I went on a much deserved vacation this week. Not just a long weekend but an actual 5 days off from work and a little trip to Las Vegas.
So he's my trip in a nutshell:
A Blog about stuff, Bon Jovi news and stuff I stumble across, snark, and more stuff.
8/8/10
8/7/10
Bon Jovi: August 7th
While August 7th, 2010 is a day of celebration in for one David Bryan as he gets married today. It is also a sad day.
"August 7, 4:15"
[This song is dedicated to the memory of Katherine Korzilius.]
[Sometimes God calls His angels ... too soon.]
Ah...
It was another day
Perfect Texas afternoon
Mother and two children play
The way they always do
As they raced home from the mailbox
A mother and her son
Against a little girl of six years old
The independent one
Ah...
The deputies went door to door through all the neighborhood
They said I got some news to tell you folks
I'm afraid it ain't so good
Somehow something happened
Someone got away
Someone got the answers for what happened here today
Oh no, oh no, oh no no no no
Tell me it was just a dream - August 7, 4:15
God closed His eyes and the world got mean - August 7, 4:15
Now the people from the papers
And the local TV news tried to find the reason
Cop dogs sniffed around for clues
Someone shouted "Hit and run"
The coroner cried "Foul"
Her blue dress was what she wore
The day they laid her body down
Oh no, oh no, oh no no no no
Tell me it was just a dream - August 7, 4:15
God closed His eyes and the world got mean - August 7, 4:15
No...
[Guitar solo]
I know tonight that there's an angel up on Heaven's highest hill
And no one there can hurt you baby, no one ever will
Somewhere someone's conscience is like a burning bed
The flames are all around you
How you gonna sleep again ?
Oh no, oh no, oh no no no no
Tell me it was just a dream - August 7, 4:15
God closed His eyes and the world got mean - August 7, 4:15
Tell me it was just a dream - August 7, 4:15
God closed His eyes and the world got mean - August 7, 4:15
[ 4:15 to fade ]
Katherine's father, Paul Korzilius, was the personal manager for rock star Jon Bon Jovi. The two families were quite close (you could say they were even freinds) and often took vacations together, Paul's family going along on several of Bon Jovi's tours, as well.
Katherine's family lived in Texas in an area not quite upper-class, but not the typical suburb (somewhere near Austin, I believe). The mailboxes for the houses in that part of town were roughly one-eighth of a mile from the Korzilius house. Six-year-old Katherine often liked to walk from the house to the box assigned to their family, get the mail, and return home. The trip took somewhere around half an hour when she was in no hurry to reach home.
On August 7,1996, Nancy, Katherine's mother, had taken Katherine and her brother, Chris, for a day of shopping. Paul was out of town helping Bon Jovi to promote his new tour and the subsequent album. As they approcahed the mailboxes, Katherine asked if she could get out, pick up the mail, and walk the rest of the way home. Seeing no harm in this, Nancy let her daughter do as she wished. She left Katherine at the mailbox with the key, then headed for home. It was 4:15 P.M.
An hour later, Katherine had still not returned home. By this time, Nancy was in a panic. She had called the police, but was informed that, unless she had been missing for at least twenty-four hours, they could not declare Katherine missing. Angered and upset, Nancy pulled Chris into the family car and drove out to the mailboxes. When she did not see her daughter anywhere, she made a wide circle around the neighborhood.
She found Katherine's battered body laying in the middle of the road over a half a mile away from the house, obviously not on the path she normally took home. Frantic, Nancy pulled her daughter into the car and headed for the local hospital. Around six hours later, at 11:30 P.M., Katherine was pronounced brain-dead.
Hospital examinations before her death revealed a fractured skull and several bruises and uneven cuts on one hip, both knees, both elbows, the left shoulderblade, and the small of her back. The coronrer corroborated this, saying that it was most likely caused by either falling, jumping, or being thrown froma moving vehicle. There was no evidence of sexual assault; only physical trauma.
Later, the police sent the K-9 unit to track the girl's scent. Startng at the mailboxes, they had walked for perhaps five or six minutes when the trail veered off into a vacant lot, then disappeared, only to be picked up again where the body was found. Police and private detectives surmised that she encountered her attacker, ran into the lot to escape, but was then picked up and thrown into a vehicle. Whether she jumped out of the vehicle or if she was thrown was never discovered. But the coroner said that the fracture in her skull was of greater size and severity to have been caused by the fall; she had obviously been struck, possibly several times, in the head.
To this day, almost ten years later, this innocent girl's brutal murder goes unavenged and the killer walks free. The family has moved on, but there is a hole in their hearts and their lives that cannot and will not ever be filled.
Shortly after the incident, Jon Bon Jovi penned the song August 7, 4:15, a ballad about the fateful events of that day, and dedicated it to her memory. He said it was the least he could have done for the family, but wished he could have done so much more.
I have heard several theories about this case. One is that Katherine grabbed onto the back of her mother's car and fell off, and that her mother lied about finding her. This theory doesn't hold up with me for several reasons. another one I hear is hit and run, but then why would her body look so peaceful? hit and run victims do not USUALLY look that pleasant, and why would her scent have been picked up near the lot and her body not found near there?
Katherine's family lived in Texas in an area not quite upper-class, but not the typical suburb (somewhere near Austin, I believe). The mailboxes for the houses in that part of town were roughly one-eighth of a mile from the Korzilius house. Six-year-old Katherine often liked to walk from the house to the box assigned to their family, get the mail, and return home. The trip took somewhere around half an hour when she was in no hurry to reach home.
On August 7,1996, Nancy, Katherine's mother, had taken Katherine and her brother, Chris, for a day of shopping. Paul was out of town helping Bon Jovi to promote his new tour and the subsequent album. As they approcahed the mailboxes, Katherine asked if she could get out, pick up the mail, and walk the rest of the way home. Seeing no harm in this, Nancy let her daughter do as she wished. She left Katherine at the mailbox with the key, then headed for home. It was 4:15 P.M.
An hour later, Katherine had still not returned home. By this time, Nancy was in a panic. She had called the police, but was informed that, unless she had been missing for at least twenty-four hours, they could not declare Katherine missing. Angered and upset, Nancy pulled Chris into the family car and drove out to the mailboxes. When she did not see her daughter anywhere, she made a wide circle around the neighborhood.
She found Katherine's battered body laying in the middle of the road over a half a mile away from the house, obviously not on the path she normally took home. Frantic, Nancy pulled her daughter into the car and headed for the local hospital. Around six hours later, at 11:30 P.M., Katherine was pronounced brain-dead.
Hospital examinations before her death revealed a fractured skull and several bruises and uneven cuts on one hip, both knees, both elbows, the left shoulderblade, and the small of her back. The coronrer corroborated this, saying that it was most likely caused by either falling, jumping, or being thrown froma moving vehicle. There was no evidence of sexual assault; only physical trauma.
Later, the police sent the K-9 unit to track the girl's scent. Startng at the mailboxes, they had walked for perhaps five or six minutes when the trail veered off into a vacant lot, then disappeared, only to be picked up again where the body was found. Police and private detectives surmised that she encountered her attacker, ran into the lot to escape, but was then picked up and thrown into a vehicle. Whether she jumped out of the vehicle or if she was thrown was never discovered. But the coroner said that the fracture in her skull was of greater size and severity to have been caused by the fall; she had obviously been struck, possibly several times, in the head.
To this day, almost ten years later, this innocent girl's brutal murder goes unavenged and the killer walks free. The family has moved on, but there is a hole in their hearts and their lives that cannot and will not ever be filled.
Shortly after the incident, Jon Bon Jovi penned the song August 7, 4:15, a ballad about the fateful events of that day, and dedicated it to her memory. He said it was the least he could have done for the family, but wished he could have done so much more.
I have heard several theories about this case. One is that Katherine grabbed onto the back of her mother's car and fell off, and that her mother lied about finding her. This theory doesn't hold up with me for several reasons. another one I hear is hit and run, but then why would her body look so peaceful? hit and run victims do not USUALLY look that pleasant, and why would her scent have been picked up near the lot and her body not found near there?
"August 7, 4:15"
[This song is dedicated to the memory of Katherine Korzilius.]
[Sometimes God calls His angels ... too soon.]
Ah...
It was another day
Perfect Texas afternoon
Mother and two children play
The way they always do
As they raced home from the mailbox
A mother and her son
Against a little girl of six years old
The independent one
Ah...
The deputies went door to door through all the neighborhood
They said I got some news to tell you folks
I'm afraid it ain't so good
Somehow something happened
Someone got away
Someone got the answers for what happened here today
Oh no, oh no, oh no no no no
Tell me it was just a dream - August 7, 4:15
God closed His eyes and the world got mean - August 7, 4:15
Now the people from the papers
And the local TV news tried to find the reason
Cop dogs sniffed around for clues
Someone shouted "Hit and run"
The coroner cried "Foul"
Her blue dress was what she wore
The day they laid her body down
Oh no, oh no, oh no no no no
Tell me it was just a dream - August 7, 4:15
God closed His eyes and the world got mean - August 7, 4:15
No...
[Guitar solo]
I know tonight that there's an angel up on Heaven's highest hill
And no one there can hurt you baby, no one ever will
Somewhere someone's conscience is like a burning bed
The flames are all around you
How you gonna sleep again ?
Oh no, oh no, oh no no no no
Tell me it was just a dream - August 7, 4:15
God closed His eyes and the world got mean - August 7, 4:15
Tell me it was just a dream - August 7, 4:15
God closed His eyes and the world got mean - August 7, 4:15
[ 4:15 to fade ]
7/31/10
Bon Jovi: In Chicago
At packed Soldier Field, a marathon of spirit-boosting nostalgia, catchy hooks, devotional pledges every woman longs to hear
By Bob Gendron, Special to the Tribune
5:45 AM CDT, July 31, 2010
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Nothing was insurmountable in Jon Bon Jovi's world Friday at the first show of a two-night stand at Soldier Field. No matter the odds, or how daunting "living in the broken home of hopes and dreams" became, the vocalist fell back on survival, deliverance and faith, leading his namesake band through a marathon 155-minute set steeped in the kind of wholesale inspirational optimism trumpeted by motivational office posters. The good-guy approach is paying dividends.
Bon Jovi remains a rare exception during a summer in which arena concert-ticket sales have plummeted. Immune to the empty seats that have greeted many big-name acts, the veteran group's current trek ranks as the current top-grossing North American tour. Bon Jovi's live appeal? Spirit-boosting nostalgia, catchy hooks, devotional pledges every woman longs to hear and a sex-symbol frontman that, together, functioned as comfort food.
Apparently recovered from a leg injury suffered onstage a few weeks ago, the 48-year-old singer refrained from running but engaged in exercises—air punches, jumping jacks, hip thrusts—to underscore the pop-rock climaxes. While his falsetto is gone, Bon Jovi's voice primarily sounded like it did in 1986, delighting a sold-out crowd that stood and shouted along to myriad hits.
Bon Jovi kept everything simple and abided by formula. Choruses clung to an assortment of wordless refrains, with "nah nah nah," "yeah yeah" and "hey hey" running a close second to the ubiquitous "whoa-oh." Several tunes seemed interchangeable. At their root, "Have a Nice Day," "It's My Life" and "Livin' on a Prayer" were the same song with different lyrics albeit parallel sentiments. No matter. Whether raising his arms, looking skyward or bowing his head, Bon Jovi sold the drama with strategic moves and a coy smile.
Yet despite Bon Jovi's thespian attempts at profound sincerity, the band's ballads mined a litany of lyrical clichés familiar to anyone who's ever composed a love note to a high-school sweetheart. "Work for the Working Man," a forced stab at sympathizing with blue-collar plight, proved equally hollow, especially considering some fans paid upwards of $1,700 for V.I.P. packages. And there was no escaping the irony as images of cultural pioneers such as John Lennon flashed onscreen next to generic slogans ("Act Now," "Rise," "Freedom") during "We Weren't Born to Follow," a by-the-book rallying cry that was anything but defiant or original.
The group fared better on upbeat older music ("Bad Medicine," "Runaway") that allowed drummer Tico Torres a chance to beef up the keyboard-heavy mix with rhythmic muscle. "Wanted Dead or Alive" rang true with an authenticity other material lacked, and a cover of Bob Seger's "Old Time Rock & Roll," performed with opener Kid Rock, resonated with an invigorating soulfulness that temporarily smeared the band's polish.
If you go Saturday:
Be aware that Friday's show ended nearly an hour later than the city's normal 11 p.m. all-ages curfew. Plan accordingly. Bon Jovi took the stage at 9:25 p.m. Opener Kid Rock went on shortly after 7:45 p.m., following a short set by 7th Heaven. If you have field seats, keep your ticket on your body at all times. Security is tight and abundant. Will call is at the Southern entrance. In getting to Soldier Field, try and take public transportation. By 6 p.m., traffic backed up for miles between Belmont and Oak on Lake Shore Drive. Parking is expensive. Find a restroom early. Lines for the women's bathrooms looked exceedingly long.
7/29/10
Bon Jovi: Bon Jovi is back: It's been a long, long road
By Allison Stewart, Special to the Tribune
July 30, 2010
Over the course of 25-plus years, Bon Jovi has morphed from pop metal also-rans to a Garden State cultural institution. How did it happen? We're still not sure.
Having an underrated catalog helps. So does having a secret weapon frontman like Jon Bon Jovi — it's not for nothing that he's called a hair metal renaissance man.
In honor of the band's mind-boggling two-night stint at Soldier Field in support of its latest disc, "The Circle," we've compiled a decades-spanning guide to the finest and most obscure Bon Jovi facts.
Ahmadinejad, Mahmoud: Iranian president whose re-election was one of the pivotal events inspiring the band's hit "We Weren't Born to Follow."
Axelrod, David: President Barack Obama's political adviser and alleged Bon Jovi fan. According to Jon Bon Jovi, Axelrod has the printed lyrics of the group's "Work for the Working Man" framed on a wall of his West Wing office.
Bono: The politically influential rocker to whom Jon Bon Jovi has been compared, thanks to his friendships with East Coast politicians such as Hillary Clinton, whom Bon Jovi refers to as "Mrs. C."
Costello, Elvis: Once recorded an unreleased cover of "Bad Medicine."
de Soto, Hernando: The Peruvian economist whose theories on poverty and capitalism have been cited by Jon Bon Jovi.
Flockhart, Calista: "Ally McBeal" star and onscreen love interest to Jon Bon Jovi, about whose tonsorial perfection she reportedly once marveled, "Each hair must have its own stylist."
"Guitar Hero 5": The video game in which Kurt Cobain's avatar could be used to sing non- Nirvana songs, including "You Give Love a Bad Name," leading to protests by Courtney Love and ex-Nirvana members Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic. "I don't know that I would have wanted it either," Jon Bon Jovi admitted to the BBC.
Hair: It's real, and it's all his, according to Jon Bon Jovi, who once urged a journalist to pull on it. "It's very real and soft," the journalist reported.
"Idol, American": During a Season 6 appearance, Bon Jovi was clearly less than thrilled with contestant Blake Lewis' beatboxing version of "You Give Love a Bad Name." "I don't think Jon Bon Jovi had actually ever seen 'American Idol' or knew what I did," Lewis said afterward.
Lane, Diane: Actress who briefly dated Jon Bon Jovi in the '80s, during a period of semiobscurity for both.
Mijovi: An energy drink whose name and slogan ("itsmilife") attracted the attention of Jon Bon Jovi's lawyers. "We were shocked to see that he would object to a positive beverage," the drink's creator said.
" National Lampoon's Pucked": An '06 hockey comedy so terrible even Jon Bon Jovi complained about its awfulness. And he starred in it.
Robots: Five immense robotic arms hold up onstage video screens during the band's tour. The robots, who move in concert with the music, are similar to those featured in the movie " Terminator Salvation."
Rose, Axl: Guns 'n' Roses frontman and Jon Bon Jovi nemesis of long standing. "That [expletive] hasn't made a record in 13 years and he gets all that attention," Jon Bon Jovi told an interviewer. "You know what I've done in 13 years? A lot."
Scott, Bon: The late AC/DC lead singer reportedly was part of the inspiration for John Bongiovi's early-career name change.
"7800° Fahrenheit": Bon Jovi's second, and likely least favorite, album, about which he once said, "My whole second album I try to avoid."
Springsteen, Bruce: Ranked just above No. 7 Jon Bon Jovi in Billboard magazine's most recent Ten Sexiest Men in Music poll (No. 1? Adam Lambert).
Torres, Tico: Bon Jovi's longtime drummer, and, incredibly, the only band member (formerly) married to a supermodel (Eva Herzigova). Also, one of the band's only members not to get his own 6-inch action figure.
" Vampires: Los Muertos": A pre-"Twilight" popcorn flick in which Jon Bon Jovi played a vampire slayer. Sample dialogue: "The only choice left is how to die — slow and painful, or quick and easy."
"Who Says You Can't Go Home": The Bon Jovi hit appropriated by Sarah Palin during her 2008 campaign rallies, much to the band's public chagrin.
Bon Jovi: Jon gets beat by Bruce again...
Billboard.com did an online poll to find out who the sexiest man in rock is, since it's an online poll I think the results are a little skewed (IMO).
Billboard’s Top Ten Sexiest Men In Music:
1. Adam Lambert (It's like saying Keisha is the hottest woman in music)
2. Nick Jonas (Really????? Maybe to a 16 year old)
3. Chris Brown (hot only if you like a boyfriend & a beat down)
4. Justin Timberlake (BARF, I still don't see what other people see in him)
5. Enrique Iglesias (Even since it got removed all I see is a big mole on his face)
6. Bruce Springsteen (BRUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCE Surprising to see him on the list but awesome since a majority of the artists cater to the tween acts which means their parents got on the net and voted!)
7. Jon Bon Jovi (7th, to me this is WORSE than being dropped off the Forbes Richest Musician list!)
8. Usher
9. Maxwell
10. Drake
Billboard’s Top Ten Sexiest Men In Music:
1. Adam Lambert (It's like saying Keisha is the hottest woman in music)
2. Nick Jonas (Really????? Maybe to a 16 year old)
3. Chris Brown (hot only if you like a boyfriend & a beat down)
4. Justin Timberlake (BARF, I still don't see what other people see in him)
5. Enrique Iglesias (Even since it got removed all I see is a big mole on his face)
6. Bruce Springsteen (BRUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCE Surprising to see him on the list but awesome since a majority of the artists cater to the tween acts which means their parents got on the net and voted!)
7. Jon Bon Jovi (7th, to me this is WORSE than being dropped off the Forbes Richest Musician list!)
8. Usher
9. Maxwell
10. Drake
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