Bon Jovi hails from Sayreville, New Jersey. Formed in 1983, the band consists of lead singer and namesake Jon Bon Jovi (John Francis Bongiovi, Jr), guitarist Richie Sambora, keyboardist David Bryan, drummer Tico Torres as well as current bassist Hugh McDonald.
The band gained fame for writing several rock anthems, and achieved widespread recognition with its third album, Slippery When Wet, released in 1986.
After touring and recording non-stop during the late 1980s, Bon Jovi went on a hiatus following the New Jersey Tour in 1990, during which time Jon and Richie both released successful solo albums.
In 1992, the band returned with the album Keep the Faith. The 2000 single It’s My Life, which followed a second hiatus, successfully introduced the band to a younger audience.
Bon Jovi has been known to use different styles in its music, which has included country for its 2007 album Lost Highway. The next album, The Circle, was released on Nov 10, 2009, in the United States.
Altogether, it has released 11 studio albums, three compilation albums and one live album, and has sold 130 million records worldwide.
Here are excerpts of an interview with Jon Bon Jovi:
You released a Greatest Hits album in the 90s. What inspired a second one?
We wouldn’t have made the second volume of the Greatest Hits but when I informed my record company in 2007 that I intended to go to Nashville to record what became Lost Highway, they were concerned and asked if we would think about doing another Greatest Hits compilation. And I said sure, it’s a deal.
So after we made Lost Highway, we began to write songs for that Greatest Hits commitment. But the material wasn’t suitable for a Greatest Hits album, because it was more of a storyteller’s record, and songs like We Weren’t Born to Follow and When We Were Beautiful were telling a much deeper tale of the time and place the world was in.
We made and released The Circle and we were so pleased by the response that we went on the road. But we wanted to give our fans value-added so Richie and I wrote four new songs to add to the classic catalogue ones.
What is your favourite track from this compilation?
Probably No Apologies, one of the four new songs here. I think it is really uplifting but it also has a unique, snotty feel. I have a chip on my shoulder even at 48.
Your new single, What Do You Got, is your first 3D video?
This came together in 3D truthfully by accident. I have a friend who works in Sony and they were very excited about their 3D technology and offered it for the making of a video. When you’ve made as many videos as we have – it’s not the most pleasurable aspect of what we do so I need something to entice me to even make a video.
How did that song come about?
What Do You Got was written during The Circle process and was set aside for the Greatest Hits. The lyrical content was such that it was timeless and universal and people at the studio were really responding to it so I relented and didn’t put out No Apologies first. We re-recorded it the week that we released it.
Where do you find the inspiration for your songs?
If you open your eyes and ears, every day is a song waiting to be written. If you watched the rescue of the miners in Chile, there would be a story there if you chose to write about it. When you watch your kid going to school, that’s a story. A busy week is a story. Every day is another opportunity to make a memory – sometimes it’s about you, sometimes about the world around you.
Do you think it’s harder to compete now in the music industry?
I don’t think it’s harder. It used to be more competitive. Social networks like YouTube and Myspace allow for truly original groups with a devil-may-care attitude to become the next big thing. They aren’t hindered by the traditional obstacles of distribution to get their music out there.
You once said that "music marks milestones in all our lives". What milestones have Bon Jovi experienced?
Every day that we live just seems to be another milestone either about to happen or that has happened. We’ve been blessed with a career that’s spanned nearly three decades at this point. The Circle and Lost Highway were No.1 albums. They were either Grammy-winning or were nominated. We’re still the biggest touring band in the world today. So you see, every day is another milestone.
You were recently nominated for the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame. How’s that going?
It’s a very elite club and I hope the outcome is positive. I’d be disappointed if it isn’t, but I’m in the Songwriters Hall of Fame with the likes of Elvis, Hank Williams and Bob Dylan and that’s quite astounding as it is. All writers want to be remembered for a song they’ve written.
What keeps you rocking after all these years?
My favourite act is writing a song, whether it’s alone or I’m collaborating with Richie. You hope it’s as good as it sounds in recording as it does on paper, and it’s brilliant when it does. The idea is to record something that you can share. That’s what keeps me going: looking forward to going to work every day and sharing my music.
You look great for a man your age.
Oh, I have my share of ageing. It’s just part of my job to work out, to not be the fat Elvis. I’m not ready to be the fat Elvis just yet. – UM
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