi-iheartradio-bob-pittman-veterans-1235105256/

On October 1, Diana: The Musical will debut on Netflix. Diana features music and lyrics by our very own David Bryan, and Joe DiPietro.

Rock and Roll Hall of Famer   Jon Bon Jovi   will sit down for an exclusive interview March 20 with Spotify’s head of rock, Allison Hagendorf, for “ AXS TV   Presents: A Conversation With Jon Bon Jovi,” followed by the broadcast premiere of the band’s only concert performance of 2020, “On A Night Like This — Bon Jovi 2020.”

“We released our new album during such a unique year and without a tour we had to find a different way to perform these songs for our fans,” said Bon Jovi. “AXS TV has been a great partner and I’m looking forward to everyone getting the chance to watch this special showcasing the band’s first and only time performing 2020 live together.”

The pre-show event will air prior of the broadcast premiere of “On A Night Like This – Bon Jovi 2020” at 8:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. PT. Filmed in quarantine in a studio in Nashville, the film features first-time performances of tracks from the band’s 15th studio album, “2020,” including “Limitless,” “Beautiful Drug” and “Do What You Can.” The film offers fans a glimpse into how the band managed and weathered the storm during a global pandemic, with backstage footage and interviews interspersed throughout the film.

The wide-ranging interview with Hagendorf will explore the past year, with a focus on how Bon Jovi navigated the musical waters in unprecedented times, which resulted in the band delaying the release of its record, cancellation of a tour and Bon Jovi writing two songs inspired by the unfolding events in the nation. The chat will also delve into how the band was able to eventually find a way to film the concert and segments for “On A Night Like This,” and Bon Jovi’s personal focus on passion projects doing his own part to help with the Covid-19 crisis. As a bonus, viewers can submit their own questions in an AXS TV sweepstakes, where several will be selected to be answered in a “Fans Ask” segment.

“I first interviewed Jon nearly a decade ago in New York, and it is truly an honor to have the opportunity to sit down with him once again,” said Hagendorf, host of the Spotify podcast “Rock This With Allison Hagendorf.” “It is such a treat for fans, including myself, to hear firsthand about the band’s personal journey during this challenging past year. I was fascinated to learn how these moments, both big and small, culminated into their latest body of work, and I cannot wait to share it with AXS TV’s audience when the interview premieres on March 20.”

“AXS TV has quickly risen as a premier multiplatform brand sought out by acclaimed artists and entertainers. We are proud to be able to offer them strong promotional partnerships such as this, which empower them to share their latest projects directly with a massive audience of dedicated music enthusiasts,” said Sarah Weidman, head of original programming, development and multi-platform content for AXS TV. “AXS TV is honored to join forces with Bon Jovi to bring ‘On A Night Like This’ to television for the first time as part of a multiplatform event — giving our viewers the best seat in the house for an unforgettable evening featuring an exclusive interview with Jon Bon Jovi followed by a unique performance from one of rock’s most legendary bands.”

Both the interview and the concert will be available across all AXS TV digital platforms immediately following the broadcast premiere, with an encore presentation airing Sunday, March 21 at 10 p.m. ET on AXS TV.

(February 18, 2021)   – Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band BON JOVI releases a new video for their current single   “STORY OF LOVE”   off the band’s critically acclaimed fifteenth studio album   2020 .  True to the lyrics, the video takes a deeply personal look at songwriter Jon Bon Jovi’s family life with never-before-revealed family photos and home videos.  The video will premiere on YouTube this Thursday at 12:30pm ET and Jon will be live on YouTube answer fan questions starting at 12pm ET.  The video can be seen   HERE .

“Although I wrote “Story of Love” about my family, I hope when people listen to the song and watch the video, they will see themselves and their family,” said Jon Bon Jovi.

About Bon Jovi: Over an illustrious career spanning more than three decades since their formation in 1983, Bon Jovi has earned their place among global rock royalty and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as well as the Songwriters Hall of Fame. With over 130 million albums sold worldwide, and extensive catalog of hit anthems, thousands of concerts performed in more than 50 countries for more than 35 million fans, and ticket grosses well over $1 billion around the world in the last decade alone.  Bon Jovi is the consummate rock and roll band.

Bon Jovi has never released an official holiday album, but Jon Bon Jovi is gifting fans this year with not one, not two, but three holiday songs for them to enjoy. The songs are covers of Tom Petty's "Christmas All Over Again," The Pogues' "Fairytale of   New York " and "If I Get Home on   Christmas   Day," which was recorded by Elvis Presley on the 1971 album "Elvis Sings the Wonderful World of Christmas." Petty's "Christmas All Over Again" is a 1992 song that appeared on both the charity album "A Very Special Christmas 2" and on the soundtrack for "Home Alone 2: Lost In New York." The Pogues' song, which is a duet with late singer Kirsty MacColl, came out in 1987, but was recently in the headlines due to the BBC's Radio 1 announcing last month that it would only play a censored version of the song, removing several offensive words in lyrics. In his version, Bon Jovi has gotten around that by rewriting the lyrics to remove the offending words. The music videos for the songs are exclusively available to members of the JBJ Experience Fan Club.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jon Bon Jovi (@jonbonjovi)

NEW YORK, NY – Last week Bon Jovi’s concert documentary On A Night Like This – Bon Jovi 2020 was seen by more than one million viewers who tuned into the Bon Jovi Facebook page to watch the band’s first-ever full album performance of their critically acclaimed release 2020. This week, Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Jon Bon Jovi is giving fans an early holiday gift with the release of three holiday songs: “Christmas All Over Again,” “Fairytale of New York,” and “If I Get Home on Christmas Day,” available Monday, December 7th on all streaming and digital platforms. Recorded this Fall to cap off the 2020 holiday season, the song’s accompanying music videos can be seen exclusively by members of the “The JBJ Experience” which also features outtakes and never-before-seen content on https://www.bonjovi.com/pages/fan-club .

About Bon Jovi:

Over an illustrious career spanning more than three decades since their formation in 1983, Bon Jovi has earned their place among global rock royalty and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as well as the Songwriters Hall of Fame. With over 130 million albums sold worldwide, and extensive catalog of hit anthems, thousands of concerts performed in more than 50 countries for more than 35 million fans, and ticket grosses well over $1 billion around the world in the last decade alone. Bon Jovi is the consummate rock and roll band.

Sometimes it takes an artist to reflect an event back at us, so we can truly see and feel it. It could be a photo taken by a journalist or a witness, like the   Falling Man   from 9/11. Or it could be a film, like Spike Lee’s   When the Levees Broke , which brought home the reality left in Katrina’s wake. This year, Jon Bon Jovi’s trying to show us who we are with his new album   2020 , which tackles the pandemic, political divisiveness, and police violence, among other fractures in the current American landscape. It’s his attempt to, as he puts it, “bear witness to history.”

This is Bon Jovi’s second record since longtime writing partner and guitarist Richie Sambora abruptly left the band during a world tour back in 2013, amid some personal challenges and family struggles. He talks about   2020   as his first time stepping out from behind the rock star person, and it’s a more personal, less glam record than we’ve heard from him before.

But this is still Jon Bon Jovi:   2020   opens strong (first words: “Wake up!”) and grabs you immediately with its straightforward pop-rock clarity. The album is unusual and maybe necessary and inspiring—it became a kind of personal musical life raft this summer during a difficult stretch for my family. When I watched Jon perform ‘Do What You Can’ and ‘Livin’ on a Prayer’ for a benefit he organized for first responders and front-line workers in his home state of New Jersey this summer, it felt as if Bon Jovi could connect the dots between the different voices struggling to be heard in America, and help lead by example through this tumultuous time.

Bon Jovi has also put his money where there were suddenly more mouths to feed than ever and fewer hands to do the work. Since March, both he and his wife could be found most days at the two community restaurants and massive food bank supported by his foundation near his homes in hard-hit New Jersey and Long Island. During the unending months of lockdown, he helped support thousands who needed it, and now he’s delivered a credible soundtrack of American life this year. GQ spoke to Bon Jovi about   2020   and 2020.

GQ: What was the process for this record, now that you’re calling all the shots?

Jon Bon Jovi : Well, I turned the record in and then Covid happened and shut the world down. So I knew that if I was gonna have a topical record in 2020, I better write a Covid song. That’s ‘Do What you Can.’

I was inspired by the health care workers, the students who sacrificed, the grocery store clerk who became an essential worker, the caregiver, the unsung heroes who stepped up to help their neighbors and those who simply wore a mask, not because it was a political tool but because it was a sign of respect for their fellow man.

Then of course the George Floyd incident hit, BLM, so then I sat down to write ‘American Reckoning’ and, finally, at that time I said Amen, the album is now complete. I took the two, let’s call them love songs, off the record and put on ‘Do What You Can’ and ‘American Reckoning’ and I said now there is my   2020.

You say that as if it’s easy to write pop songs about a pandemic and systemic racism and police violence.

I think experience has probably given me that ability, to be honest. Now I find that I have nothing left to really prove, and I have nothing to hide. And the world is in such a place that I felt that I could bear witness to history, as long as I was willing to   be   that witness. I am but a witness to history.

The events I touched on in   2020   touched me. Topics such as veterans dealing with PTSD, gun control, inequality, racial injustice, and many others have an unbiased seat at this table. I didn't take sides on any of these important issues. I just reported on them factually. That was my technique throughout the process. Make it very obvious what the song is about and where I stand, but don't wave a finger, don't be accusatory, that was what I set out to do.

Truthfully, I'm at a point in my career where I know what I do for a living but it doesn't define me; it’s just what I do.

Do what you can. So, what does define you, as a man?

Well, being a father, being a philanthropist. Being the guy that was working in the food bank today and needs a shower desperately and probably should see a doctor for the fuckin hernia that I’m sure I have [laughs].

The model at my restaurants, JBJ Soul Kitchen, is that those in need volunteer for their meals and earn a certificate that will feed up to four family members. Due to the pandemic, we couldn't have any volunteers work. But we still had mouths to feed. So Dorothea and I worked five days a week for two months before we went to Long Island and opened a food bank that fed 6,000 people a month there.

From May through the summer, we worked there every day we were open. We’ve been working since the pandemic began, whether it was at the Soul Kitchen or at the foodbank here on Long Island, giving the food to seven pantries that myself and our foundation have been funding.

When you consider the people who are hungry, they dont give a shit that I play music [laughs]; they’re grateful that I'm the guy that’s giving them the palette of food every week. They   never   ask me about a record. They ask me about, you know, “Is the egg noodles coming next week?” “Are we getting more fruit?” And that’s what I did this morning, from about seven o’clock today till about noon.

The lyrics include what seems like fairly religious imagery: “On a night like this, one prayer, one wish,” “Is there something more? There is an open door, What are you waiting for?” Was that intentional or connected to all this somehow?

I came through that very Catholic upbringing. I went in and out of Catholic school a couple times and did have a problem with what had become the organized Catholic church, the stuff with the priests and altar boys. Not personally mind you. It was from the outside looking in, I wasn’t touched by it. We were removed from it.

Eventually I found spirituality. And now I think that I revert back to, whether it’s just prayer and my connection, for a yearning for that kind of simpler time of my youth? But I do it more now than I ever did. I look toward some kind of higher power.

Someone else I interviewed recently told me he’d finally started trying to “pray into himself.”

Yeah, I think that’s right. You know, shine a light within and that will shine outwardly and enlighten your actions and how you reach the world around you.

Like the line “shine a light” in “American Reckoning.” Who is the record for?  

Me! [laughs] For me. I did this record to get back to the reason why I wanted to do it again. I’d been going through a tough period. In light of what happened with Richie and his kids, his leaving us like that, and not staying to talk. It was very hard for all of us. And it took its toll on me.

The band is a family inasmuch as we had grown up together, done everything together, we had ups and downs, but we never deserted the ship. Whether it was work, or the death of parents or divorces or fame or confusion. We had alcoholism, it got to the point where we had to make decisions that weren’t in the interests of the band, that was for sure.

And so anyhow we came through it. And   This House Is Not for Sale   [the first release after Sambora left the band] was a kind of waving my fists in the air, saying “I refuse to let my house crumble,” but it’s tough finding people who want to go out there and then showing them how to play the songs and write the songs and have something to say.

It certainly wasn't going to be a big pop record because I’m just not in that place. So then I needed to get in touch with that gift that I have for writing songs. So I’ve worked   very   hard, whether it was on the record or lately on myself or my relationship with Tico and Dave, so that we got stronger as a unit. And it turned out to be really great, because we got tighter and as a result we felt we, the collective we, did no wrong.

In a strange way my forgiveness for Richie allowed me to grow, and David to grow, and Tico to grow into who we are today. Because we were forced down a different road. You don’t blame someone for that, you sort of have to say thank you, because it helps you continue your little journey. Sometimes someone has to get off an exit in order for you to continue this journey.

There was no fourth leg on the table. And by the way, we had 80 more shows left on that tour. But we did it. And it was   very successful .

Having been through this personal rough patch, I really want to know: What’s your philosophy of life these days?

Philosophy? I think that my goal is just to try to be a better version of myself every day. Just try to do something to better yourself. Even if that something is just... sleep. You know? Just something to make yourself better, I don’t mean a better singer or a better rock star. A better person.

That’s important, especially now. I’ll be honest: I’ve had a very tough year myself. Middle age is rough. You got the kids to take care of, the parents getting older—you’re in the “middle.”

Yeah. How old are you?

A lot happens between 48 and 58. I sort of joke that 50 is the last decadent birthday, but by 58 you have a different kind of perspective. And I’m not old enough to start thinking about mortality, I think that’s still another ten, twelve years ahead of me, but the idea that we’re not the kid in the room anymore.

48, 58—you’re sort of accomplishing or have accomplished the great things that you’re gonna do, and that’s all well and good, but what matters more is what you’re building with your family. Because those two chapters, you can’t fuck up either one of those or they’re gonna scar you.

Fix those circumstances and get them right now, start writing your own chapters. Live with them. Make them something worth reading again.

How are your kids?

No real problems. Stephanie is doing well and works in television. The youngest is fully committed to playing the guitar and wanting to learn how to write. He just took a step where he can really play the guitar. That’s what came out of Covid for him, six months in the wood shed. Jake is gonna go to Syracuse for acting. He spent the past year studying. And Jesse has the wine business—very successful, if you like a good rosé.

We talked about family, religion, music—Jersey law requires me to ask you about football and politics. I know you’re a fan of at least one of those things. But you seem to code switch between worlds and get along with lots of different people.

I don’t think that I get along with lots of different people [laughs]. But yeah, football was something that was a common thread in our house, whether it was my father or my uncle, you could find them Sunday watching the Giants. And then my relationships through my celebrity allowed me to meet people on the Giants, which then led me to my relationship with a young man who is now an old man by the name of Bill Belichick. Last night I had dinner with Robert Kraft, who is one of my dearest friends.

Is he still mad at Tom Brady?

He’s not mad at Tommy! No!

Unlike football, politics is not anything I ever grew up with. My family was not involved at all. My wife’s family was probably more involved in politics. And we’ve met a number of politicians over the years. Whether the current governor, or the previous governor, Chris Christie.

I’m friendly with Chris. Although we didn't have to agree with each other’s politics all the time, we could certainly talk as fellow New Jerseyites with things in common that we wanted to do for people there. So you could have a conversation with somebody, regardless of what side you’re on.

Do you think people are still listening to each other? Are you worried about the current political climate? You have a song on the record, “Blood in the Water,” about it.

I think the division that’s evolved in the last four to six years is an America that I'm afraid for. Bickering among political themes has become something that’s dividing families—parents and kids, husbands and wives. I’m worried about how we come together as a country. [A silent pause.] I’m so scared. I’m so scared. I’m scared. 

Yeah. Me too.

When I grew up, the idea of the middle class in Sayreville, it was hardworking, blue collar, really white, but a really good hardworking solid town made up of second-generation, primarily European immigrants. Believed in this kind of John Kennedy mantra of we can do anything we wanna do, we can go to the moon, and so I grew up in this very innocent wonderful kind of time. And then I came to be old enough to vote and Ronald Reagan was telling everybody that there should be a car in every driveway and a chicken in every pot, telling Gorbachev to tear down that wall. It certainly wasn't the day and age my kids are growing up in now.

But it also allowed us to dream ridiculously big, because we didn't know any better. You know I’ve told this story many times before: Bono grew up thinking about the Orangemen marching, and we grew up thinking about Little League and Pop Warner. It was many years after the race riots, many many years after the work of MLK, RFK, Malcolm X. It was a different era.

Now my kid just graduated from college. Those poor kids missed out on graduation, the prom, turned 18 at home, given one hour of outdoor time, they were born out of 9/11. That’s a shit hand to be dealt. But on the other hand, I think they’re going to be that next great generation, because they have to be. Are they going to have the same opportunities? What are the chances they’re going to have a chance to sell 130 million albums?

Is that possibility even out there anymore? How different are things now?

The pandemic changed lives. Everyone has their own story. And hopefully out of a crisis comes the next generation’s innovators, inspired, and engaged, ready to lead by example and move into an era of ‘we,’ not ‘me.’

This interview has been edited and condensed.

His chagrin turned to songs.

“American Reckoning.” “Lower The Flag.” “Brothers In Arms.” “Unbroken.” “Let It Rain.” “Blood In The Water.” There’s a tension to them, a sense of a live electric wire down on a rain-covered street; dangerous, hard to handle, yet the sparking wire absolutely must be addressed. If “Limitless” and “Do What You Can” took on “Livin’ On A Prayer” faith and positivity, while “Beautiful Drug” and “Story of Love” offered the realities of how  all  the different kinds of love unfold for classic Bon Jovi fans, the 58-year old rocker needed more from  2020 . Not just more “hey, watch me be serious,” or “hey! let me be a big rock star!!!” more, but more helping people shake off the stupor induced by emotional-button-pushing so they could plug into their fellow humans.

“I set out to make a topical record,” concedes the earworm king of “It’s My Life,” and “You Give Love A Bad Name” on the phone from Jersey. “The first song was ‘Blood in the Water’ two years ago. The names have changed, but the story hasn’t…

“Because the song’s not just a moment in time, I wondered ‘Would it be dated?’ It starts with Storme Daniels and the line ‘a storm is coming…’ – and it’s not (dated).

“The immigration problem with kids in cages, Russian hacks, which we’re going to be seeing again. At one point, it’s Guiliani or Barr, Michael Cohen, all the people who’ve stood up for him…”

Not that he’s taking sides. Aware enough to know, he realizes preaching to the choir doesn’t help.

“I’m just the narrator. You know my position, there’s no need to go there. But ‘Lower the Flag,’ ‘American Reckoning,’ just the facts tell the story,” he pauses, thinking about the conflicting voices and confusion around all of us. Left, right, liberal, conservative, Republican, Democrat, Independent, Anarchist, Kanye: so many points of view, so little grounding.

“I don’t know where to tell you to view the unspun truth. Either side of the aisle, the news, social media, it’s hard to find the truth. We’re politically divided, and unable to have testing because no one wants to find the common ground.

“But what if this – any of these songs – happened to someone in your life?”

Empathy. Not a buzzword for ‘80s and ‘90s arena rockers, yet “Unbroken” found him working to understand the reality of PTSD, injured vets and the power of service animals. He admits, “I never served. This came from a phone call from my publisher, asking if I’d be interested in writing a song for a small documentary about soldiers with PTSD…”

Not even edited, the director shared a couple clips, sent over some facts, talked about the mission of both the film and the story being told. In a world often looking away from those who served, Bon Jovi – whose parents met in the Marines – knew the landmines would be in repeating the canon of post-military songs.

“I was very conscious of Billy Joel’s ‘Saigon,’ Bruce’s ‘Born in the USA,’ ‘Sam Stone,’ but the kids in this movie… they weren’t drafted, they signed up for a better way of life. When they put on that uniform, it was something they’re so identified by and with,  when you take it away from them, it’s like Superman’s cape is gone.

“So in talking to some of the people, someone told me, ‘You’re either broken, or you’re put back together.’ That struck me, so I made it a hymn, or a prayer for all of us.”

A prayer for all of us. What could be more necessary in times like these? Considering the delay, providence given the addition of “American Reckoning” as a reality check with urgency that doesn’t tell anyone how to think,   2020   somehow didn’t miss its moment. While so many people’s music has seen its meaning shift during the shutdowns, the waiting, the pause and the inability to tour, JBJ got lucky. For him, the gap only made his new record more necessary, more of the moment and more urgent. If “You Do What You Can” is a fizzy rocker empowering whatever difference you can create, the rest of the album opens up perspectives for the state of America no matter what side you’re on.

Forbes.com "It's a long way from 'You Give Love A Bad Name' to 'American Reckoning.'" Jon Bon Jovi says laughing. Don't misunderstand, tThe Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame frontman is very proud of his storied past.

As he says during our 45-minute Zoom call to discuss the band's superb new   2020   album, he stands behind the band's seminal hits, like "You Give Love A Bad Name" and "Livin' On A Prayer. But now at age 58, he isn't trying to recreate his past.

" I said this when I was 25, 'When I'm 50 I don't want to be painting my fingernails black and writing bitch on my belly,'" he says laughing.

So on this new album he has written some of the most powerful and compelling songs of his storied career, including "American Reckoning," which directly references the George Floyd killing this past May, and "Lower The Flag," a forceful song about the gun violence epidemic in America.

I spoke with him about the writing of the album, remaining a fan of his heroes, including his friend "Beatle Paul," his philanthropic foundation and his favorite lyricists.

Steve Baltin: Do you feel a sense of prophecy in these songs?

Jon Bon Jovi: I'll give you a great example of a prophecy is "Blood In The Water." It was the first one in the summer of '18 and I could walk you through it. "A storm is coming," Stormy Daniels. "Let me be clear/the walls around you are closing in," could've been last night's debate. So whether it was Stormy Daniels and Michael Cohen and General Flynn to the impeachment hearing to the Russian hack at the end of it, which was in '16, that's relevant now, this same storyline, to me, is a revolving door of characters. I did think for a period of time, "Oh my god, this is gonna be dated. No one is gonna know who I am referencing." But it doesn't matter because it was as relevant this morning after last night's debates. So that song, to me, specifically, is a prophecy, it's timeless.

Baltin: Another song I really loved is "Unbroken," which falls in the tradition of great anti-war songs.

Bon Jovi: A song like "Unbroken" will always be timeless because soldiers will always be coming home and dealing with this. I had a conversation with a director [Josh Aronson] of a very small, but moving documentary called   To Be Of Service . And he had asked me to write a song hoping that my name and his bet that I could write "the" song could bring attention to this issue. And I wanted my spin to be the pride that men and women have when they put that uniform on. And then the issues they have once they take it off. When you think about how identified a soldier is when he walks down the street that's a great sense of pride in the world in which live today. It's not the Vietnam era with the young men and women returned to be spat upon. Nowadays they're heroes and they come back and we all appreciate what they give. When you take that uniform off, you put the Superman costume back in the closet and yet you're having to deal with the traumas. And I still wanted to find that thing that made them want to keep doing it and be proud of what they did. So in the very last line, when it says, "You asked me was it worth it to be of service in the end/Well the blessing and the curse is/Yeah, I'd do it all again." And the responses I have gotten to that differentiate it from [John] Fogerty writing Vietnam-era songs or Bruce [Springsteen] writing "Born In The U.S.A."

Baltin: If I remember you are also a huge Tom Waits fan and "Day After Tomorrow: is as good an anti-war song as you will find.

Bon Jovi: I adore Tom Waits, Waits and [Leonard] Cohen, two of my favorite lyricists absolutely. He's a genius. Some people just think of "The Heart Of Saturday Night" or if they really think they're witty they go, "You know, he wrote 'Jersey Girl.'" (Cracks up) Yeah, I know. I love a good storyteller and he is one of the greats.

Baltin: One of the things I love about this album is it's built around just telling relatable stories. And it's funny because people may think you haven't spoken out before on these issues. But even "Livin' On A Prayer" is very much a story.

Bon Jovi: It is a story song. The thing about a song like that, which was the timeless boy meets girl, we will win in the end, fill in the blank with the names and then they become you, the story has been told. What I loved about this is I didn't make these my story. This is just the truth being reported, just facts and moments in time that I either lived or watched or read about. So I really didn't have much of an interest in writing a pop song in the true sense of a pop song with that boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl back. It wasn't inspiring.

Baltin: Writing is a subconscious thing often. So were there moments on there you didn't realize how deeply you felt about things until you made this album?

Bon Jovi: Oh yeah. "Lower The Flag" and "American Reckoning" come to mind off the top of my head. Both issues that obviously I felt very deeply about and that I could articulate. And to be able to articulate them not only in conversation , but in a song. These weren't things that I had ever tackled before, but I was cognizant of. And to get it to a place where I'm very proud of the presentation so I'm able to share it, it's a long way from "You Give Love A Bad Name" to "American Reckoning" (laughs).

Baltin: Are you more comfortable with it as you've gotten older since most every artist seems to get more comfortable and confident with themselves as get older?

Bon Jovi: For clarity, in truth, I adore "Runaway" and "You Give Love A Bad Name" and "Livin' On A Prayer." And that's absolutely positively who and what I was and what I wanted to say. And it's all I knew how to say at that time. I wasn't looking to do more than that. And because I've been around so long this is who I am at 58 years old. That's not who I was at 21 and 25. So this has just been the journey I'm on. Here I am today. If a listener picks up an album and expects "Livin' On A Prayer" part six, you're not gonna find it here. I don't want to rewrite it. That was then.

Baltin: Do you feel, and this ties in with your charity work, as you've gotten older it's more important to focus on and share that?

Bon Jovi: Because we've taken the foundation to such a place I never thought we would, where that motivation comes from, it really wasn't instilled me as a kid. Not to the place I do it now. My parents weren't political or involved in the community. It's something that evolved in me with my wife, which is why. And it happened as I grew and grew up. No one should blame a twenty-year-old for having single-minded focus on wanting to be the lead singer in a rock band and singing about that. Amen to it. But if I were 58 and still writing songs about that I think it would be a waste of an opportunity. I said this when I was 25, "When I'm 50 I don't want to be painting my fingernails black and writing bitch on my belly" (laughs). And so we stood out from the genre from whence we came and I'll stand here in front of you with gray hair and a 32-inch waist and say, "It's who I am, that's where it's at. I'm not pretending and dying my hair and getting Botox on the 'Where are They Now' tour." I'm not interested. I'd rather walk away and leave a good-looking corpse than try and chase the past. To me, that would be a sin.

Baltin: Are there artists you admire for the way they evolved and aged gracefully? And of course saying that about John Lennon feels ironic because he didn't get to age gracefully. His evolution was in such a short time.

Bon Jovi: Boy, what he did. I have the absolute incredible, heaven-sent gift to actually be able to say I'm friendly with Paul McCartney. And I get to spend a lot of time with him in the summers. And I jokingly tell him that John and George just went back to their planet. It just doesn't make any sense. John went from "She Loves Ya" to "Imagine." Who would've thought that in that boy was that man?

Baltin: I love that you refer to it as a heaven-sent blessing to be friendly with him. What would your childhood self think about being friendly with Paul McCartney?

Bon Jovi: I refer to him as Beatle Paul all the time. Wherever I'm at with him it's "Hey, Beatle Paul, hey Beatle Paul." And one night he actually said to me, "Why do you do that?" And I said, "Because I'm too old to call you Mr. McCartney and I'm too in awe to think that I could call you Paul. I'm too reverent." And he's like, "Okay." That was one amazing but true story. I'm such a fan of a lot of people. When I met Tom Waits it was the same way. I was like, "No, you don't get it. I have tried to write 10 of your songs for the last 30 years." I was like that with [Bob] Dylan and with Bruce [Springsteen], from the time I was a little boy. So a lot of those guys that I still look up to in that kind of way.

Baltin: What is the one Tom Waits song you wish you could have written and why?

Bon Jovi: "Who Are You." That just immediately came to mind, the same way Dylan's "I Want You" is one of those kind of songs, or "Just Like A Woman." But you know, "Who Are You?" F**k! And I love "I Don't Wanna Grow Up,"   Bone Machine , they're all so good. "Hold On," what a great f**king song. "Come On Up To The House," "The House Where Nobody Lives," oh those f**king lyrics, awesome. Oh yeah, you and I could go deep on this.

Baltin: No songwriter is ever satisfied. But you hit moments you feel you are coming closer to where you want to be. Did you find those on   2020 ?

Bon Jovi: I'm too close to the album today to tell you a song, but this album says that for me. I'm just a little too close to it right now because I'm literally working on the live film we shot of it and editing. I'm too close. But I'm so proud of it as a whole. One thing that Covid did was it allowed me to go back and listen to a whole bunch of the albums. Some of it was better than I thought. Some of it wasn't as good as I hoped, but the body of work still holds up to me.

Watch the video HERE on RollingStone.com Bon Jovi   were the latest musical guests on  Ellen   this week, performing the song “Beautiful Drug” from their new album  2020 .

On a makeshift stage surrounded by carpeting and draped curtains, the band played a socially distanced rendition of the song, which celebrates the power of love through the darkest times. And like several of the songs on   2020 , “Beautiful Drug” finds   Jon Bon Jovi   getting topical about the current American crisis: “Tear off your mask, no need to hide/There’s a prescription that no doctor can prescribe,” he sings. “Can’t walk on water, down on your knees/You enter numbers, step right up, the stuff is guaranteed.”

Last month, Bon Jovi previewed  2020   with the single   “Do What You Can,”   with an accompanying music video featuring Jon Bon Jovi walking around a deserted New York City during Covid-19 lockdown. Jon Bon Jovi   later dueted   with Sugarland singer Jennifer Nettles on the song.

“As I finished the mix and did the video [for the album version], I said, ‘Boy, this song would have such crossover potential.’ Jennifer was my first choice, and she said yes,” Jon Bon Jovi told   Rolling Stone   in an interview . The pair previously scored a Number One country hit in 2005 with “Who Says You Can’t Go Home.”

APNews.com Jon Bon Jovi has been churning out love songs and arena anthems for nearly 40 years, but his latest release “2020,” has taken his music to another level.

It’s Bon Jovi’s most socially conscious album to date. Calling the collection, a “moment in time,” he references COVID-19, the killing of George Floyd, the 2019 Dayton shooting, PTSD of returning soldiers and other issues concerning the 58-year old rocker.

But tackling hot-button topics can be divisive, especially with fans on both sides of the political aisle. Bon Jovi says that’s not his intention.

“I am a witness to history, and if I took that position throughout the project, I didn’t think it would be political. I thought it would be social commentary,” Bon Jovi said. He defended his approach saying, “nowhere along this line does it say, you know, left, right, red, blue, black, white.”

Originally set for a spring release, the album was delayed, and a tour was cancelled because of the pandemic. That gave him more time to reflect on the world around him. That period added “Do What You Can,” a tribute to those fighting COVID-19, and “American Reckoning,” which was an emotional response to hearing Floyd calling out for his mother as a police officer kneeled on his neck.

“My eyes welled up with tears and I couldn’t help but go in my room and try to write a song,” he said.

Proceeds from the single will support the Equal Justice Initiative.

Bon Jovi shared his thoughts on these tumultuous time during an interview with The Associated Press. He also spoke about the weirdness of the band’s recent live performance in Nashville, Tennessee, whether he plans to tour on the senior circuit like Bruce Springsteen or Mick Jagger and why he sees hope in the next generation.

AP: During a lockdown, a lot becomes evident. Where have you found hope?

Bon Jovi: I have a son who graduated high school this year, now as a freshman at college, and he’s not having any of the experiences that other kids would have had. But out of that, what I really believe in my soul is that those kids who were born out of 9/11 and graduate school in a pandemic are going to be the ones that are the innovators, the creators, the ones that are going to fix the mess that old guys like me and you left them. And I think that they’re gonna be the ones that don’t give a damn about the color of your skin or your sexual orientation.

AP: Did you have any concerns when writing about George Floyd in “American Reckoning”? Bon Jovi: Even though we have the foundation and I’ve built affordable housing for 15 years from Newark to Camden to Philly to Georgia to L.A., I don’t pretend to know what it’s like to walk a mile in his shoes. And so, I made sure I wrote that down. If there’s a such thing as white privilege, then obviously I fit that profile: A white, older, affluent man who happens to also be a celebrity. I never had to have “the talk,” you know. And so, I made sure I wrote that down. And all of this, I had to make sure I got right. READ THE FULL INTERVIEW HERE

AmericanSongwriter.com In an incredibly timely interview,   People Have The Power   host Steve Baltin sat down with   Jon Bon Jovi   to discuss his latest album release,   2020 , and how he chooses to witness history. 

Released this past Friday,   2020   is a 13-track ode to humanity’s current state as well as a timeless body of work embodying the larger emotions of a tumultuous time. Baltin had exclusive access to the brain behind the album as he questioned Bon Jovi on his many inspirations and songwriting practices.

TRACKLISTING with songwriter credits

Limitless (Jon Bon Jovi, Billy Falcon, John Shanks) Do What You Can (Jon Bon Jovi) American Reckoning (Jon Bon Jovi) Beautiful Drug (Jon Bon Jovi, Billy Falcon, John Shanks) Story of Love (Jon Bon Jovi) Let It Rain (Jon Bon Jovi) Lower the Flag (Jon Bon Jovi) Blood in the Water (Jon Bon Jovi) Brothers in Arms (Jon Bon Jovi) Unbroken (Jon Bon Jovi)

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Bon Jovi (formed in 1983) is an American hard rock band known for their arena-filling live shows and instantly recognisable worldwide hit single “Livin’ on a Prayer”, hailing from Sayreville, New Jersey.

Originally comprised of Garden State natives, frontman Jon Bon Jovi, keyboard and backing vocalist David Bryan, drummer Tico Torres, lead guitarists Richie Sambora, and bassist Alec John Such, the group has remained a fairly solid lineup since its formation. The band began playing around New Jersey, opening for touring bands, which is how they caught the attention of record executive Derek Shulman. He subsequently signed Bon Jovi to Mercury Records and released their debut, self-titled album in January 1984. Peaking at No. 43 on the Billboard 200, the record introduced the band’s huge, dramatic and heavy guitar-driven sound, which resulted in the band opening for the Scorpions in the U.S. and Kiss in Europe.

After a disappointing second album “7800° Farenheit” was released in 1985, Bon Jovi issued their breakthrough album “Slippery When Wet” in August 1986. Holding the top spot of the Billboard 200 for a remarkable eight weeks, the record was led by the No. 1 knockout singles “You Give Love a Bad Name” and “Livin’ on a Prayer”, turning the group into household names the world over. The group’s 130-show supporting tour became a huge success and earned the band nearly $30,000,000. Building on this success Bon Jovi’s fourth, “New Jersey” once again found the top of the charts aided by the No. 1 singles “Bad Medicine” and “I’ll Be There for You”. With a reputation as one of the best and most intense touring bands in the world, Bon Jovi set off on a 232 show tour which included a show in the Soviet Union.

The constant cycle of recording and touring began to take its toll on the group and in 1990 Bon Jovi took a hiatus to focus on family and individual pursuits. After a conversation about the longevity of the group in St. Thomas, the members agreed to start making a new album. That new album proved to be “Keep the Faith” released in November 1992. Marked by its mature, thoughtful lyrics, the album was succeeded by the compilation “Cross Road”, which featured the band's most successful single to date, “Always”. Bassist Alec John Such was subsequently fired from the band and unofficially replaced by Hugh McDonald.

Following another huge worldwide tour, Bon Jovi issued their sixth album “These Days” in 1995, followed by “Crush” in 2000, and “Bounce” in 2002. In 2003 the band reworked a number of their biggest hits and compiled them onto the studio album “This Left Feels Right” in November. Prior to the arrival of their 10th studio album, “Have a Nice Day” in 2005, Bon Jovi was bestowed with the Award for Merit at the American Music Awards in 2003. Playing to nearly two million fans the world over, the “Have a Nice Day” Tour grossed nearly $200 million, following close behind successful tour by The Rolling Stones and Madonna.

The full-length “Lost Highway” followed in June 2007, led by the singles “(You Want to) Make a Memory” and “Lost Highway”. Following the subsequent tour, Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora were inducted into the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame in 2009, the same year they released their 12th studio album, “The Circle”.

Live reviews

funny because in google before you click to this site. It says

BON JOVI is on tour and has one

Coming up. But then when you go to

The actual site It states there are

NO Bon Jovi yours coming up.So why are they Conradicting themselves here on Song kicks ????. the only

thing is Jon Bon Jovi has only been

Playing at small Venues. Along with the band that is backing him up "kings of suburbia" He hasn't done anything with the Bond Jovi

band members since he recorded a

Shot concert on April 29,2021 for

Druve-Ins and Theaters. Now the only thing he is doing is for a vacation company called "RUNAWAY TOURS" for Halloween And it is only 2 nights He is gonna do a short gig and then take pictures and maybe answer some questions there's some questions for a couple of nights this is mainly just a vacation package to Miami, Florida That is outrageously expensive Is nothing like a tour concert. This thing hes doing now is a couple of $1000 plus And you have to pay for your plane fare and your food. And as for the Night of 29th and 30th And the 31st of October. But the hotel is only for 2 nights. And they still haven't booked up completely. The 1st one they did a few months ago booked up really fast for all that's for all 3 of the prices prices but this time they're not booking everything up. Most people can't afford several $1000.

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I've been going to Bon Jovi gigs in UK since 1986. I was 15, already had both their previous albums. First UK tour, they played a tiny local theatre, which was half empty as they were barely known over here back then! I've been to every UK tour since, except one..even saw them at Donnington "Monsters of Rock", which is now Download. Manchester, Stoke City Stadium, Coventry; I've loved every concert, but I have to say, Coventry is a lousy venue!! It's a nightmare to get to and the lack of parking is a complete ball ache. PLEASE do more dates at Manchester and replace Coventry with the Stadium in Stoke, now called The BET 365 Stadium and is home to Stoke City fc, so same size as Coventry. Loads of parking, and not clogging up motorway slip roads to get there either. Other than that, cannot fault ANY concet I've seen; Jon is so professional. 2 concerts, on 2 consecutive tours, it belted it down with rain and they carried on, towelling off inbetween. Jon even laughed while singing the line "til the heavens burst" during "Always" Phil X is a great guitarist too. I've seen Kiss, Halestorm, Def Leppard, TOTO, Tina Turner, Guns n Roses, plus many more and Bon Jovi will always be top of my list. Lifelong fan, 37 years on from my first concert and 39 yeats since my first album "Bon Jovi". Keep on rocking!

Bon Jovi remains, to this day, a musical icon. The band is one of the most successful and famous rock bands of all time and, judging on the ridiculously large crowd that excitedly came to see the band perform live, they will never, ever lose their star. Years after their formation in 1983, Bon Jovi’s hits are still classics that everyone, young and old, can’t fail to recognise. And this is precisely why it was so brilliant to watch them perform live, in a packed out arena of thousands of fans. The energy was out of this world, and the fans were so excited that they could barely contain themselves. Even the sound check guy got an ear deafening scream when he appeared on stage. When Jon Bon Jovi himself appeared, the world exploded. Proving that he still got it, Jon Bon Jovi put his famous vocals to test with a big opener: ‘Always’. The crowd went wild. We were treated to all the hits, spanning all the decades. ‘Who Says You Can’t Go Home’ was a notable one, with the whole crowd singing along, but it was ‘Livin’ on a Prayer’ that, of course, brought the house down.

I Love Bonjovi!!!Have been a fan since 1984, seen them 9 times in concert, have all their music old and new, 3 shows I went to see them by myself, this show I went by myself, and as always it was awesome!!!! Jon is amazing, I loved what he did when he quizzed the audience about the radio station, lol I just can't get over that, as any woman I wish that was me lol,they always put on a great performance, and make you feel good, I also loved when he would turn to the back of the stage and kick box into the video at the end of the song he did this 3 times, I give them 10 stars on this show, Philx was really good, I could see how much he really enjoys what he is doing, the stage was phenomenal, with the slinky lights, and how this house is not for sale picture of the album was included awesome!!!! I also have to say how much I missed seeing Richie, but, they're performance proved they've moved on, got it together and Jon Bonjovi, Tico, and David, I remember you guys in your 20's,30's,40's, I just can't believe its been over 30 years, you guys are amazing!!

Some bands never lose their appeal due to the fact their hit singles still seem relevant and able to play on radios years later. They turn from songs into much loved anthems and are passed down between families and friends. New Jersey glam rock outfit Bon Jovi definitely sit within this category thanks to their runaway success in the 80s.

Years later they are still packing out arenas with fans old and new who are all enthusiastic and ready to bellow along to those recognisable choruses. Although it is over thirty years since the band first formed, all the musicians remain so lively and passionate onstage most noticeably Jon himself who conducts his crowd like a pastor addressing his faithful church commune. He preaches, they agree although there are no hallelujahs just great rock choruses on the likes of 'Always' and 'Bad Medicine'. They leave stage in a barrage of lights and guitar riffs yet the crowd knows they will be returning for the synonymous 'Livin' On A Prayer' which unites the thousand strong audience in one almighty singalong.

Bon Jovi has been rocking it around the world since the eighties and hasn't given up yet.

They've been touring huge arenas for years and even in their ripe old age they still manage to put on over a two hour long performance that will leave you breathless and will have you singing along and dancing all night to the hits from Slippery When Wet all the way up to their latest album What about Now.

They'll make you feel like you've been time warped to the land of neon t-shirts and big hair! You'll want to go bust out your members only jacket and flock of seagulls haircut after you see them. Bringing back a blast from the past you'll be able to see the hits like "Wanted Dead or Alive" and "Living on a Prayer" just like they were in the eighties.

Bon Jovi can still hit every note perfectly and does it with a flair that only he can bring. Richie Sambora never misses a note in any of his solos and can still rock out with the best of them even going as far as doing a ten minute long guitar solo in the middle of their set.

We paid for general admission seating so we couldn't get anywhere near the stage. The screen would have been fine, but the sound system was horrible and we could barely hear him. From what we did hear, the sound was entirely muffled.

In addition, people smoked all around us and there was no fresh air. Our 10 and 8 year old boys were miserable. There were a lot of people complaining but no one from Dick's Sporting Goods was there. There were only volunteers and no one knew how to address the issue. We decided to leave after 15 minutes of the music starting. And speaking of the music starting, he started 2 1/2 hours late.

It was the worst concert I've ever experienced. And not only did we put $280 for four tickets, we paid for a hotel room so we could go to the concert.

My first concert was 95 wembley stadium. Ab absolutely mega l cant explain to people just how mega it was you wouldn't be able to understand or appreciate it unless you ate a fan of theirs. It was just electric. I was so excited it was Wembley stadium.l had never been anywhere as big as that. I remember going to the seats the sound of the music booming out. I think it was vanhalen jump.l was so excited l got to a bit where you could stand and l looked over the bars and felt as though l was going to fall into the crowd. I felt like l was walking on air and no l hadn't been drinking.it was just amazing l went with my mum who has now passed away. A memory l will hold in my heart forever.

What can i say, the show was fantastic, mind i have not been to a bad one yet, and i have been going since 1995, the shows get better and better, we always get vip, we have stood in que's for hours and had gold circle, also being at the front, but know we like a bit of comfort , so we go vip, which is fabulous , of you have not been to a Bon jovi concert you are missing out, the only thing i was dissapointed about was how long it took them to come to England and then there was only a choice of 3 venue' one up north and 2 down south, also jon i do miss the fireworks at the end bring them back , but all in all fab as always, just dont leave it so long next time xxxxxxxxx

Fortunate enough to be in a hospitality box, with a very good (close) view.

The biggest issue, was the terribly poor sound quality. I don't know if this was because of where our box was (to the side) or whether the sound was generally very poor.

when he spoke, we could not make out a single word he said.

again, when he sang, were it not for us knowing the words to his most famous songs, we would not have had a clue what he was singing.

visually, excellent, atmosphere was tremendous, but the sound was terrible.

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Jon Bon Jovi’s Long Journey Back: ‘Life Has Happened’

How the kid phenom of jersey rock has handled 40 years of fame — and the potential loss of his most precious instrument: his voice.

John Colapinto,

In the spring of 2022, Jon Bon Jovi led his band on what they hoped would be a triumphant return to live performing after a two-year pandemic break. They had booked a 15-city U.S. arena tour. By the third or fourth show, however, critics were asking, “What’s going on with Jon Bon Jovi’s voice?” Known for the power, range and precision of his hard-rock belting on hits like “Livin’ on a Prayer” and “Wanted Dead or Alive,” on this tour the singer was often flat, reedy, choked. The band’s longtime keyboardist, David Bryan, who’d been playing with Bon Jovi since they were 16, says: “Something was wrong. It was scary as hell for all of us and for him.”

Legendarily driven, Bon Jovi pushed on with the tour. But after a show in Nashville, he came offstage and his wife, Dorothea, told him flat out, “It wasn’t great.” Jon and Dorothea had met and started dating in high school; they married in 1989 and have been together ever since, a remarkable feat in the music business. He knew he might be staring down the barrel of retirement , the end of a career he had worked extremely hard to build.

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It was a fate he could not quite accept. That June, Bon Jovi underwent surgery on his throat, which gave him, and his band, considerable hope. Since then, they have recorded a new LP, Forever , their 16th studio album, released this June during the band’s 40th anniversary year. But when — or even whether — Bon Jovi’s voice can withstand the rigors of another multicity arena tour remains up in the air. His doctor is hopeful. Dorothea knows that her husband has the grit to confront the challenge — as she makes clear in a new four-part Hulu documentary titled Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story , which chronicles not only the band’s rise to fame but Jon’s vocal struggles. “He’s used to controlling everything,” Dorothea says. “I always say, by sheer will, he will make it happen.”

I met with Bon Jovi in late February, a few days before his 62nd birthday. He greeted me in the kitchen of his home, a French château–style house in New Jersey. As he prepared us some tea with ginger honey (“My crack,” he said, flashing his billion-watt smile), he immediately off-footed me with an unexpected show of modesty. I complimented him on more than 1 billion Spotify streams of “Livin’ on a Prayer,” and he waved away the praise, saying Taylor Swift and The Weeknd regularly rack up more. (For all his diplomacy, Bon Jovi holds his own in such company, with worldwide record sales of more than 130 million.)

We sat in his personal office, which was crammed with memorabilia and musical instruments . Dressed in a pale blue T-shirt and faded jeans, he looked fit and healthy. He has allowed his hair to go gray, and his once Teen Beat –pretty face is all the more handsome for its smile lines and wrinkles . His speaking voice is grainier than it used to be, and he is careful with it. There’s an awful lot riding on those vocal cords.

We Can Be Heroes

Bon Jovi’s struggle has perhaps been particularly hard on a man who, by his own admission, has been extraordinarily lucky. He was born John Bongiovi in 1962, the eldest of three sons, and raised in the modest suburban community of Sayreville, New Jersey. His parents — dad, a hairdresser; mom, a florist — had met in the Marines, and they encouraged his rock ’n’ roll dream from the start. “They were like, ‘You can do this,’ ” he recalls. “And you believed it.” At 16 he formed his band the Atlantic City Expressway, and they landed a regular gig at the Fast Lane, a bar on the Jersey Shore where his heroes Bruce Springsteen and Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes had cut their teeth. He jumps up and shows me a photo of the band in matching satin tour jackets. “Look at those jackets!” He laughs with irony and nostalgia. “Emulating Southside Johnny!”

Skipping college (“There was no plan B,” he says), he was working as a gofer at a Manhattan recording studio when he wrote “Runaway,” his wide-eyed response to the teenage streetwalkers who thronged the Port Authority bus terminal on his commute into the city. Recorded after hours at the studio, the single was picked up by a local radio station and was soon being requested at affiliated stations across the country. Record labels scrambled to see the band live. But there was no band. Bon Jovi reached out to acquaintances that included a guitarist and songwriter named Richie Sambora, for what all of them assumed would be a short promo tour. It would extend to four decades.

In 1983, he signed with the Mercury label of PolyGram Records, which suggested a name change from “Bongiovi” to “Bon Jovi” because it looked like “Van Halen.” After releasing two passable albums, songwriters Bon Jovi and Sambora sought fresh inspiration from the pro Desmond Child, who pushed the pair to extend their themes beyond “hot girls and cars” to tell actual stories. The trio pumped out “You Give Love a Bad Name” and “Livin’ on a Prayer” — irresistible sing-along mega anthems that powered the band’s third LP, Slippery When Wet , to No. 1 on the Billboard album chart. Global arena tours ensued. Asked about the moment when he first realized, Wait, I’m an actual rock star, Bon Jovi shakes his head. “You always say you’re a rock star. I played in that club in that satin jacket, and I thought I was a rock star.”

Many of the songs Bon Jovi writes are strikingly inspirational, with soaring choruses: songs about the underdog prevailing, the long-shot triumph, the star-crossed lovers who defeat the odds. And then there are songs like “Bed of Roses,” off the band’s fifth LP, Keep the Faith (1992), which hints at the temptations of living out of lonely hotel rooms on the road. It includes the lyrics: “ ’Cause a bottle of vodka’s / Still lodged in my head / And some blonde gave me nightmares / Think that she’s still in my bed … ” He and Dorothea were married when he wrote those words, which begged a nosy journalistic question.

“Those lyrics to ‘Bed of Roses,’ ” I start to say, delicately, “are very — ”

“Honest,” he cut me off. “I don’t hide behind anything. I’ve never lied to my wife’s face. We were 18 when we met and started dating. Life has happened.”

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Keep the Faith was released at the height of the gloom-laden grunge movement led by Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Soundgarden — a style of indie rock music that made big commercial pop bands like Bon Jovi obsolete overnight. Many of Bon Jovi’s contemporaries (then in their 30s) adopted the look, sound and attitude of grunge. “I watched my peer group suddenly buy flannel shirts and run to that,” Bon Jovi recalls. “I said, ‘This is a big mistake. Why would you chase something?’ ... I realized: Be who you are, tell your truth.”

The band survived and was still charting in 2013, when its 12th studio album, What About Now, instantly went to No. 1 and spawned the year’s top-grossing tour. But there were problems brewing — problems that would ultimately end up impacting Bon Jovi’s voice. Sambora, who had been in and out of rehab over the previous decade, quit the band suddenly during the first leg of the tour. Together, Bon Jovi and Sambora had been a powerhouse vocal team. Bon Jovi found himself “singing for two” for the rest of the shows, he recalls — some 80 dates. “It was after that when everything started to go south,” he says. “I couldn’t figure it out. Was it psychological, was it physical — what was it?” He was especially mystified because he had, since his teens, always taken assiduous care of his voice, performing not only warm-ups before concerts but also cool-down exercises after shows. He had long eschewed drugs and smoking, in part to preserve his voice. But after the 2013 tour, an increasing breathiness, diminished volume and moments of uncertain pitch made singing increasingly fraught for Bon Jovi. He got through tours from 2015 to 2019, but upon his return to performing after the pandemic break, he discovered that his voice had further deteriorated — to the point where Dorothea had to speak up.

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Rock Star vs. Aging

Singing is a mysterious activity. It has mystical connections to the deepest part of ourselves as individuals and as a species. For a book I wrote in 2021, This Is the Voice, I spoke with Julie Andrews about the botched vocal surgery that destroyed her singing voice. Singing, she said, had afforded her an “ecstasy” that was unbearable for her to think “would never come my way again!” Another former singer, an opera tenor forced to retire because of vocal cord scarring, told me, “When you sing, you’re giving voice to your soul.” For Bon Jovi, the potential loss was devastating. “People had to talk me off the ledge,” he says. “Because you’re like, ‘I didn’t do anything wrong! What’s wrong?’ ”

Lip-syncing to a prerecorded vocal track in concert was out of the question for him. So was relying on Auto-Tune, a digital technology that can tweak voices to perfect pitch in live performance. “I’d rather get hit by a bus on the high­way,” he told me.

It was not until he spoke to singer Shania Twain, who detailed how she overcame her own voice problems in the February/March 2020 issue of this magazine , that he found hope. Bon Jovi consulted Twain’s voice doctor, Robert Sataloff, a leading voice surgeon in Philadelphia. Sataloff was struck by the care Bon Jovi had taken of his voice.

How to Protect Your Voice

Some vocal aging — in the form of weakness, breathiness, quavering or raspiness — may be inevitable. Still, there are things you can do to keep your voice strong and clear longer.

Tone your core.  Being able to draw in and expel a good amount of air depends on the muscles that drive respiration. Regular core-strength exercises, such as push-ups and squats, can help. So can aerobic exercise like walking or running .

Hum a tune.  Speech pathologists have an array of exercises for keeping the vocal membranes strong and pliable, including humming into a straw. Note: If your voice changes suddenly, see a laryngologist to rule out growths on the vocal folds.

Hack these habits . Smoking and alcohol rob the vocal folds of crucial moisture and hence pliability. Drinking plenty of water is key. Fried foods, hot spices and (again) booze can cause reflux, which harms the delicate organs of speech.

Take it easy.  Overuse can age the voice. And to go from zero (silence) to 60 (“O sole mio!”) in an instant is to risk vocal fold bruises that can cause a permanent rasp. Thus it can be said of vocal health: everything in moderation, even speech and song.

“Jon has worked, throughout his career, harder and more diligently than most of his fans would ever have guessed,” Sataloff told me. But now Bon Jovi was facing something he could not control through hard work alone: the natural aging process. “Eventually it catches up with all of us,” Sataloff says. Despite the overwork on his 2013 tour, there is no specific vocal injury that Bon Jovi suffered, no disease or illness. His voice problem is mainly the result of aging, and like all aspects of aging, some people are more susceptible to vocal diminishment than others. Over time, Bon Jovi began to experience the thinning of his vocal cords — or, as they are properly called, vocal folds: bands of tissue composed of muscle, mucous membranes and connecting structures.

When singing or talking, we produce sounds by bringing our vocal folds together across the opening of our windpipe and blowing air through them, like blowing a Bronx cheer through our closed lips. Our fluttering vocal folds actually chop the airflow from our lungs into pulses that we hear as a musical note or a spoken vowel. A strong, clear, effortless-sounding voice results from vocal folds that meet flush and firmly across the top of the windpipe but can also vibrate freely and symmetrically. However, with age the folds can lose mass, just like the muscles in the rest of our body.

“When that happens,” Sataloff says, “the vocal folds fail to meet firmly. People naturally and unconsciously work harder to squeeze their vocal folds together so they can get a strong voice. However, that kind of excess muscle tension is counterproductive, inefficient. It causes muscle strain that makes it more effortful to talk or sing and leads to fatigue of the voice and sometimes to the vocal fold injury.” All the more so if your job involves singing to packed arenas every night. That muscle strain can also lead to the flattened notes that Bon Jovi was suffering from — as well as an overall physical exhaustion. Most people don’t know that we sing with our entire bodies, from planting our feet, to using our diaphragms to compress the lungs, to engaging our abdominal and back muscles to sustain a note, to manipulating our neck and throat muscles to shape its tone. A seemingly tiny problem in a single vocal fold can lead to a cascade of compensatory muscular exertion that affects the entire body.

For Bon Jovi, Sataloff recommended a surgery called thyroplasty, in which a shim of Gore-Tex is placed in such a way as to move the vocal folds closer together. Surgery alone, however, was not sufficient to restore Bon Jovi’s voice to its former power and precision. Post-surgery, Bon Jovi follows a gym regimen to keep his core and back strong, and works with speech-language pathologists and singing-voice specialists to retrain the muscles of his vocal tract. Of his own accord, he also undergoes regular laser treatment in hopes of promoting blood flow through his vocal folds and the nerves that control them. Sataloff and Bon Jovi are optimistic that the singer’s voice will continue to strengthen — so optimistic that Bon Jovi is eyeing a return to touring at some point. “Whether or not I can ever do a 100-show tour again, I don’t know,” he says. “But if I can have joy on the stage on night one, that would be great.”

Lessons From a F---ing Beatle

Along with his vocal struggles, Bon Jovi has faced the conundrum of how to age gracefully in a young person’s game. In this, he has some help; some of his friends have set an inspiring example. Bruce Springsteen, who is 13 years Bon Jovi’s senior and a longtime mentor, has never sacrificed his integrity as a musician. (The two take regular drives together to talk.) Another is Paul McCartney , who has, to Bon Jovi’s delight and astonishment, become a close friend. The rocker shows me a recent photo of the two of them eating and talking animatedly at a picnic table on Bon Jovi’s property in East Hampton, New York. “We do this all summer,” he says, his tone tinged with disbelief. “I’m sitting there with a f---ing Beatle. He comes to my house often, I go to his beach house often, and our wives are very close.” What most impresses him about Paul is the enthusiasm and love of songwriting that the  Beatle still possesses. He slips into an imitation of McCartney’s Liverpool accent and childlike enthusiasm: “ ‘Oh, I’ve got new stuff!’ he tells me. At 81. Crazy.”

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Bon Jovi may well keep writing into his 80s, too, because he has seen how aging has deepened his songwriting. “I have a grander palette to write from,” he says. “More life experience. I think that every record reflects somehow who I am at that time.” The band’s last studio album, 2020, covered tough subjects like COVID , school shootings and the killing of George Floyd. It was overlooked by critics, perhaps because the band could not tour to promote it. Still, “I think it’s one of my better records,” Bon Jovi says.

The new record, by contrast, he says, “is about joy” — although the first song he wrote for the album is one that, to my ear, sounds uncharacteristically despairing. “Hollow Man,” sung in a low rumble, has brooding lyrics about a man bereft of inspiration. Bon Jovi casts an entirely different light on it, one that reflects his spirituality. The song, he says, is an appeal to God. “It says, ‘Fill me up. I’m a vessel. What do I want to say? And how do I say it?’ ”

Another song on the album, “Kiss the Bride,” also reckons with age and change, dealing, as it does, with how parenthood inevitably makes us aware of the passage of time. He and Dorothea have four children: three sons and a daughter, ranging in age from 20 to 31. “Kiss the Bride” is about giving away their daughter at her wedding and stepping aside.

“Cried writing it and cried recording it,” he says.

Is the whole album about aging? I ask.

“Most definitely,” he says. “ ‘Don’t try to be what you used to be.’ I don’t want to be the kid from Slippery When Wet. I have no desire to be that kid.”

Who Bon Jovi wants to be is who he has become — who he has, by force of will, turned himself into. He points to the album’s opening track, “Legendary.” The lyrics evoke the audacity of his own dream of escaping his blue-collar beginnings (“Who are you and who am I / To think that we could ever fly?”) and offer an ecstatic celebration of dear friendships and his long marriage. “Got my brown-eyed girl / And she believes in me,” he sings — a line he rhymes with a single word made all the more emphatic because the band drops out and he sings it into silence: “Legendary.”

Bon Jovi had debuted his post-surgery voice in live performance just a few weeks before our meeting, when he was honored by MusiCares at an annual event in Los Angeles that acknowledges the philanthropy of musicians. (For 13 years, Bon Jovi’s Soul Foundation has run JBJ Soul Kitchen, a restaurant for paying customers and those who can’t afford to pay, with four New Jersey locations.) To a packed audience in the Los Angeles Convention Center, Bon Jovi sang a duet with Springsteen, a version of Bruce’s “The Promised Land.” McCartney was in the audience. For Bon Jovi, the performance represented far more than just a good show. It was a return to himself.

We — all of us, singers and nonsingers alike — identify with our voices to a degree we rarely acknowledge. A voice’s pace and timbre and volume, its accent and texture, are all a result of physical attributes and innate and acquired habits of temperament and personality that are as unique as a fingerprint, instantly recognizable to all who know and love us. For two difficult years, Bon Jovi lost that acoustic signature and gained a head full of negative thoughts about his future as a performer.

The best thing to come out of the MusiCares event, for him, was the silencing of those thoughts. When he was onstage, he tells me, “Doubt wasn’t there. Fear wasn’t there. It was just the old me.”

And even if he has no desire to be his “old” young self, he wasn’t sorry to catch a fleeting glimpse of that long-lost kid. “Ohhh, I liked seeing him,” he says. “It was good.”

Journalist John Colapinto is a longtime contributor to  The New Yorker  and  Rolling Stone  and author of  As Nature Made Him  and  This Is the Voice . He wrote about music and memory in the December 2023/January 2024 issue.

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Immersive ‘Bon Jovi Forever’ exhibit at the Rock Hall spans 40 years, kicks off with in-person band Q&A

C LEVELAND, Ohio – If you’ve been “Livin’ On a Prayer” that the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame would give Bon Jovi their own immersive, one-of-a-kind exhibition, your prayers have been answered.

A new, full-floor retrospective called “Bon Jovi Forever” spans the band’s four-decade history and will open to the public on the sixth level of the Rock Hall on Saturday, June 8.

The band will be present that day to partake in a Q&A session at the Foster Theater. It will simulcast to the Rock Hall’s Union Home Mortgage Plaza. Fans can gather “watch party”-style at 3:30 p.m. on the plaza to view the Q&A at no cost.

“Bon Jovi Forever” tells the history of the band across four unique sections, created to reflect the four installments of the recently released Hulu documentary series “Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story.” Both the exhibit and documentary mark the group’s 40th anniversary as a band.

“When we were inducted into the Hall of Fame, we knew we wanted to have a continuing relationship, not only with the Hall, but with the fans who visit Cleveland every year. To celebrate our 40th anniversary, we have archived everything we have from notebooks, to demos, to clothes and photographs. Cleveland felt like the perfect place to share this exhibit,” said Jon Bon Jovi in a statement.

To that end, “Bon Jovi Forever” features a treasure trove of never-before-seen artifacts, images, audio, video and ephemera from each of the band’s members, highlighting their rise from working-class New Jersey roots to global superstardom.

The band is one of the best-selling acts of all time, with 15 studio albums and selling over 130 million albums worldwide. They have indeed “seen a million faces and rocked them all.”

“We are grateful for the generosity of Jon Bon Jovi and his bandmates in support of this remarkable exhibition. They gave us exclusive access to their extensive archive, and we selected artifacts that will enthrall Bon Jovi fans,” said Rock & Roll Hall of Fame President and CEO Greg Harris in a statement.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is offering two early access preview events on Friday, June 7 and Saturday, June 8. Tickets are available now for members, while tickets go on sale for the general public on Friday, May 24 at 10 a.m. The preview events allow fans to see the exhibit before everyone else:

Friday, June 7: Fans can experience Bon Jovi Forever: Listening Experience & Exhibit Preview with a purchase of an exclusive package for $100 ($65 for Members) which includes General Admission, an album listening experience in the Foster Theater, an exclusive exhibit preview and a merch bag that includes the Bon Jovi Forever vinyl album, commemorative lanyard, and custom sticker and photo op.

Saturday, June 8: Members and fans who act fast can purchase a limited number of Bon Jovi Forever exhibit preview timed tickets ($15 for Rock Hall members; $50 for non-members) to tour the new exhibit between the hours of 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Rock Hall members who purchase tickets to either of the early access preview events will be entered into a raffle to be part of the live studio audience for the private interview in the Foster Theater. You can bet those seats will be “Wanted Dead or Alive” by the band’s superfans.

For more information on the VIP package and the weekend, visit rockhall.com .

©2024 Advance Local Media LLC. Visit cleveland.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Jon Bon Jovi Risked Rare Vocal Surgery to Tour Again

The iconic musician reflects on the fight to save his voice, his ’80s “baby pictures” that once repulsed him and the “immortality” of songwriting.

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