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Jon Bon Jovi Interview
The Times Metro Section 13 May 2000 Two decades ago, poodle permed John Bongiovi sneered at his peers who joined the Navy. Now the
renamed rock god and bona fide movie actor is ready to go to sea for his country. Martyn Palmer waves his off. Malta is not a place I would recommend anyone to spend their vacation," remarks JBJ. The reason for
his animosity towards the package tour hotspot? His latest foray into celluloid, the Second World War thriller U-571. The filming of this tale of a submarine crew trying to capture a Nazi u-boat was, apparently,
rather trying. Working in a giant, often freezing cold water tank, coupled with hours of waiting around for camera moves to be prepared, is enough to test anybody's patience. But while his co-stars (Matthew McConaughey,
Harvey Keitel and Bill Paxton) would be twiddling their thumbs waiting hours for the chance to deliver two lines of dialogue, Jon would be hard at work on what he calls his "day job" - writing songs for the
new Bon Jovi album. "We were out on these row boats night after night for seven weeks," he recalls. "And the actors would moan and say 'oh man, we're wet and miserable'. And I'd say 'you think this is
tough, come to India and start a tour sometime or turn up in Columbia when there's civil unrest and a guy's just been ssassinated. This is a breeze.'" Jon was sneered at when he decided to take up acting six
years ago but he has proved critics wrong in a quietly impassive way. By choosing independent films such as Moonlight and Valentino over obvious star vehicles, he has built up a surprising degree of credibility.
"It was hard work when I started. I was another rock star who wanted to be in a movie. And you know what's funny about this rotten miserable business? For the past six years they've been telling me
to kill my
music career and concentrate on films. Now, they tell me 'man, if you have a hit record it's going to help your movie career. You know, Jennifer Lopez, Will Smith, all of those guys, look at them.'" Perhaps not
surprisingly, then, Bon Jovi are releasing Crush, their first new album for five years, in two weeks. And the band are embarking on a 50-date world tour - including shows at Wembley Stadium - to promote it. For the rest
of the year at least, the film career is on hold. "I personally think this is the biggest album I've ever made," he says. "It's bigger than Slippery When Wet, it's bigger than New Jersey. I feel like a
21-year-old with a new record deal." In the not too distant past, the masters of stadium rock would embark on mammoth 250-date expeditions across the globe, lasting for many months at a time. Not any more. Jon
has other people to consider.
Apart from his wife, Dorothea Hurley, whom he met in high school in the New Jersey suburbs where he grew up, there are also the couple's two children, Stephanie Rose, seven, and
five-year-old Jesse James. Ask him if he's looking forward to going back on the road and he replies: "Not at all. I couldn't care less". The novelty, after years of trailing around one city after another,
has worn off. Though in the past the family have travelled with him, things will be different this time around. "It's not fair to them. They've got their lives, their friends and you know, they should be allowed
to be kids." There are other side-effects of rock-star status that could cause a problem, such as the attention from female fans. Jon must have found himself surrounded by beautiful women in his time, I suggest.
"It counts for a lot that Dorothea and I have been together that long," he says. "Because believe me I've not been a saint. I've had my periods but in the end the realisation is, it ain't worth
anything. It's all to her credit that she allows me to run off and join the circus. I'm sure I would walk out if she were the kind of person that said 'you have to stay at home'. I couldn't deal with that. I need
freedom but I have to afford her freedom, too. "She's independent and doesn't feel the need to call me five times a day and wonder what I'm doing," he continues. "She is comfortable enough with who she
is. We've been together for 20 years, since I
was 18, and we have been on this rollercoaser ride together." Born John Bongiovi, to a family of third generation Italian immigrants - Dad was a hairdresser, Mum
a former bunny girl - Jon knew from an early age that he wanted to be a rock star. "My home town (Perth Amboy in New Jersey) was very blue collar. There were two ways to go, one was to work in the factories and
the other was to join the military. Four of us hung out together while
all the others joined the Navy. And I pursued a career in music. I had blind faith and naviete in my corner. I said that I wanted to be a rock
'n' roll start." After hooking up with guitarist Richie Sambora, drummer Tico Torres, keyboard player David Bryan and bassist Alec John Such (who has since left), Bon Jovi won themselves a recording contract
with a formula which American radio found impossible to resist. Their first albums, Bon Jovi (1984) and 7800 Fahrenheit (1985), both went gold. Then their third, Slippery When Wet (1986) went ballistic, selling 15
million copies, and the fourth - New Jersey (1988) sold another 12 million. To date, they have album sales of 80 million. So when the lead singer first decided that he wanted to act, he didn't have the courage to
tell the rest of the band. After all, just as they were reaching their commercial peak, Bon Jovi - the band - were nearly blown apart by the attendant pressures. If anything, though, Jon now believes that his
decision to look elsewhere for new interests saved the band from oblivion. His first taste of the film world came in 1988 when he wrote the Golden Globe-winning (and Oscar nominated) soundtrack for Young Guns, a hip
western featuring Emilio Estevez. "When I went off and did Young Guns the band were sitting around by themselves going 'Christ, he's written all these songs by himself, it's a successful record. Are we going to
stay together?' And there
was Richie going 'hey what about me? I'm the guitar player, I co-wrote Livin' on a Prayer. How come nobody is talking about Richie Sambora's world?'" They were right to worry. By
1991, Jon was disillusioned with the way things had turned out. "We had an organisation that was eating itself from the inside out. All of a sudden we were in merchandising
meetings and had accountants talking
about investments and it was like 'man, what does this have to do with anything?' We didn't want to be a corporation. We wanted to be a rock band, but then we became this multimillion dollar business and that just
shattered it. "So yeah, there was a point when we could have gone under. The worst time was 1991. I was even going to see a shrink because I was so messed up. But I couldn't find the guy's office and I showed up
45 minutes late for this hour-long appointment. I sat down ready to spill my guts and after a couple of minutes he says, 'well, your time's up, after all you are running late'. That was a real low." Instead, Jon
devised his own brand of therapy. He went out on the road with one of his heroes, Southside Johnny, and had a thoroughly good time rediscovering his musical roots. "It helped me get back to the spirit of what it
was that made me want to play in the first place. You know, sweaty guys in a van driving up and down the coast and stopping off somewhere to play music. The camaraderie - playing for the sake of playing. "And
playing alongside Southside and those other guys made me realise how much I took my band for granted. Especially Richie, who is such an under-rated guitarist. And it made me realise just how much his friendship couldn't
be replicated by just anyone. Our problems in the band were never 'I don't like him and he doesn't like me'. It was all that external stuff. So we let go of the machine - the managers, the merchandisers, the lawyers. We
fired everyone we could." Back on board with the band, Jon was still thinking about acting. "I got myself an acting coach but I didn't tell the band about that for more than two years. "And it was
another year after that that I went for my first meeting with a director who was interested in using me. I got to his office, sat there for 45 minutes and didn't go in. I walked away. I got scared." In his first
role, in Moonlight and Valentino in 1995, as part of an ensemble that included Gwyneth Platrow, he played little more than a male sex object but he did it well enough to win an award (The Motion Picture Club gave him
their Premiere Performance Award). Then came The Leading Man (1996), Homegrown, No Looking Back, Little City and Row Your Boat (all 1998). All have been small budget, independent pictures. Nowadays, his relationship
with the rest of the band - and in particular with Sambora, who is married to actress Heather Locklear - is better than ever, he says. "You know we are all doing our own things. Tico is a great painter. Who would
have known that? It was hard for Richie. It was like 'is he Mr Heather Locklear or is he his own man? But he has found ways to express himself, he has his solo
albums, he has his life with Heather and he's in Bon
Jovi. When we started work on Crush, I came in with 30 songs and said 'here's the album boys'. But he didn't get scared by that. He then collaborated
on 30 more and now it's about half and half. He is his own man and so the relationship is better." Bon Jovi's movie career's looking pretty healthy too, and the forthcoming U-571 will see Jon make the jump from
carefully chosen indie pics to full-on blockbuster. Directed by Jonathan Mostow (who made the Kurt Russell thriller Breakdown) it is unashamedly big budget and shot to the top of the American box office taking $15
million in its first weekend. Although McConaughey has the main role, Jon, as am ambitious navel officer, gets plenty to do. It took nearly six months to film, and although some of his scenes ended up on the
cutting-room floor he remains upbeat. "This is my seventh film and I feel much more comfortable and confident in taking on a role in a movie that a lot of people will see. And I also felt that though it's a
thriller, the dialogue is rich and the characters are well drawn. Jonathan gave everybody the opportunity to be a personality and not just stereotypical navy guys." On this side of the Atlantic the film is
likely to attract the attention as another example of Hollywood hijacking British history. U-571 is the story of how an American submarine, disguised as a German craft, sets out to capture the Enigma, the Nazi's
war-time coding machine from a stricken U-boat in 1942. Capturing the Enigma was vital to stop the U-boats destroying Allied shipping in the north Atlantic. The film, says Mostow, is "inspired by real events".
In fact, it was the British who captured the first two Enigma machines and the Americans didn't get their hands on one until 1944, For all that, it is a good thriller and Jon - shorn of his trademark locks ("No,
I didn't cry when I had my hair cut.") - performs well alongside veterans such as Keitel. He is, though, still learning when it comes to acting. "Absolutely. In the music business I'm the director, the
producer, the star and the marketing man. In the movie business I'm the bass player." U-571 opens nationwide on June 2. Crush is released on May 29 on Mercury Records. |
INTERVIEW WITH JON ON KLOS
MAY 8, 2000 M&B: With us on the IBS line, is that what we call it. It's a tech name that we call for a very clear signal. ISDN thank you tech man for clearing that up. We have Jon Bon
Jovi, Mr Bon Jovi!!! JB: Good Mornnning!!!! M&B: Good morning man, first of all we just played one of the first cuts from the new album. Congratulations!!! on it.
JB: Thank you!! Thanks alot. We're pretty excited about this record M&B: it's a good sounding single Jon. We've had you on the program ahhhhhh once before, ahhh I guess it was once about 5 years ago. And ahhhhh
we had you in the studio and you guys sang some. (Mark cuts in) We want to talk about the new album in a little bit, we also want to talk about your acting career. Which seems to be kicking up a bit. You were real good
in U-571. JB: Thank you!! yeah you guys did a real nice promotion for it to. When I was out their listening. M&B: Where is your base home??? Where do you primary live your life?? JB: Jersey, I live in
Jersey. I've spent alot of time out there, though you know. obviously with the movies, and even mixing this record. M&B: You still live with your parents don't you????
JB: Yeah!!! that's it...(laughing) I'm having a hard time making ends meet. (mark and Brian laugh as well) M&B: Now you are currently working on a film........... now get this.. with Kevin Spacey and Helen Hunt
called 'Pay It Forward' JB: Yeah..... well it's a very small role and a very huge movie. Hallen Jon Osmond is like the center of this film with Kevin. Ahhhh.. but it was just really cool just for me to be winning
roles at that company at this point. M&B: oh yeah.......... JB: even with movie's that people don't see on ppv, is like really amazing M&B: laughing........ nice , nice move laughing
JB: they just don't see it on cable....laughing M&B: laughing...... well Jon, that same thing with U-571. You're standing up their with Bill P and Matthew M. JB: yep, yep..... M&B: and again not a huge
role, but very,very good. Very believable and a fine job that you did. Alot of people are kinda surprised to hear. that's Bon Jovi????? (Mark cuts in) Yeah.... how does that make you feel??? JB: well it's actually
the best complement that I've been paid. Is that they couldn't believe that you, or that they want to see more of you. Because everyone has this pre-conceived notions about the rock star who wants to get into a movie.
But now... it's not like that for me now fortunately and this point. It's changed, it's more if a actor who want to be in a film. I've studied it. M&B: I guess people are excepting that you can act, and that your
pretty darn good at it. Now would you ever consider doing a t.v. series??? JB: No, No,No........... cause that much like Broadway, is too much like a day job. M&B: Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh JB: the only way that it
works for me, would to be to ahhhhhhhhh........ nothing can get in the way of what I do making records. So you can do a movie and it can be a 5 month movie, like U-571 (mark ...right) but you know that during that
period you are either going to be writing songs or your not even thinking about touring. Well....... now that I'm going to support a record, I can't think about doing a movie. So t.v shows, go 50 years oops 50 weeks a
year, and Broadway 8 times a week. I don't have time to do anything else. M&B: are you exciting about touring again???? JB: I'm getting more excited about touring. It's ahhh, it is a great live rock n roll
band. But it's been awhile, and if is not your own bed, at least it's the same bed on a movie set. And then when you are on the road, everyday..............is like pack the bag. Where am I, pack the bag where am I???
And it becomes a blur, because this is the kind of band that did 240 shows a tour. And dahhhhhh this is my 10th album. M&B: (sighs, giggle, wow)
JB: giggles..... so I have all the frequent flyer miles that I need..... laughs M&B: Jon, every decade has huge bands. And obvloisy in the 80's Bon Jovi was one of the very biggest. But a band that was able to,
unlike many of those huge bands that like de-solved and fade away. Bon Jovi kinda transformed themselves in the 90's and yet here we are in the year 2000 and you guys are still around. This new record is so very strong,
why is it that you think you and the band were able to remain alive???? JB: we're like those guys..... you know like a dog that jumps on your leg and won't get off. (laughing)
M&B: just let hm finish...laughing JB: yeah......... you know what I mean. It's??????? I don't know.............. other than A it's been ah... a catalog of music. And look, we've had our up years and our down
years in America. But
we we're persistent. We go other places, we would go to Europe, we would go to Asia, we go to Aficia,Austrilla. The band sold 80 million records around this world, because it went everywhere
and it worked. And now that America is turning again. then you go.......... cool!!! I'm glad that you like the record. M&B: you know, I love that Jon. Only you can come up with the story of success, with a dog
humping on your leg...... everyone laughing JB: that's right M&B:that's good man!!!!! Talk about that for a moment too... Jon cuts in..... what about??? the dog humping the leg??? everyone laughing M&B:
one of the other things we were talking about the other day, is the fact that rock n roll has gotten older, it's 45 years old. And one of the cool things that has kinda been in the last 10 years, is the global
expectancy of American rock n roll bands in place like you said. It's HUGE over there??? JB: low voice... yeah, yeah we were fortunate enough and I give the coottoes to our former manager, because what he did was,
say you are going everywhere, everywhere where they have electric, and if they don't have it. We'll bring our own. (laughing) In 1984 we set out to concur the world, and fortunately for us on listening to him. When we
where young dumb guys, we did. So when we were needing the help??????? I'll give you a better example. A band that I always loved and admired went out and opened for us on our last tour, called Van Hallen because they
didn't need anything in all of Europe. They're good for only 5000 tickets if they are lucky, and where
playing 3 nights at Wembley stadium where their is 72,000 a night. (M&B: WOW!!!!) And I love that band, I
mean I was a huge fan. To me it was like getting to see them 25 times for free. Their is nothing but respect, but they don't mean anything in Europe because they haven't toured their as often as we did. M&B: When
did you stop singing into your moms hair brush?? In front of a mirror and get actually get into a band, and how old were you??? JB: mmmmmm.....................14, 15 maybe
M&B: o.k. was it just for fun?? Or I mean were you driving, dedicated gonna be a star some day then at 14??? JB: by the time I was 16 I gotta tell ya, there was nothing else in my life. Ya know, 14 15 your going
gee this is a interesting thing, and you put your fingers here and there and sing along, but by the time I was so goofy then at 16 I believed it. And by 21 I got a record deal.
M&B: And then the humping of people's legs, when did that start??? JB: yeah!!! laughing...... 12 maybe even younger..... sure M&B: good, good.... laughing
JB: oh yeah.... as soon as I realized that, that thing did more than one trick it was amazing. everyone laughing M&B: hey..Jon, with alot more new musicians that are going to try and kick up a new career for
themselves, and being that you have sustained for such a good while in this music business. Is their any advise concering records companies and those first record deals?? Cause we hear those horror stories about artist
that are ripped off for life?? JB: Well it's true, and you know.. I'm no different than anyone else. you sign a deal thats one record and 8 options and they all belong to the record company. Hopefully the only thing
that you can do, is renegotiate as you go along. ahhhh try to retain as much as you possibly can. You know. don't give them the kitchen sink away, even if you make less money for it now. But ahhh, that's always a hard
thing. And you hope that you have a relationship with a company, or that people that are at that company long enough that they will respect you and for the hard work you've done on their behalf and renegotiate with you.
M&B: was their any difficulties getting back in the studio after 5 years for the album CRUSH??? JB: No...... No....... it was actually very, very comfortable. Richie did a solo record that I know that you guys
were playing out their. I did a solo record, and then when we came back to this, we never had 60 songs. And when Polygram was sold to Universal, we just really put the brakes on and decided not to release a record for
an extra year, til we got it right and they got it right. We figured out what our future was there. M&B JB: talking at the same time.... mark I'm sorry go ahead.......
JB: when we did 60 songs we knew we had the material. We knew that we really, really did it. M&B: is that a really good time for you, that the actually production in the studio the creation of the album?? JB:
YEAH!!!!!! song writing is my favorite part of it. Cause you know when you hit on one, you know what it is going to sound like, and what it's going to be like when you play it live. Then the recording is second to that,
but it's still exciting even though your doing it over and over again. Because it's like a painting you are going to add too. And then touring it, is final in the process. But when you realize that catalog of music that
you go out their and play people liked. You go 'thats pretty cool' M&B: do you remember the first song you ever wrote??? JB: oh... some piece of drat gum I'm sure... vaguely (laughing)
M&B: Something that probably helped you get laid??? (laughing) JB: well I certainly tried too (laughing) if I didn't . I certainly tried hard enough. (laughing) M&B: Listen how is Richie?? Because he is
responsible for one of the funniest moments we had on this program with his guitar. JB: REALLY!!! M&B: yeah!! JB: He's great, he's back west. He spent pretty much the last year here. Because Heather was
doing Spin City in NY. So it was fortunate for us, because we recored the record here in NJ. He was here, but their back west now. And setting up shop for Spin City next year with Charlie S.
M&B: Would you for us, please tell him that we said hello, and that we would love to talk with him?? JB: I shall (in a whisper like voice) Yes!! I shall
M&B: Listen Jon, the record is it currently available and out, and can be purchase?? JB: NO, NO June 13th M&B: June 13th JB: June 13th Crush hits the streets, and the single comes out today. M&B:
I have a couple of hundred of pirated copies in my trunk, if you want to stop by the station. I'll be glad to let you go through them. JB: sure M&B: and I'll give you a cut of that Jon (laughing)
JB: I was just going to say. as long as I get a cut...... M&B: taking about the new album coming out and telling people to go see U-571
M&B: Jon the next time you are in town, you better stop by the show. We love seeing you. JB: Richie and I will both come by with some guitars for you. M&B: Knock it out baby!!!!! JB: Thanks you guys
M&B: No thank you!!!! The End........ |
The spoils of rock: Ex-Bon Jovi bassist is putting it all on the auction block
Published in the Asbury Park Press 5/14/00 By KELLY-JANE COTTER
MUSIC WRITER
THE COLTS NECK HOME OF ALEC JOHN SUCH is like a museum. Each room of the enormous house on Laird Road holds a well-kept collection, often reflecting the 14 years Such spent as bassist for Bon Jovi. In a spare
bedroom behind the laundry room, some 50 bass guitars stand at attention -- a pink paisley guitar, an emerald green guitar, a translucent guitar, a guitar shaped like a '50s-style Chevy, even a basic black number that
Such used before he was famous. Memorabilia from Bon Jovi's arena days in the '80s, including posters, photos, tour jackets,trophies and about 100 gold and platinum records, are on display in the living room.
Amplifiers nearly fill the garage. The collections go beyond rock 'n' roll paraphernalia. Rare and commemorative coins are piled like a pirate's treasure. Among other things, Such owns antique Siamese and Russian
jewelry, comic books, sculptures by Erte and D.H. Chipari, a dozen guns and art by Peter Max and South Amboy-based artist Wayne Turback. And everything must go. "I made my money during the era of 'He who dies
with the most toys wins,'" Such said. "That's how the '80s were. But you grow out of that, you really do." On Saturday, Such will put nearly everything he owns on the auction block. "This is
not a distress sale," said Stephan J. Miranti, the auctioneer in charge of the sale and a friend of Such. "He's not broke." Still, many people would shudder at the thought of strangers clambering
through their yard in search of a bargain, even if it's a garage sale, let alone an estate auction. Miranti knows that many people associate auctions with bad news, which is why, during a visit to Such's house, he
emphasized several times that the musician is not in financial trouble. The very term "estate auction" smacks of death or bankruptcy -- and loneliness. "I always thought I'd have kids," Such said.
"That's half the reason I bought all this stuff. But you can't predict or control what happens to you." Such lives alone in his lavishly furnished house, which has two master bedrooms, several smaller
bedrooms and a phenomenal finished basement with a blackjack table, a pool table, slot machines from Las Vegas casinos, video games and a wet bar modeled after the one on "Cheers."
"I used to have some good parties here," he said. He has been divorced for 17 years, but is on good terms with his ex-wife, who has "custody" of their 19-year-old cat, Tiffany. He dotes on his
other cat, Max. When Such couldn't find Max, who was ranging somewhere on the property, he handed a bullhorn to Muranti and asked him to call the cat so a photographer could take a picture of Such with his cat.
Muranti made a few half-hearted calls through the bullhorn from the deck, never venturing into the yard, before returning to the living room. "He hates my cat," Such said, still scanning the yard from a
window. "I love my pets, but some people aren't animal people." On a tour of the house -- which will be included in the auction via sealed bids -- Muranti pointed out the big-ticket items such as the
11-foot chandelier that dangles in the foyer. "I paid $20,000 for that," Such said, moving briskly past the chandelier to point out a shelf of photos: an autographed photo of "Tonight Show" host Jay
Leno, a picture of Such posing with Vice President Al Gore ("Even though I can't stand his politics," Such said), several of Such's nieces and one of his mother, Helen, in Italy. "I don't know where in
Italy that was taken but it was while we were on tour," Such said. "My mother would come with us on tour so she could travel everywhere. She wasn't too pleased when I retired." Such's father died a
long time ago and Such seems very close to and protective of his mother. Examples of her needlework hang throughout the house, an odd juxtaposition with the other art work. A tattoo on Such's left shoulder replicates a
needlepoint picture of a wizard made by his mom. "Of course, I'm saving all her work," he said. He's also saving a cimbalom, a Hungarian instrument similar to a dulcimer, handmade by
his paternal grandfather and played by his father. Of his own musical career, he only wants to save photos he took of the band on various tours and a trophy awarded by the T.J. Martell Foundation, honoring the band's
work with autistic children. "This is a celebrity auction, a high-profile estate," Muranti said. "That makes it different from most auctions I handle. And Alec has a lot of different
things. He's eccentric." Among the oddities up for auction are a hand-held chrome ice maker from about 1900, a miniature Singer sewing machine from about the same time, a telephone from 1936, a cash register
from 1930, a miniature player saxophone (which operates with a roll, like a player piano) and a coin-operated "Flash Gordon Rocket Ship" children's ride from 1951. He also is selling several classic cars.
"Yeah, it makes me sad to see some of this stuff go," Such said, as he drove his sleek, 1953 MG through his rural neighborhood. The car, one of several for sale, is a beauty, and Such takes delight in its
pristine condition. On a sunny afternoon's drive, he turned on the windshield wipers as if demonstrating a parlor trick, smiling as the old-fashioned blades stretched and retracted like the legs of a cricket. The
two-passenger car sped past the horse farms and mansions that make Colts Neck so pretty and prestigious and so elegantly silent. Such, who grew up in a tight-knit Hungarian neighborhood in Perth Amboy, bought his house
in Colts Neck in 1988. "Colts Neck is nice," he said, "but there's nothing
to do. There's no activity. You don't see people anywhere. I would just come home and do nothing. I even got into the habit of cooking for myself and I don't want to do that. I want to go out to eat, I want to get out and meet people."
Physical setbacks Such itches for mobility and action. This part of his personality was sorely tested within a year after he retired from Bon Jovi in 1994. Such said a drunk driver smashed into his car in
Marlboro, shattering his hip. Recovery was agonizing, physically and mentally. "It took them an hour to get me out of the car," Such recalled. "I was on my back for six months after surgery. It was
about the worst thing to happen to me in my life." Five years later, he occasionally needs to walk with a cane. The size of his house, with all its stairs, has become unmanageable. "I want to sell all
this and buy a new motor home and a boat and just go traveling," he said. "I don't miss being in a band; I don't want any of that. I want to meet people and if they don't believe I was in Bon Jovi, I won't
care. I don't think I've picked up a guitar since I left the band. I don't have calluses on my fingers anymore. I'd bleed if I played now." Bon Jovi the band is undisputedly led by Jon Bon Jovi, the singer and
front man who grew up in working-class Sayreville and now lives in a riverfront estate in the most plush section of Middletown. (The rest of the band also maintained ties to New Jersey -- Tico Torres, the drummer, lives
in Colts Neck; Richie Sambora, guitarist, and David Bryan, keyboardist, also have homes in the area). But Alec John Such played a key role in forming Bon Jovi the band. Such and Sambora played together in an earlier
band called Message; Such and Torres traveled in the same circles. In the early '80s, Such managed the Hunka Bunka Ballroom in Sayreville, then known as the Jernee Mill Inn. He booked Jon Bon Jovi & The Wild Ones
and saw potential. He brought Sambora and Torres into the fold; Bon Jovi brought Bryan, with whom he had played in a band called Atlantic City Expressway. The rest, as they say, is history. Bon Jovi became the most
successful of the many "hair bands" of the '80s that bridged the gap between pop and heavy metal. The band's 1986 album on Polygram/Mercury, "Slippery When Wet," sold in the multi-millions and earned
Bon Jovi an international following, especially in Asia, that has not abated. Commercial success continued with "New Jersey" in 1988, "Keep the Faith" in 1992 and the greatest-hits album "Cross
Road" in 1994. Bon Jovi survived the dominance of modern rock in the early '90s and now seems poised for another comeback. The band's album, "Crush," is due for release June 13. Bon Jovi will begin its
world tour in July in Japan, followed by dates in Europe in August and September. The band played a sold-out preview gig last month at Tradewinds in Sea Bright. Meanwhile, Jon Bon Jovi played a supporting role in the
hit thriller "U-571." He has even regained his status as a teen idol -- no small feat for a 38-year-old father of two in the era of boy groups -- with young women calling area radio stations to request his
songs, describing him as a "hottie." The wild one One of the band's early publicity photos -- available at the auction -- features "Teen Beat"-style snippets of biography about each
musician on the back: "Known as the wild one in the group, Alec enjoys his cars and motorcycles when he's not on tour." "The record company used to lie about my age," Such said. "I was 31
when I joined. I was a good 10 years older than the rest of the band. My sister eventually got really mad because the papers would describe her as my older sister when really she was younger." The age difference
has since caught up with Such and his former bandmates. Such, now 48, said it was the main reason he left the band in 1994. "When I was 43, I started to get burned out," he said. "It felt like work and
I didn't want to work. The reason I got into a band to begin with is because I didn't want to work." Jon Bon Jovi, on the other hand, seems compelled to work. In an interview with the Press in February, Bon Jovi
talked about his band's new music, about an Internet project that let fans watch as the band recorded the album and about his movie career. "I do have a lot going on and I've been like this in the past,"
Bon Jovi said. "I don't know if it's something I need to do or what. Last week, I was in two different studios in L.A., while fitting in rehearsals for a new movie, and I caught the red-eye home and all I could
think was 'Man, I can't wait to get a break.'" After Such left the band, Bon Jovi compared the situation to Bill Wyman's departure from The Rolling Stones. "I look on it as being like the Bill Wyman
thing," Bon Jovi told the Press in 1994. "They just grew in different directions. It's understandable ... just because I want to continue making records doesn't mean everyone else has to." Bon Jovi
then took a cue from The Rolling Stones and brought in Hugh McDonald as a hired gun, rather than as a bandmate. "There's no ill feeling on mine or the band's part," Bon Jovi told the Press at the time,
"and as far as I'm concerned, Alec was the only bass player who was part of Bon Jovi." There are signs of hurt feelings on Such's part. When asked about his bandmates' reactions to his retirement, Such
said, "I think Jon didn't care because he didn't have to pay a percentage to the new guy. He does care about those things." Not surprisingly, Such said he did not like the 1995 Bon Jovi album "These
Days," which was the first one made without him. But he does not disparage McDonald. "Hughie's great," Such said. "We have no animosity. If anything, I feel sorry for him that he doesn't get
recognition." And time and distance have mellowed whatever friction existed between Such and Jon Bon Jovi. "I keep in touch with everyone but Jon," Such said. "We had a few little rifts between
us, but when I heard this new record, I wanted to call him. I think it's really good." After the auction, Such said he plans to start traveling. His first stops: Pensacola and Corpus Christi. But he does not
plan to abandon New Jersey. He's keeping his second home in Waretown and he bought his mother a house in Brick, which will always draw him back. "When you first make a lot of money, you spend a lot," he
said. "Then you go through that 'Am I good enough to be making all this money?' and 'Do I deserve it?' phase." "I think I'm past all the pitfalls," he said. "At one time, I needed to see
those platinum records on the wall to prove my worth. I don't anymore." The public auction of the estate of Bon Jovi bassist Alec John Such begins at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at 29 Laird Road, Colts
Neck. Previews are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today, noon to 8 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m. Saturday. For more information, call (732) 708-0948.
Published on May 14, 2000
|
BON JOVI Kerrang interview.
Written by Jason Arnopp, published in Kerrang, 29 April 2000.
Guns. Fist fights. Heroin, Hollywood. Vodka binges. Money. The Mob. Jon Bon Jovi: do you want to talk about it? "I never
quite understood cocaine. You can't get a hard-on, you grind your teeth and you can't sleep. What the f*** is good about that?!" JBJ is sitting on a sunny verandad, his eyes protected by shades, feet propped up
on a white plastic table, the Kerrang! tape recorder lying in his lap. The last five years have seen the multi-millionaire vocalist veer off the rock highway, recording his second solo album 'Destination Anywhere',
taking endless movie roles and fundamentally doing
anything that wasn't related with his day job. Bon Jovi released their last album, 'These Days', in 1995. Speculation mounted as to whether Jon or Richie Sambora's
solo projects might end Bon Jovi. Now they're back together, with a new album 'Crush' ready to go. It's classic Jovi fare, with big hooks, bigger guitars and a hint of their mid-80s good-time corker 'Slippery When
Wet'. As if to hammer home the point that Jon is back and rocking, we are in a breathtakingly ostentatious two-bedroom villa at LA's Sunset Marquis hotel. A rock 'n' roll hangout to this day, this place was the scene
of foolish behaviour from various stars - most notable Depeche Mode frontman Dave Gahan, who suffered from a heroin overdose on May 28, 1996 and was rushed to the conveniently local celebrity hospital Cedars-Sinai.
Which could explain why, when I order a pair of scissors from room service, the porter say, "As long as you won't hurt yourself with them". Without an ironic chuckle Surely Bon Jovi don't fit in here. No those
squeakly clean New Jersey lads, who cemented the phrase 'Whooooahhh-Ohhh!' into rock's vocabulary with their 1986 smash single 'Livin' On A Prayer'? There's much we don't know about Bon Jovi. And by God, we're going
to prise some of it out. Whirr the tape back an hour... "Last night, I was running around in my underpants with a shotgun. Your typical Friday night." Eight hours ago, JBJ fulfilled his acting
commitments to his latest Hollywood production 'Pay It Forward', starring Kevin Spacey, Helen Hunt and 'The Sixth Sense"s corpse-clocking youngster Haley Joel Osment. "He's as 12 year old kid who drives
around on his bicycle," shrugs Jon. "His parents let him be a boy. If he wants to goof off on the set, no one yells at him. He's just jumps up and down on a couch." Jon and Bon Jovi guitarist Richie
Sambora are riding in a limo that's impressively equipped with Jack Daniel's, vodka and gin en route to the Sunset Marquis, where the villa has been hired for the Kerrang! interview and photo session. The duo have just
completed a webcast in which 10 Kerrang! competition winners in London asked them 'real-time' questions. "That was the greatest thing ever!" enthuses Jon. "All our interviews should be done like that.
We'd never have to go anywhere!" In the villa, watching Jon and Richie pose for the electric eye of K! photographer Ross Halfin, they resemble a married couple. While comfortable with silences, they also share
in-jokes and perfectly hearty laughs. At one point, they share glances and gaze around the villa. "Is this the room?" ponders Jon.
"I think so," smiles Richie. "That was one torrid week," We'll get to that shortly... Bon Jovi have always been distinctly 'PG'-rated, verging on a 'U'. Does Jon ever fancy doing
something ludicrous? A 'Hugh Grant'? "Anything ludicrous I've done - which could compete with anything who's done anything - was nobody else's business but my own. I didn't need to live it out in Kerrang! or
anywhere else." Can I tempt you with a crap cigar? "No, thanks." As he hands over a yellow disposable lighter which normally fires up his Marlboro Lights, that famously lopsided
smirk unveils the left-hand side of his exquisitely white dentistry. "I don't have to be the Gallagher brothers and start a fight. We've done a good job of hiding our skeletons."
So you've never been found on bathroom floor after taking a potentially lethal speedball cocktail? "Thank you very much! How d'you like that?!"
You don't have a bad reputation for anything. "It's none of your business. It's the same old mafia attitude I've always had. But I don't wanna have to defend it and say, 'Really, I'm a bad boy!'. F**k you.
You don't like it. I don't care! "I don't mean that personally. You're right, but I'm still here and a lot of guys aren't. I'd rather still be here." Settling down in one of the bedrooms, RS echoes Jon's
sentiments on "keeping problems in-house. It's like 'The Sopranos' - keep it all to the chest and don't show weakness." What kind of problems do you mean?
"I'm trying to think myself," the guitarist puzzles. "Nothing groundbreaking. Hotel rooms being f**cked up, or a woman being distraught because they were treated badly. Those kinds of things probably
went down." Despite being married to actress Heather Locklear - the former wife of Tommy Lee, a man with whom Richie remains "totally cool" - Richie has managed to avoid tabloid scandal. Probably
because he and Heather haven't left their hardcore home videos lying around their mansion, like Tom and Pam.
"Yeah, that was rough for them, man," Richie sighs. "Obviously someone close to them made a lot of money on that thins." Do you and Heather keep your videos in a special box?
"There are no videos," he chuckles. "Just use a mirror, man, F**k it!" According to Sambora, there was never a time when he thought there wouldn't be a new BJ LP. "Even if some shit was
going on, I always thought there would be more," he smiles. "It was just too good, too much fun, too big. How could you quit?" Yet there have been a few points in the band's career when wobbly cartoon
question marks hovered over them. During their 16 month would tour in support of 1980's 'New Jersey' album, for instance, during which they went somewhat mental. Afterwards, Jon and Richie tellingly embarked on solo
projects. "I experienced a lot of burn-out," recalls Jon, out on the verandah. "By the end of the 'New Jersey' tour, it was 'Get me out of here, I don't wanna see anything to do with this for a long
time'. We went on five different aeroplanes to five different places." Jon's destination was his California home, to write the soundtrack for 'Young Guns'. "I ran away from it all," he admits,
"assumed the Billy The Kid personality, wrote that record and drank a summer away." Did you ever do drugs? "No." You must have dabbled.
"No. Didn't have the mental capacity for drugs." How do you know, if you never did them? "I did them so early in my life. I had a couple of bad trips and realised that I couldn't
handle it. I was very young. Thirteen." What's a JBJ acid trip like? "I just remember running right through a screen door freaking my parents out and thinking the whole world was
like..." With one fist, he mines an undulating heart while humming woozily. "It didn't go away the next day, and stayed there the whole summer. At that age, when your hormones and whole body structure are
changing and you're tripping on drugs, you start wondering about your mental stability. Fortunately, for me, I went, 'Wow man, I can't handle
this', So I couldn't smoke a joint after that. I never did anything more than once, and I certainly never did junk." What about cocaine?
"It f**ks your voice up," he shrugs. "Couldn't sing. Plus I couldn't afford it. Richie's take on drugs is slightly more hedonistic. "Hey, if it was around, I'd check it out," he allows.
"But I never got into harder stuff, like heroin. It doesn't seem like anybody wins with that stuff, so why get in the ring? "Drinking was the worst enemy, I had, at one point. It creeps up on the road and
suddenly you're drinking a bottle of vodka a day." Did you and Jon ever come to blows? Richie frowns, as if trying to recall. "I don't think we ever did. Swear to God! We might have
banged a table here and there, or slapped a wall." No pokes in the eye? "No," he insists. "None of that shit. I mean, when we were younger, there were maybe some times when we
were like...." He makes the sound of two cats scrapping. "But it was still all healthy debate," he concludes. Back on the verandah, Jon echoes these sentiments. "Nobody in the band has ever had
a fight. Me and Richie have gotten tighter in the last couple of years than we ever were. We had our periods with the exuberance of youth and the frivolous spend-spend thing. Last time we were here we ended up losing a
lawsuit and having a car chase. There was a lot of lunacy in this room. "We were holed up here, taking a few days off on the 'Slippery...' tour. There were a lot of paparazzi around. When we'd go out, people
would follow us, take pictures and all that nonsense. We got into a car chase and someone got a little too close to my space in an
airport. She claimed that I assaulted her. It's your word against theirs and the insurance company has to pay 'em off." The smirk returns.
"So there's one of your rock 'n' roll stories that we just never let anybody else know about."
One reputation which JBJ does have is that of a shrewd, almost ruthless, businessman. Is that the way he sees himself? "No, but if after 17 years you haven't learned the business, you're a f**cking moron.
All I did 10 years ago was take control of my own life." Do you know any actual gangsters? "Plenty, sure," he says casually. "I don't get to see the darkest sides of them, but
the romantic side of it? Yeah, I've seen it, plenty." Do you have a romantic view of that whole lifestyle? "No," he frowns emphatically. "No, no, no. That's why I stay distant
from it, but obviously coming from upstate New York and New Jersey there's a lot of that around. You meet them. you know them and you know what it is."
Do you get tired of people treading on eggshells around you? "We don't keep 'yes' men," he claims. "As you've probably noticed, there ain't no entourage around this band. People in our organisation
have been here forever. That's why it's the same band, same management, same wife for 20 years. Newcomers aren't really welcome." Jon has nine movies under his belt, but none in which he is, quite literally, the
leading man. While he's more of a household face than many movie stars, this has no bearing on his Hollywood status. "That's right," he nods. "In the music business I'm the director, the producer, the
star, the writer and the marketeer. In the movie business. I'm the bass player. I do my part and go home!" Have you made any friends in the film world? "Yeah, Matthew McConaughey (with
whom Jon stars in imminent submarine thriller 'U-571'). I think I'll be friends with him for a long. long time." How about Bruce Willis and Demi Moore? "Yeah. I had dinner with Bruce
about a week ago, actually. But you don't call these guys and you don't see 'em on Tuesday. If you run into them, you pick up where you left off and you're excited to see each other. "I've become friendly with
the guys in my town now, because I got kids. It sounds a little goofy, being in a rock band and talking about this in Kerrang!, but I meet a lot of guys my age now that have nothing to do with entertainment and couldn't
give a f**k about it/ You can go out for a beer and talk about the game." Do your kids get a hard time at school? "They're aware of who I am because of school. There's not a platinum
record on our house, and it's not as of we ever play the records there." Who do you call when you're upset? "I have my same close circle of best friends that I've had forever." What do you still want that money can't buy you? A full eight seconds pass.
"Health is more important than wealth," he decides. "It's more important than anything. How old are you?" Twenty-seven. "Life'll change a lot in 10 years. I used to dare the aeroplane to
crash because it would make a great movie, my record sales would boom and I'd leave a great-looking corpse. Now, for the first time, I start thinking about mortality. I'm not afraid to die, but on the other hand I
think, 'Man, life is grand. I wanna be here tomorrow'. "It's about the stupid little things. Sitting on a verandah on a Saturday morning, drinking coffee, is pretty cool now."
JBJ is in a horribly enviable position. Is there anything he's really bad at? "Anything other than what I do," he says. Such as? "I'm not as good a communicator in
relationships, as most guys aren't. I can't cook, clean, mow the lawn, fix a car... I ain't much good at anything else." Luckily you don't have to do most of those things.
"Oh, you know, you do 'em plenty," he signs wearily. "It's not that pampered a life." Would you describe yourself as shy? "No. I think I was much more introverted 10
years ago than I am now. When I took up acting I became more of an extrovert." What would you think if you met yourself at a party?
"A nice enough guy. Give him a glass of wine and he's happy." Fancy a word association game?
"Yes, doctor."
Say the first word that comes into your head. Fame.
"Game."
Money.
"Good (laughs)."
Death.
"Inevitable."
Love.
"The greatest."
Satan.
"(Pauses) Record company president. I hesitated, because I had to chose between that or 'movie mogul'." Are you aware of Fred Durst?
"Isn't he the guy in Limp Bizket? I met him briefly." Did he give you props and respect?
"Oh yeah, yeah. He was very nice." What did you take about?
"I don't remember. It was in a restaurant, one afternoon." Did you see the Channel 4 programme 'Stadium Rock', in which a few of your relatives, including your second cousin Tony, slagged you
off? "No. He's made living out of making money from me. Life's too short, man. What can I tell you? If I'm the only claim to fame in the guy's life, it's sad."
How much longer will you be the singer in Bon Jovi? "I don't know. This band's beyond the point of breaking up, because none of us rely on it any more. We'll carry on as long as we've got something to say.
I'm not 38, pretending to be 25. As the journey continues, I'll make the kind of records befitting. So I don't see a reason to stop. Bon Jovi release their new single, 'It's My Life', on May 15. The
'Crush' album follows on May 29. |
Transcript of the Jay Leno show April 18, 2000 JAY: Staring in the movie U-571 JON BON JOVI..!!!! (And them showing a clip of an interview from the set of U-571)
Jay: welcome back.. actor/rocker JON BON JOVI is on his way out...
JAY: all right my first guest big time rock star and currently staring in the new movie U-571 it opens Friday and this is a great film this a really
good one... its a good one.. guys you can go see this one
and its not a romantic movie, you'll have a great time. Please welcome JON BON JOVI.
(them hugging and shaking hands and Jon smiling like crazy.. he looks great) JAY: welcome back
JON: thank you jay.
JON: I hear the band playing and I automatically started warming up back there. (laughing)
sitting down as and actor this is nice.. (sitting there grinning) JAY: this is your first time not performing huh?
JON: it is.. I immediately wanted to jump out there and grab the microphone.. but no im an ACTOR
now... (grinning) and (laughing). JAY: that's right. and you still got your uh.. army regulation haircut
JON: yes as you can see I am absolutely W.W.II Navy.
JAY: now let me ask you did you come out here in that plane of yours.. did you do that whole plane thing again.
JON: listen Jay, now if the audience will appreciate the idea.. Jay used to pick on us for our airplane
because his cars were stored at a hanger at an airport, but last time we were here one of those billion dollar cars of yours broke down and my roadies almost gave you a ride home because I remember this story and this
is true.. JAY: well that's all right..
JON: and as I came by your parking place I noticed and old pickup truck out there now.. is that yours. JAY: life's been ruff hey.
JON: Toyota.. its good.. (laughing)
JAY: hey did you see the market this week. hey what do you want...
JON: (LAUGHING) LOTS... JAY: now let me think how long.. how a.. how long has bon jovi been together now?
JON: its been 17 years. (crowd screaming) JAY: you and your wife have been to together almost as long as me and my wife. how long have you guys been together?
JON: 20 years its long time...
JAY: well yea that is a long time that's cool.
JON: well went to high school together. JAY: and she finished...
JON: (laughing) yea thanks to her I got out of high school.
JAY: were you in the same....uh...
JON: same class, same history class that whole thing. JAY: is that right..
JON: well I just held on with both hands and kept running....
JAY: that's cool.. Now did her parents just HATE you....
JAY: were they just like what and idiot...
JON: ooh man (shaking his head)... the long hair, the sunglasses, I'm gonna be a rock and roll star and they
were like (looking up) Lord what have I done wrong. JAY: like was it...did like chase you away and all that...
JON: her dad was pretty good to me actually.. it was more like her aunts and uncles even through my
first couple albums they were like when you gonna get a job. JAY: did you have to sneak around and that....
JON: no no no... I gotta say her dad was all right. JAY: he was ok.?.
JON: yea he was all right, her mom too, I was actually lucky.. JAY: well is it fun to rub it in now..
JON: ohh absolutely.... (ha ha ha) JAY: isn't your wife like a karate expert?
JON: yea see that's
another reason I stay in line.. (giggling) she's a 3rd degree black belt she is a teacher and has her own dojo. JAY: that's right but you don't know.. you just know the (waving his hands) rock star moves...
JON:
I know how to run.. im really good at running.. I do my Elvis thing.. "look over there" and then take off. (laughing) yea I stay out of her way. JAY: the kids are cool did they come to the premier?
JON: no na no na no.. I don't think they could handle this kinda movie. JAY: is this too intense?
JON: yea my son is 5 and my daughter is 7 now so uh.. you know until im co-starring with like poke man or
something.. they don't get Harvey yet. you know.. its interesting my kids.. they uh.. they look at me now and don't really know what I do for living.. so now they are even more confused. and they are like dad what are
you doing "movies" "music" why don't you go to work like the rest of the dads. JAY: now is this movie about as close to as being in the army that you ever come? What I mean is in the military....
with the advisors and stuff.
JON: THE NAVY, NAVY .. the military well every 18 year old kid gets that phone call. from the recruting offices.. and they say son what are you gonna do when you get out of high school?
I was silly enough to say im gonna be a Rock N Roll star ya know and I didn't like the outfits or the haircuts. but um my mother and my father were marines. JAY: your mother was a marine ... your mother wore combat
boots?? (laughing) with Jon...I didn't think they had female marines
JON: yea this was in like what 1960... yea 1960 my mother and father met in the marine Corp. JAY: wow that's tough dating wow..
JON: yea
tough gig. she didn't like go out.. well I cant imagine my mother like doing that...she was the poster girl on the marine Corp. (looking at camera and pointing) you know the I want you kinda. thing.. I don't think she
was out in the field too much.. my dad was smart enough to latch on. ;) JAY: did they tried to get you into the marine Corp. did they think that would straighten you out.
JON: na they tried catholic school... and
that didn't work.. so.. :))) and that didn't work real well either... but uh.. na na na .. they never really pushed that too hard.. thank goodness.. JAY: when you did this movie.. did you have to.. meet with sort of
army navy technical advisors and stand up straight and have to get the hair cut .. was that the hardest part getting the hair cut..
JON: no... I didn't mind.. I actually jokingly said to john mostow throughout the
audition process.. im waiting for the crew cut.. I want the crew cut.. but...what happen was umm.. there's not allot of research you could do cause there's not a lot of U-boats you can visit.. there's one in a museum in
Chicago there's a tourist attraction in San Francisco of an S-boat.. but we had and honest to god rear admiral teach us as officers .. what to do what to say... and how to say it.. cause if you think about it...you're
talking about gages and dials as a W.W.II officer its in an essence Latin to me.. and your always using your imagination until you got over to the set. in Rome and walked on to these scale submarines they were built to
scale we had both an s-boat and and u boat and when you put those uniforms on you really wanted to pay omige to the guys that wore those uniforms. and all the guys that served..
JAY: But didn't I read this.. maybe you told me this last time you were here.. I think you told me you were claustrophobic.
JON: iii am... the irony imagine I got this phone call... and this is the first big movie I
have done.. I have done 7 and just completed my 8th and im very excited about the whole acting process... but the irony was that john mostow calls up an says good news and bad news.. your in the movie.. and I looked up
to the heavens and say great I
have to go into a submarine now...and the truth is that I never was... but all those years of getting on an elevator with the 5 guys in the band security, road manager and everybody's
got a bag.. the keyboard player has been right in my ear like this (holding hand to his head) for 17 years and I go you know my mothers claustrophobic... you know my mothers claustrophobic...so overtime I get into and
elevator im like lord let me out of here... (and shaking his hands at his side) were on this set. wild story but true.. the exterior was built and were in the water tank in that scene were going invade the U-boat and a
Matt M. and I are in this metal box about 3 ft high 4 ft wide and 5
feet deep and its leaking water because of the rain is pouring down and Jonathan mostow is 500 yards away. and the crew know im a little up tight
so they stuck a light down in there as the waters leaking the cameras are rolling and right be fore action a fire breaks out and honest to god electrical fire.. flames not sparks flames.. on this poor italian extra who
was supposed to go up the ladder first I took him like superman and through him out the hole real quick. jumped out the ladder and I don't know if Matt (sorry cant spell his last name) was being to cool to himself or if
he figured hey if I die here my career is gonna be ok im gonna be a big star cause I died on the set.. im reaching in for this guy screaming and im yelling CUT CUT CUT.. and Harvey was up there getting wet and as you
know he was here last night talking about the film and he says listen bon jovi either get back in the box or I have to come here tomorrow and do this again.. what do you want to deal with.. so I got back in the box he
cured me... I was saved from then on the bad lieutenant saved me.. and I was thinking I don't have to worry about this again.. (
laughing)
JAY: well we have a clip... your a group of Americans who take over a German sub.
JON: Yes JAY: you were sent to the German sub in order to...
JON: that's correct this is a test dive.. the first test dive
where uh.. bill paxton is taking us down and he is barking at me the commands and as the dive the officer it is my job to tell Harvey what to do. JAY: here is a clip from U-571...
(clapping) :)))
JAY: well its a terrific film it opens up what FRIDAY?
JON: FRIDAY... JAY: I think it will be ... I think it will do great. if you like private Ryan and you like those kind of movies...
JON: but this is kinda
group. one more thing this is for all those guys that got dragged to like moonlight and valentino they said this is a chick flick now this is a guy flick that your girls gonna walk out on. I dug it.. they were gonna
call it HUNKS at sea... JAY: my wife loved it.... HUNKS at sea (laughing)..
JAY: JON BON JOVI... ladies and gentlemen.. :) well be right back... |
Album: Crush
Jon:
When I came up with the title it was an accident. We were looking for something that would perhaps mean different things to different people. It can either be looked at as I`ve got a crush on you or I got crushed last night, you know, I mean it can mean different things to the listener.
Richie:
So we started just to kind of throw around things like Slippery When Wet. It really doesn`t mean anything but it`s kind of sexy and cool, you know what I mean, it`s like you can imagine your mind starts to go. Actually, you ever seen some girls in a shower together that`s what I start to think immediately! Jon just started saying some stuff and came up with Crush and I like that a lot. I just thought that was cool. It`s got sex. It`s got power and it`s fun.
It`s My Life
Jon:
We started playing around and I came up with the title It`s My Life and it was really just the animals and we wrote that big old anthemic chorus.
Richie:
Lyrically it nods towards Tommy and Gina and we kind of bring back those characters in the second verse of this song. We also bring back the talk box because it seemed to be more of our signature sound. We also use on the track particularly to make it updated was a drum loop and lots of different drum machines and stuff like that to combine it with a real drum set to kind of give it classic Bon Jovi sound but an updated 2000 version.
Say It Isn`t So
Jon:
When people hear it now they are very surprised that I have written a song like this, you know, both in lyrical content and musical value. But it`s different and again has a rather positive chorus in that what it says lyrically is Say it isn`t so, tell me it`s not true because you still have to be able to dream, you have to be able to believe in role models, heroes or Santa Claus. You know once you forget those dreams it becomes a boring life.
Thank You For Lovin Me
Jon
:
If I were to write record credits on this album sleeve it would have said Thank you for loving me, Thank you to Brad Pitt so that would have started a hundred rumors! But the truth is a lot of times I get stories from movies. In this case, I went to see the movie Meet Joe Black. Brad Pitt is holding Clare Forlani in his arms at the end of the movie and he says thank you for loving me and I went gotta go! I ran home and wrote that chorus and much like Always or Bed of Roses or a lot of the hit ballads we`ve had over the years, I`ve always written them by myself. Because they are rather easy for me to do. I saw the outline in that movie, this was gonna be something I could knock out in ten minutes.
Two Story Town
Richie
:
Just the way Jon sang the song particularly was very very appealing to me because it was fresh, something uncharted. He`s almost speaking through the verses with a small melody on it. I don`t think we could have done it on the past records but as Jon`s maturing as a vocalist I think that he`s able to do different things and I wanted to show the side of the band from production standpoint. So that was a song that I particularly guided onto this record and made sure it was gonna get on be cause I had a passion on it.
Next 100 Years
Jon:
The Japanese market called and asked do we have a song would fit this Kobe Relief Fund, This thing called J-Friends which is the boy bands in Japan, that they could record and had a lyrical message that would support future generations even and we said as a matter of fact we do. So we sent them the original demo, these guys recorded it and it has sold somewhere close to 800/900,000 singles already. It was our first Japanese No.1 song on the domestic charts. In all the hits we`ve had in Japan, it was the first domestic number one single.
Richie:
I came up with a crazy idea, this double time jam which lets me go crazy as a guitar player. They basically let me go nuts for 3 minutes, which I think people dig live, and it also gives me a chance to expand myself as a guitar player. I think what that does is tells people this band is still a rock band with a lot of testosterone and we can actually really play our instruments. Because there`s a lot of bands out there that get deals nowadays and I ask how long have you been playing and they say oh I`ve been playing for 6 months and that`s what they sound like. We wanted to prove to people that number 1- we can really play and number 2- it excites people to come and see us live which is a big part of our whole allure.
Just Older
Jon:
The lyrics say one simple thing in the chorus I like the bed I`m sleeping in, just like me it`s broken in, it`s not old, just older. Like a favorite pairs of torn blue jeans, the skin I`m in is alright with me, not old, just older. That`s sum it`s up. When I sang this, my chest was out, my backbone was straight and I was very excited singing it, and I saw that the audience felt that. Regardless of if you`re 16, you think you are older than you were 12, or if you`re 38 you think you`re older than you were 25 and when you`re 50 you`re gonna think you are older than you were 35. So it`s a question of feeling experience because of this song.
Mystery Train
Jon:
I think that my lyrical heroes Leonard Cohen, Tom Waits could be proud of the pictures that I`ve created in this song. I think it`s wonderful story in that it is a boy/ girl song, I created a lot of pictures and always use my wife as the image of what I`m creating with it but there`s more to the story than the cover. I think that will be one of the songs that I`ll love to play at night.
Save The World
Jon:
Jerry Bruckheimer sent me the script of Armageddon and asked me to write a song for the soundtrack and perhaps for the movie and when I read the script I immediately knew that the character that Ben Affleck was playing leaving Liv Tyler to go and save the world, finding out that he`s in love with Liv Tyler`s character and Bruce Willis being her dad in the film, was going to whip his ass for it, being the wild boy in the film, here was the story to me, this is what I was gonna write about. It was really obvious to me and I wrote the song and I like the song very much. I put it away because I found out that they had their ballad with Aerosmith doing the song. So it honed the lyric to make it a little more personal but the basis of it comes from the script Armageddon.
Captain Crash and the Beauty Queen From Mars
Jon:
Richie came over to Rome while I was shooting U-571 to write. So we got together there and I said you know I¡Çve got a strange one here and it¡Çs called Captain Crash And The Beauty Queen From Mars. I said let¡Çs think of this guy. He said yeah let¡Çs make him more Ziggy Stardust and have this fictional story of these 2 screw ups who think that they are on the cover of Time, Newsweek and Rolling Stone all in the same week and really they can¡Çt get out of Their own way. But they¡Çve endearing characters so they¡Çre been completely fictionalized mind you, but also somebody that you would like to be.
She`s A Mystery
Jon
:
She`s A Mystery I wrote, believe it or not, at a songwriter`s retreat. I was invited to the South of France at what was truly a castle in the middle of nowhere and it became one of the truly great experiences of my life. Because all you could talk about was songwriting. You would sit in a room with 2 other people and develop a song - not for you, not for them, for the wind, just to see what would happen, and you were forced to demo that song that day. So it was almost like a test, could you or could you not. I got up really early at dawn, picked up my guitar started playing and came up with this progression and that title and started writing it so that when we walked in there that day we knocked it out in ten minutes. The song turned out so well that it actually made the band record, which is not like us to do anything like this.
I Got The Girl
Jon:You initially hear this song and good or bad, or in different, you`re like
oh well, Jon Bon Jovi got the girl, isn`t that great. But what you find out in the last lyric of the song is that she`ll always be a five-year-old princess and it`s about my daughter. I`ve never written a song about my
kids before nor have I ever wanted to. I don`t know what influenced it other than I just spit it out one day and I was really fond of the lyric and it`s a rock song and it`s very up-tempo with the surprise of being the
last line. Every dad that has a daughter especially as his first child you know you think what have I done, this is my penance for the rest of my life! My joke about my daughter is I`ve always said she`ll be the
prettiest girl in the convent.
One Wild Night
Jon:
The old team of Richie and myself and Desmond Child, we wrote this song together at least the first verse and part of the chorus but I thought of it as Going To A Go Go and was so excited about it that I kept pushing. When I came up home I wrote the rest of the lyric by myself and having already written music, roughed it up. They came and we demo it, changed a couple more of the lyrics around. Certainly in the vein of You Give Love A Bad Name you`ll wanna play it at night, it`ll be a big audience thing.
Richie:
It`s fun, classic Bon Jovi track all of Bad Medicine, great guitar line, a fun lyric and it`s about a party that last this one wild evening. We tried to lyrically take a guy from his doorstep, out through the evening and follow him around with a camera in our mind`s eye as lyricists. He meets people, he meets a girl parties his ass off and does all that kind of stuff, so it was one of those that came together like that
If I Could Make A Living out Of Loving You
Jon
:
This is something that when I played for Richie. He said boy great verse, great b section. I said no that`s the chorus and he said no great b section. Thanks a lot brother! So we sat down and wrote a chorus for it and he became a collaborator on the track. I`m glad that he pushed me further. It`s in the vein of AC/DC stadium rock, you know, but a fun song, a real black T-shirt crowd thing.
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