 Discuss this band at HAIR NATION HEAVY METAL MESSAGE BOARD
Emerging in the wake of the '80s pop-metal boom, Bon Jovi's early recordings fused the crass popcraft of Journey and Starship with the average-Joe populism of Bruce Springsteen for a sound that aspired to rock & roll grandeur without achieving it. Bon Jovi and 7800¡ Fahrenheit understand the basic formula, but offer little in the way of memorable material, sticking close to pop conventions like heartbreak lyrics and strident, minor-key choruses (although Bon Jovi does at least hint at things to come with "Shot Through the Heart"). The band is nearly redeemed by Slippery When Wet, an album which in its better moments -- "Livin' on a Prayer," say, or "Wanted Dead or Alive" -- actually delivers enough melodic razzle-dazzle to make the band's shameless posturing almost forgivable. Unfortunately, the band's massive sales encouraged the lads to show how little success had changed them, which they did through the bombastic Springsteenisms of New Jersey.
Bon Jovi the band went on hiatus, during which time frontman Jon Bon Jovi released the solo album-cum-soundtrack Blaze of Glory (written for the film Young Guns II), which updates "Wanted Dead or Alive" but otherwise makes the Wild West sound suspiciously like East Jersey. After regrouping, the band quickly returned to form with the cheerfully cliched Keep the Faith, which at least balanced the bombast with the corny but heartfelt ballad "Bed of Roses." Cross Road, a relentlessly tuneful best-of, has charms enough to be a guilty pleasure for all but the most cynical, and even adds to the canon with "Always." (A second best-of, This Left Feels Right, dilutes the catalogue's charm with later and lesser hits.)
From there, the band continued on as if the '90s never happened, cranking out variations on the old formula and somehow continuing to fill arenas (stadiums in its home state). It hardly matters that These Days sounds like it should have been called Those Days (though it's hard not to admire the shamelessness of "Lie to Me"). Destination Anywhere, Jon Bon Jovi's second solo project, sounds more like a collection of demos than a fully-realized album, but it did give the singer the opportunity to flex his melodrama muscles on "August 7, 4:15." Crush is summed up in the chorus to "Two Story Town," which complains of "the same old sights, the same old sounds," but Bounce finds the band briefly revitalized by the tragedy of 9/11. Not that the blunt, jingoistic "Undivided" deserves comparison to the similar-but-superior "The Rising," but it wouldn't be Bon Jovi if the band didn't continue to aspire to Springsteen.
In early 2001 a BON JOVI tribute album was issued that included many familiar faces from the mid 80’s era of BON JOVI’s rise to stardom. The main musicians comprised of WARRANT members guitarists Erik Turner and Jerry Dixon with keyboard player Danny Wagner. Contributing vocalists were WARRANT’s Jani Lane (‘Lay Your Hands On Me’), L.A. GUNS Phil Lewis (‘Wanted Dead Or Alive’), RATT’s Jizzy Pearl (‘Bad Medicine’), BULLETBOYS Marq Torien (Livin’ On A Prayer’), TUFF’s Steevi Rachelle (“In And Out Of Love’), HURRICANE’s Kelly Hansen (‘You Give Love A Bad Name’) and UNION’s John Corabi (‘Born To Be My Baby’).
The bands live album 'One Wild Night' predictably scored well on the international charts fired by the studio title track's hit status. The album would also include a nod to some inspiring forces too with covers of NEIL YOUNG's 'Rockin' In The Free World' and an unexpected treatment of the BOOMTOWN RATS 'I Don't Like Mondays'. Between dates in the UK promoting the live record Jon Bon Jovi would take time out for a more cerebral challenge on June 15th addressing the Oxford Union debating Society at Oxford University.
BON JOVI's 2001 American summer dates witnessed a brief onstage reunion with original bassist Alec Jon Such during a gig in Philadelphia.
Later that year plans emerged for a new studio album with the rumoured title of 'Bounce'. The band also announced their inclusion as part of the 'Twenty Years With AIDS' benefit festival appearing alongside such luminaries as ELTON JOHN, STING and MATCHBOX TWENTY. Although BON JOVI the band was publicly inactive throughout early 2002 JON BON JOVI maintained his high profile starring in the popular TV series 'Ally McBeal'.
The highly anticipated 'Bounce' album, produced by Bon Jovi, Sambora and Luke Ebbin and preceded by a single 'Everyday', would be confirmed for a September release. 'Everyday' was to host demos for three tracks that would eventually not make the final running order of the album. Japanese editions of 'Bounce' featured the traditional extra tracks in the form of 'No Regrets' and 'Postcards From The Wasteland'. Promotion included the novelty of a an appearance in New York's Times Square on the 5th of September to mark the start of the NFL season upfront of a live set performed during half time at the Giants Stadium at the New York Giants vs. San Francisco 49’ers game.
BON JOVI cut a new album 'This Left Feels Right' for November 2003 issue, this release comprising familiar favourites performed acoustically with radical re-worked arrangements. The album was something of a last minute decision as the original intention had been to issue a live album based on acoustic sets recorded in Japan on the 'Bounce' tour. Produced by Pat Leonard, the record included a mellowed out version of 'Livin' On A Prayer' seeing JON BON JOVI duetting with actress Olivia D'Abo. Although previously announced, the brand new tracks 'Thief Of Hearts' and 'Last Man Standing' did not make the final running order.
Bringing 'This Left Feels Right' to the live stage, BON JOVI performed two mid-November at The Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Filmed for subsequent DVD issue the band was joined by additional musicians guitarist Bobby Bandiera and keyboard player Jeff Kazee from SOUTHSIDE JOHNNY & THE ASBURY DUKES along with percussionist Everett Bradley. Oddly the support act for these shows would be a stand up comedian. BON JOVI performed the 'This Left Feels Right' material as well as a rendition of DR. HOOK's 'Sylvia's Mother' and the new originals 'Last Man Standing' and 'Thief Of Hearts'.
In mid 2004 the band announced plans for a mammoth box set, featuring band members on the cover dressed in gold Elvis suits, entitled '100 Million Bon Jovi Fans Can't Be Wrong', set to include no less than five discs comprising three CDs of unreleased material, one CD of fan favourites and rarities plus a DVD. To coincide, the band put on a special show at the Borgata Casino in Atlantic City. With 3,000 fans in attendance, the show would be broadcast live onto the screen in New York's Times Square.
BON JOVI debuted a brand new song, 'Have A Nice Day', at the American Music Awards show in November, this track being the lead single for a new, John Shanks produced album. The first half of 2005 would prove quiet for the band but anticipation toward a new album was satisfied in June when word arrived the opus was scheduled for September release. BON JOVI, sharing the stage with LINKIN PARK and DEF LEPPARD, would also be chosen as one of the leading US Rock acts to appear as part of Bob Geldof's global poverty awareness concerts, entitled 'Live 8', on in Philadelphia. That same month the Recording Industry Association of America revealed BON JOVI had sold over 49 million albums in the USA.
The new BON JOVI album, the much delayed 'Have A Nice Day', would finally be scheduled for September issue. Since having apparently wrapped up the original album sessions in September of 2004 the band returned to the studio craft further tracks in 'Wildflowers', 'One Last Cigerette', 'Novocaine', 'Story Of My Life' and 'Dirty Little Secret'. Also included would be the track 'Who Says You Can't Go Home?', recorded in two versions with Jennifer Nettles of SUGARLAND duetting on a "Country" take. This union would transfer to television, with a CMT 'Crossroads' special featuring both BON JOVI and SUGARLAND performing together. Australian variants of the album added a second disc of five live video tracks recorded in Borgata during 2004.
Internationally the album surprised many media watchers as 'Have A Nice Day' scored no less than 8 no. 1 positions including Japan, Germany, Australia, Holland, Switzerland, Austria, Mexico and Canada. In the USA it was to debut at no. 2, being held off the top spot by the new DISTURBED album.
The promotion for 'Have A Nice Day' would be put to one side when BON JOVI donated $1 million to the Oprah Winfrey 'Angel Network' to benefit those in need following the devestation caused by Hurricane Katrina. European gigs in May saw NICKELBACK as support. The band scored another major coup in April when 'Who Says You Can't Go Home' hit number 1 on the US Country charts, the first time a Rock band had achieved this honour.
In September Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora ensconced themselves in Nashville for writing sessions with BILLY FALCON. The first hints of a Country flavoured album came in January 2007 as two tracks, 'I Love This Town' and 'Make A Memory', were provided online.
DISCOGRAPHY
Main Releases
Lost Highway
2007
Chronicles (3cd Econopak)
2006
Have A Nice Day
2005
100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Can't Be Wrong
2004
This Left Feels Right
2003
Latin Radio Mix [Bonus Tracks]
2003
7 Series Sampler: One Wild Night
2003
Below
2003
Norteno a la Mexicana
2003
Bounce
2002
Songs for Our People
2002
One Wild Night: Live 1985-2001
2001
Crush
2000
These Days
1995
El Rancho Reverbo
1994
Cross Road
1994
Keep the Faith
1992
New Jersey
1988
Slippery When Wet
1986
7800 Degrees Fahrenheit
1985
Bon Jovi
1984
Singles
Who Says You Can't Go Home (Duet with Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland)
2006
Have A Nice Day
2005
Why Aren't You Dead?
2004
Wanted Dead Or Alive (live From The Bounce Tour)
2003
Bounce (live From The Bounce Tour)
2003
Misunderstood (live From The Bounce Tour)
2003
Something for the Pain [#2]
1995
Something For The Pain
1995
This Ain't a Love Song [#1]
1995
This Ain't a Love Song [#2]
1995
Always
1994
I Wish Everyday Could Be Like Christmas
1992
Living In Sin
1989
Wanted Dead or Alive
1987
Compilations
A Very Special Christmas
Navy Seals
Now 64 (CD 1)
2007
Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle
2003
Now, Vol. 11
2002
Bounce
2002
Maxim Rocks!
2002
The Concert for New York City
2002
America: A Tribute to Heroes
2001
Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back [Clean]
2001
Rock Star
2001
Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back
2001
Covered Dead or Alive: Bon Jovi Tribute
2001
Now That's What I Call Music! 5
2000
EDtv
1999
Home for the Holidays [Polygram]
1997
Stars In Spanish
1995
Cowboy Way
1994
Classic Rock Box: Celebrating WNEW-FM 25th...
1992
Rock The First (Vols. 1-6)
1992
Rock the First, Vol. 2
1992
Stairway To Heaven, Highway To Hell
1989
Rock N' Roll Meltdown
1989
A Very Special Christmas (A&M)
1989
Guest
The String Quartet Tribute To Bon Jovi
2003
Maximum Bon Jovi: The Unauthorised Biography
Bon Jovi
2000
String Quartet Tribute to R.E.M.
Rudy Colombini
1999
If I Could Turn Back Time: Cher's Greatest Hits [Interscope]
Cher
1999
|
