Bon Jovi: Let It Be

Thanks to Lauri (aka @gutter_ceo) for sharing this, this morning, I've been watching it all day.

One of the things that I thought of while watching this was how Jon's voice doesn't project he has to be right up on the microphone.  Richie is several inches away and you can hear him clearly.

Enjoy!

Bon Jovi: Old Interview with Jon

Came across this when reviewing Time's Best & Worst Dressed Oscar list.  From 2007 I'm guessing Jon was promoting Lost Highway.

I love his responses to the You tube question and the response regarding Dublin.

10 Questions for Jon Bon Jovi

By NATHAN THORNBURGH Wednesday, Jul. 25, 2007

Jon Bon Jovi
Chris Jackson / Getty

The Jersey rock star who has sold more than 100 million albums worldwide is touring in support of his band's latest album, Lost Highway. Jon Bon Jovi will now take your questions

Has the dynamic of the band changed over the years? —Aaron O'Reilly, London, Ont.

I don't think it has. It's always been a team sport. But somebody had to be the quarterback and somebody the receiver and the lineman. [Lead guitarist] Richie [Sambora] understands that, and the other guys have to collaborate as their parts fit.

Are you going country on us? —Larkin Werner, Pittsburgh, Pa.

No. To clarify, Lost Highway is not country. It's a Nashville-influenced Bon Jovi record. It's not George Strait or Alan Jackson. It's more Keith Urban, Sugarland or Big and Rich.

If you could choose only one song that showed the real you, which one would it be? —Doreen Townsend, Nashua, N.H.

I think if there was only one, it would be a tough choice between "Living on a Prayer" and "Wanted Dead or Alive." Maybe because the themes of "Wanted" are a little more universal, it makes "Prayer" that much more unique. There is nothing that you can say is derivative about the song. It is its own entity.

What's playing on your iPod? —Aiden Bettag, Dubuque, Iowa

I have been a great fan of Damien Rice and his album O. Most recently, this Amy Winehouse record [Back to Black] is slaying me. I love the sound of it. So I really do find great solace in the next generation of songs and songwriters.

What is the coolest thing you learned from being an actor? —Jessie Moon, Sinton, Texas

You learn humility, like when you go to an acting coach who makes you pay for 10 lessons in advance and makes you sit out on the stoop until it's your hour. That's all fine, but when you are not the writer, the director, the producer or the star, you also learn humility. I brought that back to the band, and I think it truly is the key to our success from the '90s on. It helped us not rest on our laurels.

How do you balance your family life with the demands of your career? —Deena Lytle, Petal, Miss.

It's not always easy. This week alone, I was in New York, Venezuela, Tobago, Wisconsin and Wyoming. I came home at 4 in the morning and was obviously delirious and had to get up to take my son to the dentist the next day. Needless to say, I overslept. My wife graciously let me sleep, said I needed the rest. Tomorrow I've got to take another kid to a doctor. I try. The day after that, I'm back to being a rock star.

You mention faith a lot in your songs. What is your own spiritual life like? —Lisa Sidney, Maple Grove, Minn.

I think I find more strength in faith than I do in organized religion. "Living on a Prayer" is most certainly nondenominational.

Have you considered encouraging Al Gore to run again? —Debi Dodson, Chattanooga, Tenn.

I may have been the first one in that line, but there are a lot of people behind me trying to say the same thing. I think I have spoken my piece politically with "Have a Nice Day." I find I can get a lot more done personally through philanthropy than I can stumping for either side of the aisle.

How do you feel about playing in your home state of New Jersey? —Donna Jackson, Cherry Hill, N.J.

It is actually not my favorite place in the world to perform. The guest lists are too long, and every aunt or uncle that you don't even see at Christmas tends to want access to sit on the drum riser or something. [Laughs]. My favorite place to play is actually Dublin. I have got some kind of passion for that city. Something keeps drawing me back.

What do you think of the many Bon Jovi tribute bands that are out there? My son-in-law's the drummer in one. —Peter Wolk, Brooklyn, N.Y.

I think that they are a great compliment. And once I can start getting them to do interviews for me, they would really serve a purpose.

TIME's interveiw with the rock star continues on Time.com. Read these extra questions with Jon Bon Jovi.

After all these years, what still excites or drives you to perform? —Frederick Do, Riverside, CA

Songwriting is key to all of it for me. Recording comes second. And if in fact your idea comes to fruition—both through the writing process and then the recording process—you want to go out and share it with as many people as possible. That is what drives me to tour again.

Do you ever disagree with Richie Sambora over the creative process? —T. Hyland, West Islip, NY

In truth, the answer is no. I think we all share the same creative vision. Each of our contributions are equal, though some of them aren't as highlighted. Richie and I may have creative discussions, but truly never had an argument about a direction in the songwriting or recording process.

Bon Jovi as a band has gone through so many changes over the years—there was more of a country flavor with this last album. How do you guys change like that? —Eric R. Bower, Hagerstown, MD

We remain successful by remaining true to who we were. Never was there a time when trends came and we decided to jump on anyone else's bandwagon. In retrospect, that's probably what differentiates us from a lot of our peers. When we grew as a band, we did it naturally, without having a rapper when rap was in fashion, or pretending to be from Seattle when grunge was in fashion or trying to dance like a boy band when boy bands were in fashion. We just grew up and grew in public, and fortunately 100 million people came along for the ride.

Are any of your children musically inclined? How would you feel if someday they wanted to start their own rock band? —Rosemary Moock, Philadelphia

They're starting to show some inclinations. I've never pushed it on them because, I want to let them find it out on their own time—like I did. If they ever chose music as a living, I would encourage it as a source of great pleasure and as something that will never let you down. Playing a musical instrument is something that will stay with you for the rest of your life. It can be a good friend to you.

Do you ever get tired of hearing and singing your more famous songs? —Priya Gupta, Burr Ridge, IL

No I don't. The day that this becomes nostalgic or a reunion tour, I will walk away. As much as I do enjoy playing Living on a Prayer or Wanted Dead or Alive every night, I wouldn't feel good about performing them every night if I didn't write Who Says You Can't Go Home and have a number one single on the last album. I wouldn't want to just talk about yesterday.

You've been happily married for a long time. I'm getting married next year. What's the key to having a successful marriage? —Joey Paez in Clifton, NJ

Find an independent woman—who loves you for you and will be your best friend. I got it right the first time and was very, very lucky.

If you had the ability to cure any one social ill, what would it be and why? —Debra Lightner Riverdale, NJ

In this, the richest country in the history of the world, I think not addressing poverty, domestically, is the one issue that I would really like to point a finger at. Community service as it pertains to affordable housing is what I'm really focused on. Volunteerism in your community is something that is really rewarding and I find it has given me more personal satisfaction than any accolade that my profession brings me. You never know, the people that you're helping may be the next leaders of the free world. It's always great to give someone the opportunity to have a hand up.

Is it true that you now drive an energy efficient car, after all those great sports cars you've had? —Debi Dodson, Chattanooga, TN

I certainly do. I have a Toyota Hybrid, among other cars.

If you could write your own headstone what would it read? —Treise Kearney, County Down, North Ireland

Never bored. Never boring. [Laughs]

What do you think of your concert performances being broadcast on You Tube by people that went to the show? —Susan Smith, Haltom City, TX

I enjoy it. I am just as enamored as anyone else is with You Tube. Though I wish I could navigate it as well as my own teenagers.

What do you aim for in life nowadays? —Daniela Igreja, Lisbon, Portugal

Anything that I have cared to try in my life, I already did. Some things worked out. Some things did not. But I have always said of myself, I would never be a coulda shoulda woulda' kind of guy. So I think the only thing I would like to have for the next twenty years is continued longevity, health and family.

You've become such a successful and multidimensional businessman over the years. Have you considered writing a book that discusses your business style and philosophy? I'd buy it! —Sharon Seaman, Las Vegas

I considered it. I even went as far as to get the check, but we sent it back [to the publishers]. When I started to read the pages, they were looking for dirt and the cliche and I am not interested in that. I could give the next generation some great advice, not that they would take it. I have to qualify that answer by saying, I wouldn't have taken it at their age. Each of us has to carve our own path based on experience.

What is the proudest moment in your career? —Lucia Romagnano, Chicago

That is tough. From the time you play guitar as a teenager in a garage, you think each little milestone is the be all and end all. From the time you played at that block dance, to the time you played at a nightclub, to the day you got a record deal, to the day you had a number-one album, to the day you played ten nights at the local arena. It continued to get bigger and better and continued to be more fulfilling. I don't use these road makers to pat myself on the back. They are all just anther asterisk in the book somewhere. To me the story is just not going to be told for another thirty years. I think a career is a marathon and 25 years on is when you start talking about a body of work and about having an influence and a voice in the community. That is when I even will be able to look back and say this was a good year, this was a bad year, this is why this happened. I still think it is premature.

I know you're a fairly private person, but if a movie was to be made about your life, what would the title be and who would play you? —Sandra Bell, Miami, FL

Someone jokingly already told us it was going to be (Ben) Affleck and (Matt) Damon. That is going to be me and Richie. [Laughs]

Bon Jovi: MTV needs to get their facts straight....

MTV, the channel that used to be called Music Television, but then dropped the word "Music" from the name so they could focus on crap like "Jersey Shore" and other assorted TV programming gears towards popular culture, not popular music.

They know Bon Jovi has tons of fans all over the world so they put their name in the headline and just have a 1 sentence blurb on them. Here's another example that their staff either doesn't do research, or doesn't care to do research.

Spotted: Bon Jovi Get Up Close And Personal At Madison Square Garden

...It has been a big week for events at New York's famed Madison Square Garden. The venue hosted a pair of high-profile performances by Lady Gaga on Monday (February 21) and Tuesday (February 22) (which were taped for an HBO concert special). On Wednesday night (February 23), the New York Knicks returned to the Garden for the first time since their blockbuster trade with the Denver Nuggets that landed them superstar Carmelo Anthony (the newest Knick scored 27 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in the team's 114-108 win over the Milwaukee Bucks). And on Thursday night (February 24), another superstar with local roots filled the arena to capacity for an electric evening. Bon Jovi, who formed in New Jersey over 30 years ago, delivered another one of their trademark blasts of pulse-pounding rock, hitting on all the various points of their career over the course of an epic 25 song set. Frontman Jon Bon Jovi got up close and personal with the huge Garden crowd, and they were hanging on every high note and strut.

Bon Jovi was formed in 1983, either someone A) Needs a new calculator or B) needs to learn how to do math. 2011 - 1983 is only 28 years, not even over 30 years ago... Dumbasses.

Bon Jovi: New York Post review of Thursday Night...

The New York Post always has the best headlines.  Today's article is no exception.

Jonny B good in Jovi-al show

By DAN AQUILANTE

Hey, Jersey, keep Snooki and the gang. We here in New York will take Garden State rockers Bon Jovi off your hands. It's a good deal for us, especially after Jonny B's block buster 2½-hour show Thursday, the first of two sold-out Madison Square Garden concerts.

Jon Bon Jovi charmed the sold-out crowd at his
Madison Square Garden show Thursday.

Jon and his longtime bandmates hit hard right up front with a snarling version of "Last Man Standing," which the singer played on a small riser set up in front of the seats farthest from the main stage.

With exaggerated arm gestures -- so everyone could see -- and a crooner's tone, Bon Jovi hammed it up for those in the "bad seats," then jogged through the aisles to join the band. As he moved through the arena, he high-fived the guys and smooched any good-looking blonde who got in his way.

"I don't wear crazy clothes," he said in a nod to Lady Gaga, who performed at the Garden earlier in the week. "We're not the new kids on the block," he continued, referring to freshly minted Knick Carmelo Anthony. "[Bon Jovi] is like a fine wine -- we just keep getting better."

One sip of the anthemic "It's My Life" -- in which rock's golden boy beat his chest as he sang the chorus, "I just want to live while I'm alive" -- made you want to get drunk on the music.

Apparently recovered from a leg injury sustained at a summer show in Jersey, Jon showed he's still a goofy-footed frontman who finds all his moves in the beats of drummer Tico Torres and the flash-fire electric riffs of guitarist Richie Sambora.

Keyboard ace David Bryan -- whose "Memphis" won the Best Musical Tony Award last year -- was the band's unheralded hero, as usual. He was especially good pounding the keys for the old hit "Runaway."

Midshow, the band did trip with a quiet mini-set, with Torres sometimes bongo-ing the beat with his hand on a wooden box. Please, this guy's an extraordinary stickman -- he should never be separated from the skins.

But that was the only low-energy moment in a greatest-hits show that truly was great.

Bon Jovi: Time celebrates the Oscars....

It's Oscar time again.  And the folks at time Magazine have decided to walk us down Memory Lane to the strange trip that was Jon & Dot at the 1991 Academy Awards.  The Good thing is (if it's a good thing) they're not the worst.....

But yeah, what were they thinking?

The 25 Best and Worst Oscar Gowns of All-TIME

Jon Bon Jovi and Dorothea Hurley, 1991

By FEIFEI SUN Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011

RON GALELLA / WIREIMAGE

The Oscar red carpet may not have been the best place for Jon Bon Jovi to show off his rock-star style. Especially since said style involved a crushed-velvet purple suit with leather lapels. Not to be outdone, Bon Jovi's wife Dorothea wore an equally outrageous purple dress.

Bon Jovi: Like a Vintage Wine...

I suddenly want some Pinot Grigot for some reason, but it's a white wine, it's young and shouldn't be aged.... Ok a cabernet or something. Or Scotch....

Bon Jovi - Bon Jovi: 'We're Like A Vintage Wine'

25 February 2011 23:21

BON JOVI ended a week that saw LADY GAGA and basketball hero CARMELO ANTHONY stun Madison Square Garden by performing at the fabled New York venue on Thursday night (24Feb11) - and all the excitement wasn't lost on frontman JON BON JOVI.

Introducing the song When We Were Beautiful during the band's set, the rocker told fans, "It's great to be in New York, the greatest city in the entire universe.

"Madison Square Garden had some week, huh? We haven't got crazy phones like Gaga, and we're not the new kid in town like Melo, but, if you like a nice vintage wine that's been around for awhile, then we're the band for you."

And, at the end of the show, Bon Jovi was clearly moved by the New York experience, adding, "Your friendship and support has meant everything to us for the last three decades. We came to Madison Square Garden when were kids taking the train to Penn Station but we sat in the cheap seats."

During the concert, the band played a number of hits unplugged.

Bon Jovi: Turning a Negative into a positive

I know I posted earlier this month about turning Who Says You Can't Go Home into a game, now I want you to share with the world the number of times you counted Jon said "It's Alright!" at your show.

Don't make up some random number like 525,600 times or something ridiculous, it's already ridiculous enough as it is.

In the spreadsheet below find your show, in column A put your name, your alias, your twitter name, whatever.  Post how many times you heard "It's Alright!" during Who Says You Can't Go Home.

Clicking on this link will take you to the document so you can update it, make sure you save your work.
TAKE ME TO THE SPREADSHEET



HAVE FUN!!!!

Bon Jovi: Celebrate Int'l Women's day with Bon Jovi & Oxfam

Mar 1, 2011 / 12:00 PM

Int’l Women’s Day: Oxfam at Bon Jovi concert in Boston at TD Garden

Boston, MA

Fans of Bon Jovi, Oxfam will be tabling at his Boston concert on 3/1 at TD Garden. Come find our Oxfam table and take your picture with a special sign that reads, Ending Hunger Starts with Bon Jovi fans. You will join hundreds of other supporters on our Ending Hunger photobook.

Event contact person: Clara Herrero

cherrero@oxfamamerica.org

Bon Jovi: MSG Night 1 Pics

Thank You Zimbio

Bon Jovi: Not doing anything after tomorrow nights MSG show....

Thanks to @piab70 for the heads up on this.

Just head north on 7th to Times Square.

Tomorrow night would be 2/25/11.  If you go back and look at this post you can see a bit of the story line.  So you can see Jon twice!

Have fun.

Bon Jovi: Music this week in Boston

Looks like the copy writers in Boston love Bon Jovi.  Leave the smart assed remarks to real fans, ok?

Music: the week ahead

 BON JOVI The veteran New Jersey rockers boasted the highest-grossing tour in the whole wide world in 2010, raking in more than $200 million. The money train pulls back into Boston to remind us about the popular karaoke travails of Tommy and Gina, the pros and cons of bad medicine, and the glory of seeing a million faces and rocking not just a few of them, but all of them. It certainly pays the bills. March 1, 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $17-$500. TD Garden. 800-745-3000, www.ticketmaster.com (Kevin Westenberg)

Bon Jovi: 'And then we'll get into Richie's Pants"...

Man I like this lady she's a pretty awesome interviewer.  She's wanting to get into Richie's Pants....

White Trash Beautiful
Friday, February 18, 2011


Richie Sambora and Nikki Lund unveil their new line of clothing at Fashion Week. And Shelli Sonstein was there:


Richie Sambora
02/18/11 - Shelli talks to Richie Sambora and Nikki Lund at their Withe Trash Beautiful Fashion Show Link to Video if the above video doesn't work

Remember to take a look at the Non Scientific Poll and post your favorite song off 100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Can't Be Wrong.

Bon Jovi: What's your favorite

Informal non scientific poll.

What's your favorite song off 100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fan's Can't be Wrong? 

What song would you love for them to play live (buy you're not holding your breath).

Leave your responses in the comments field and you can do it anonymously.  Although I will hunt you down by your IP address if you say, "The song at the end of Nobody's Hero".

Bon Jovi: Pictures from Raleigh Before and during

February 21, 2011 :: Bon Jovi rocks Raleigh
Lots of pictures from Raleigh, so many that this post is going to be cut.

Enjoy

Bon Jovi: Why I enjoy people watching

I don't know which show this guy went to, but reading this kind of reminds me of myself at concerts, and how shocked I was, ok well not really shocked mildly surprised but not unbelievably so when I saw Bon Jovi on the Bounce tour at the Meadowlands for 2 cold snowy nights in February. There were women wearing jeans with leather cut outs that I remember a girl from high school wearing. And that was over 10 years ago at that time. And the hair! My hair has been perm free since the early 80's but I can see there were still salon's in North Jersey willing to cover your hair in a smelly chemical which will soon fry your hair into crusty, crunchy follicles. I have yet to see the woman on the show Jerseylicious do any perms, but they love extensions, so I guess extensions are the new perm?

Anyway....

Why I enjoy people watching

By The Final Say - Jeff Say

Published: February 21, 2011

Some people like to bird watch, others like to whale watch. Me? Give me people watching any day.

OK, some might think people watching is creepy, as some stranger takes a miniscule part of your day and dissects it, but I find it fascinating to see how people act in public.

So anytime I witness something strange, funny or heartwarming, it’s filed away in the old memory banks for future reference.

What I witnessed this past Saturday falls in the strange and funny category and will likely be fodder for stories I tell for years to come.

For Sarah’s 30th birthday back in December, I surprised her with tickets to Jon Bon Jovi. She has a severe crush on Bon Jovi and has admitted he is the only man she would leave me for. So I was taking a calculated risk in bringing her in close proximity to JBJ, but she behaved herself and didn’t try to jump from our seats in the nosebleed section onto the stage.

Sadly, that couldn’t be said for some of our fellow concertgoers.

Now, I’ve been to a lot of concerts in my day. I’ve been part of a circle pit with tattooed and pierced folk who have collapsed inside a tent that probably reached 150 degrees on a sweltering summer day. I’ve seen bands fling fecal matter at each other. I’ve seen fights, huge bonfires and lots of public indecency. Somehow, a show by 50-year-old man brought out more crazies than any of the other shows I’ve been to.

As we sat in the parking lot, waiting to brave the cold before going in, I counted at least 1,000 articles of leather passing by us.

I’m also surprised I didn’t read a story about the great hair spray shortage of 2011 after watching fans walk by, the smell of Aquanet permeating the parking lot.

Yes, it was like I had taken a time machine back to 1989. Leg warmers, gold sparkly pants and leather spiked gloves — they were all on display.

If it was young teenagers wearing them in 1989, I wouldn’t have been fazed. But those young teenagers and young adults in 1989 are grown adults now — and they were proudly showing off their late 80s closet.

I’d make fun of them, but I’m pretty sure people would mock me for my late 80s Metallica T-shirt I still wear in public.

I guess I just wasn’t prepared for the level of intensity Bon Jovi fans bring to the table. As we sat down, we had three ladies sit beside us during the opening act. At first, I thought they were younger than I was based on the way they were dressed. But then the lights came on and I discovered they could probably be my mothers. It’s amazing what a hat and trendy clothing can do for you in the dark.

As Bon Jovi hit the stage, the ladies beside me regressed to their teenage years. They danced drunkenly, spilling beer on my lap and yelled “I love you Jon.”

OK, that was all cute. Until one of the ladies yelled loudly, “my son is in surgery and I don’t care because I’m at Bon Jovi.”

Um, really? Meanwhile, my wife and I were going through separation anxiety, as it was the first time both of us had left our baby alone with the grandparents. With the way my wife was frantically texting her parents for updates, you would think they had never seen a baby before.

Thankfully, and predictably, our baby was just fine.

Hopefully the lady’s son beside me was too.

But, yet, that wasn’t the strangest spectacle of the night. Two rows below us were two manly men, I’d guess in their mid-20s. They looked like burly loggers, beards shining in the Bon Jovi spotlights.

As the music started, the two jumped to their feet hugged each other and yelled loudly, “I love you man, this is awesome.” There were folks in our row videotaping their actions instead of the concert it was so hilarious.

That’s the part of people watching I enjoy the most, the spontaneity of moments when people forget others are watching and just let go. I’m pretty sure those two guys had the time of their life, and somewhere they’re recalling singing along to “It’s My Life.”

Good for them. I just hope that in 20 years I don’t take my daughter to a concert and she says, “Dad, please stop singing along, you’re old.”

Because now I know if you wear enough leather and hair spray — you can be young again.

Bon Jovi: Bon Jovi Comes to Raleigh

Dear Fay Observer (I guess from Fayetteville, NC), Bon Jovi articles are better when they have pictures of the band. ;)

Nice article on tonight's show and opening act Billy Falcon.

Bon Jovi comes to Raleigh

By Brian Dukes

Staff writer

When it comes to rock bands, they don't come more legendary than Bon Jovi. The New Jersey natives will rock out at Raleigh's RBC Center Monday night.

The performance is part of the globe-trotting Bon Jovi Live 2011 World Tour, which kicked off in Pittsburgh Feb. 11 and concludes in Lisbon, Portugal.

Over the course of Bon Jovi's 27-year history, the band has put out 11 studio albums, sold more than 130 million copies worldwide, and landed 10 tunes in the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 chart. That includes four No. 1 hits - "You Give Love a Bad Name," "Livin' on a Prayer," "Bad Medicine" and "I'll Be There For You."

"They are simply one of the best and most-enduring rock bands of all time," said Stoney, an on-air radio personality and DJ WFLB 96.5 FM.

One of the secrets to Bon Jovi's success, Stoney said, has been the band's consistent songwriting.

"They have great songs with great choruses, and they always talk about love," said Stoney. "That's the formula, and they've managed to stay current."

Unlike many of their big-haired band brethren of the '80s, Bon Jovi avoided burning out, Stoney added, by staying ahead of the curve.

"They didn't fall aside like Ratt or Poison; they stayed away from the makeup," said Stoney. "And they have a rabid fanbase who supports Bon Jovi no matter where they perform."

That fanbase, Stoney said, has grown with the band, remaining true followers throughout the years, even as Bon Jovi has taken a hiatus or two, and even when the band crossed over into country music terrain.

"2007's 'Lost Highway' was a great album that had a lot of country appeal to it," said Stoney. "And they wrote 'Who Says You Can't Go Home,' which became a hit duet with Jennifer Nettles from Sugarland."

No matter what genre Bon Jovi's music occupies, fans can easily identify with it, Stoney said.

"These guys are from (New) Jersey; they're hard-working grinders," said Stoney. "They always put their fans first, never forget where they came from, and have a 'real life' appeal to their music. It's no surprise they're still filling stadiums."

Meet the opening act

Billy Falcon, a longtime Bon Jovi songwriting collaborator, singer and performer, will be the band's opening act. Falcon has co-written more than a dozen songs on the last six Bon Jovi albums, including "When We Were Beautiful" and "Superman Tonight" from Bon Jovi's 2009 album "The Circle."

He also has a song on the soundtrack for the recent film, "Country Strong." He co-wrote "Give In To Me" with his daughter, Rose, and Elisha Hoffman. Faith Hill performs the song.

Falcon toured with Bon Jovi in 1992 and opened for Richie Sambora a number of times. To return the favor, Jon Bon Jovi and guitarist Richie Sambora wrote songs for Falcon's new solo album, "When."

"I'm psyched about the show," said Falcon. "It's going to be a great show. Sometimes I still can't believe this all came together."

Weekender caught up with Falcon to talk about his connection to Bon Jovi, his music, and more.

Weekender: On your website, Jon Bon Jovi gives you quite the ringing endorsement. He says, "Billy Falcon is not only one of my favorite guys, he was - and is still - one of my favorite songwriters." What's that like?

Falcon: (laughs)Jon's been great to me over the years, really supportive. It's really cool, actually.

Weekender: How did you two become so close that he endorses your new album, "When," on your website as well?

Falcon: It's a long story, but basically, I've been writing music since I was 18, and Jon was a fan of these little records I'd made from 1979 to 1987. Well, he knew a guy who knew a friend of mine, who told me that Jon wanted to meet me. This was in 1990, around the time Jon's hit "Blaze of Glory" was all over the charts.

Weekender: So what happened next?

Falcon: Jon looked me up out of the blue. It was hilarious. I sent him some music from my album "Pretty Blue World," but I didn't think anything would come of it. A year went by, and I was in Nashville then, recording and hadn't heard anything from him.

Weekender: So things were dead in the water?

Falcon: Jon's a busy guy.(laughs)I wasn't worried about it. But then, again, through a friend-of-a-friend, Jon gave me his phone number and I called him and he asked me, "What the heck are you doing in Nashville?" After that, he invited me to dinner in New York with him. We hung out, played some songs, and then he just offers me a record contract! It was so Hollywood and so ridiculous.

Weekender: Whoa! What were you thinking?

Falcon: I remember thinking, "What the heck am I doing here?" But Jon told me my music got me there and he wanted to work with me. It's been great ever since.

Weekender: What's it like to collaborate with Bon Jovi?

Falcon: It's been fun. It's always a process - very different than writing for myself, though we like the same things when it comes to the craft of songwriting. We have a lot in common, musically, so that made it a good fit. He's from New Jersey and I'm from New York, in Queens, but we're cut from the same cloth.

Weekender: What's your favorite Bon Jovi song?

Falcon: "Born to Be My Baby." It was playing when I went to meet Jon for the first time.

Weekender: What can you tell us about your latest album, "When"?

Falcon: It's the best music of my life. People are really responding. Jon's help has sparked all of this. I really feel it's a songwriter's album.

Weekender: What's next for you?

Falcon: I'm still writing a lot and recording, but I'm also producing a number of groups and working with up-and-coming acts in Nashville. And my daughter, Rose, is in the business, too. She co-wrote "Give In To Me," which is featured in the movie "Country Strong," and performed by Faith Hill on the soundtrack. It's been a long, strange trip.

If you go

Who: Bon Jovi with Billy Falcon

When: Monday, Feb. 21, 7:30 p.m.

Where: RBC Center, Raleigh

Tickets: $19.50, $29.50, $49.50, $89.50 and $129

Bon Jovi: New Book and why you probably shouldn't waste your money

Oh Amazon.  Our relationship is deep, but if you keep throwing crap like this out at me I might just start to wonder if it's a one sided kinda love.

Nice cover art....  Let's read the description.

Product Description

The full, illustrated story of the Jersey legends

Joel McIvor's authoritative text is accompanied by four companion DVDs tracing the Bon Jovi story from their New Jersey roots through to the stadium rock phenomenon that they are today. The DVDs feature candid new interviews with Jon Bon Jovi along with his bandmate Ritchie Sambora and a host of music commentators and journalists, producing a unique account from the inside and out, covering everything from the early days of the band until now. Interviewees include Carol Clerk, Phil Sutcliffe, Alexander Milas, Mick Wall, Robin LaRose, Natasha Scharf, Jerry Ewing, Karl Douglas, Malcolm Dome, and Larry Alexander.

Who is this Ritchie Sambora that you speak of?

Also Joel McIver is a leading writer on Metal, notably books on Metallica, Cliff Burton, and the 100 greatest heavy metal guitarists ever (Dave Mustaine from Megadeath was #1).  A quick Google search brought no results on Joel McIvor.

Amazon lists Jeff Maitland as the author, Jeff Maitland is an editor, not an author, big difference.

If it smells like crap, it looks like crap, it probably is crap. 

Add this to the don't waste your money on this crap files.

Bon Jovi: Interested in Going to the show in San Antonio, but don't have a ticket? I can help!

Oh.

In the excitement of my first Fan Club ticket purchasing extravaganza in November, I bought 2 tickets for the St Patrick's day show in San Antonio TX.

And now I have an extra ticket.

I'd prefer not to sell it on stub hub where I could profit from my own foolishness but to sell it to someone who's a fan.

So here are the details.

Section F3 On the floor, David's side

Row 8

Seat 5

Price $152 (US Dollars)

This is Face Value including all fees/surcharges/taxes, etc.

This is a Fan Club ticket, so I will not have it in my possession until the day of show.  My travel arrangements are all booked so I will be there.  

Oh and you'll be sitting (you don't sit at a Bon Jovi concert you boogy your ass off) STANDING next to me.

If you are interested: Drop Me a Line

Feel free to share this post with anyone who may be interested.

Thanks for reading.

Bon Jovi: Interview from Style 360 with Richie & Nikki

This is a long one.

There's a performance from Ryan Starr who's opening a few shows for Bon Jovi

@ 12:16 you hear the song White Trash Beautiful that Richie & Nikki recorded.

Does Gwen Stefani play her own music or No Doubt at L.A.M.B. shows???

Enjoy.  Thanks lheel for the heads up!

Bon Jovi: Richie is looking for the next Ex -Mrs. Sambora

Well at least he has a good outlook on Love & Marriage.

Or is it a bad outlook?

Richie Sambora Ready to Meet His 'Future Ex-Wife'

BY MARY S. PARK

Sunday February 20, 2011 10:00 AM EST

Richie Sambora

Retna

Richie Sambora is looking for his Mrs. Right – or at least Mrs. Right, for now.

"I'm on a search for my future ex-wife," the Bon Jovi guitarist, 51, told PEOPLE at the N.Y.C. Fashion Week Style 360 afterparty for his line, White Trash Beautiful.

All joking aside, Sambora – whose 2006 split from Heather Locklear came after 11 years of marriage – is ready to settle down, which can only mean one thing: more kids.

"I'm just looking for the right person to have more children [with]," said the father-of-one, whose daughter Ava (with Locklear) is 13. "I just love being a dad."

He adds: "There's nothing like a love for our children. I love being a papa, and that's the truth."

So what's he looking for in the potential mother of his future kids? Sambora says he doesn't have "any preconceived notions."

"I think it just hits you," he says.