Bon Jovi dropped a new single, "Legendary" on March 14 and... it was unexpectedly emotional for me. The song isn't going to change the world, but I didn't know if we'd ever hear new Bon Jovi music again, given Jon's vocal situation and jadedness with everything. So seeing the joy on his face just made me smile. And I like the song, although a ripping guitar solo would've Phil'd the track out more. (See what I did there? Your girl's got dad jokes.)
The full official trailer for Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story has also been released. Interesting to hear Richie Sambora say he regrets the way he left the band, though not the actual leaving:
Thank You, Goodnight had its first screening at the SXSW in Austin on March 14. The rest of us will have to wait until April 26 when it drops on Hulu, Disney+ or Star+ (depending on where you are in the world)... but here are some of the SXSW red carpet interviews and the Q&A with the band members and filmmakers:
The video above features red carpet interviews with producer Alex Trudeau Viriato and director Gotham Chopra, as well as Jon Bon Jovi, Phil X, Everett Bradley, Hugh McDonald, Tico Torres (in order of appearance). The Q&A was moderated by Deepak Chopra and features the remaining founding members of Bon Jovi (Jon, Tico, and David Bryan) and Gotham Chopra.
I'm pretty keen for the documentary; it looks like it'll be gritty enough to be worth our while, but obviously I'll have to wait and see!
Okay, that title sounds a bit dramatic -- but it is the 40th anniversary of Bon Jovi's self-titled debut album this year. And things are happening!
First up, Jon Bon Jovi was honoured as the 2024 MusiCares Person of the Year. The benefit gala was a ticketed event that wasn't streamed, but credit to Brian Baumwoll who took some videos on his phone so we could catch a glimpse -- and a listen.
Here's Bon Jovi performing "Legendary" (the expected lead single from their upcoming album), before Bruce Springsteen joins them for "Who Says You Can't Go Home" and "The Promised Land" (the latter being from Bruce's Darkness on the Edge of Town album). Jon sounds decent in his first live performance in two years, and looks in good spirits -- and seeing him pull out the harmonica is such a vibe! 😀
Jon also addressed his vocal issues during a Pollstar Live! Q&A with music executive Rob Light (who also happens to be the father of Jesse Bongiovi's fiancee, Jesse Light). Here's what Jon had to say about getting reconstructive surgery on his vocal cords:
Here's the teaser trailer for Thank You, Goodnight:
The band minus Jon also talked about the docuseries on the MusiCares red carpet, with David Bryan doing most of the talking, plus a bit from Tico Torres. Apparently all past and present members of the band took part in the doco, so hopefully it will be an interesting watch.
Until then, Backstage with Bon Jovi is a virtual exhibition of various band-related artefacts from the past 40 years, available now to explore on their website.
Behind the scenes shot of Christmas Isn't Christmas video. Photo: Bon Jovi/Facebook.
Bon Jovi's first original holiday song in three decades dropped last month, and now the official music video for "Christmas Isn't Christmas" has been released!
It's enough to warm even my Grinchy heart, lol. Check it out:
The video features everyone in the current lineup at a bar decked out in Christmas lights. (I think it's Santa's Pub in Nashville, someone correct me if I'm wrong.) There is a bit of a visual hierarchy in a place -- Jon singing on his own; the old-timers in David Bryan, Tico Torres and Hugh McDonald having a drink together; then the relative newbies, Phil X, playing guitar and having a laugh with Everett Bradley and John Shanks.
Interspersed with all of that are various people singing karaoke, enjoying festivities with loved ones or drowning their sorrows alone. Pretty decent reflection of Christmas if I do say so myself -- it's a great time for some, and depressing AF for others.
I really like the song and the video (though it's summer at Christmastime where I live). What do you think?
I officially came out of hibernation on my socials this week to fangirl over the fact that Bon Jovi was releasing an original Christmas song for the first time since "I Wish Every Day Could Be Like Christmas" back in 1992.
"Christmas Isn't Christmas" dropped this week (17 November) and I may or may not have snuck away from my work to listen to it for the first time. (It's only three-and-a-half minutes, calm down.)
Check out the lyric video:
I'm not really the festive type, but I quite like this song and it feels right for Bon Jovi at this point in their career. Definitely beats Jon sanitising "Fairytale of New York" to stay on brand. 😉
Here's Jon talking about writing the song as a gift to his parents and kids when they couldn't all be together for the holidays:
I'm also not really into board games or tabletop games, because I'm just no fun like that, lol. But if that's something you do with your family and friends, you can now add Bon Jovi's 40th anniversary Monopoly to your stack.
Here's Jon playing it with David Bryan, Phil X and John Shanks:
And Sir Paul McCartney congratulated him, which is pretty rad because... well, it's Paul McCartney:
Anyway, I'm off to calm my inner Grinch and add "Christmas Isn't Christmas" to my holiday playlist -- along with with the original "Fairytale of New York" by the Pogues, and of course, "How to Make Gravy" by Paul Kelly (because I'm Australian).
I've been known to enjoy a bit of The Masked Singer. Obviously the show is demonstrably bonkers. But I do tend to watch the Australian version of it when I'm not busy, and have caught the occasional snippet from the US series.
I've never seen the British series though. But I'd seen enough "Richie is Jacket Potato!!" comments online in the last few weeks to know that there was a good chance I'd be watching at least some of it soon.
And so it was that old mate Richie Sambora was indeed revealed to be the person in the Jacket Potato costume on yesterday's episode of The Masked Singer UK.
It was Sunday in the US (and Monday in my native Australia) when the news came through that Alec John Such had died at the age of 70.
Alec left Bon Jovi in 1994, before I became a diehard fan (or really knew any music that wasn't on Play School or Sesame Street). So I never saw him live in person. But as the original bass player, there's no disputing Alec's importance to the history of what would go on to become my favourite band -- through thick and thin, for better or worse. And I guess it's a sobering reminder of the mortality of our heroes.
"We are heartbroken to hear the news of the passing of our dear friend Alec John Such. He was an original. As a founding member of Bon Jovi, Alec was integral to the formation of the band. To be honest, we found our way to each other thru him - He was a childhood friend of Tico and brought Richie to see us perform. Alec was always wild and full of life. Today those special memories bring a smile to my face and a tear to my eye. We'll miss him dearly."
I'm so, so glad Alec got to be part of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in 2018. All those speeches were emotional for me at the time and they'll be even more so whenever I revisit them now.
Bon Jovi's current bass player, Hugh McDonald, posted a sweet picture of himself with Alec on Instagram, and described reconnecting with Alec as one of the high points of the band's induction into the Rock Hall.
Here's Alec rejoining his former bandmates for "Wanted Dead or Alive" at Giants Stadium in 2001:
And things like this epic performance of "Blood on Blood" from the Moscow Music Peace Festival in 1989 hit a little harder today -- brothers 'til the day that we die:
Edit: JBJ paid tribute to Alec on Sirius XM's Bon Jovi Radio. Listen to his words below:
I feel a bit crappy saying this, but it's been a few days since Bon Jovi's 2022 Tour ended (assuming no further dates are announced) and... thank Yoda that's over.
I mean, I love Bon Jovi. Obviously the classic lineup is unlikely to ever be together again unless they do some sort of reunion special for the 40th anniversary coming up. But even the current lineup is okay with me. Besides, I met Phil X a few years ago and he's just a really cool dude. And Jon is someone I've idolised for a huge chunk of my life. But I don't think he did himself, the band or their great legacy any favours going out there and sounding like he did last month.
If the speculation is true that this tour was just a contractual obligation to Live Nation after cancelling the 2020 dates instead of postponing... well, that's a whole other shit-show. And a pretty sad way to go out if this ends up being the end. 😢
Anyway, the last show of -- the tour? This leg? -- was in Nashville and here's what was played.
Nashville, Tennessee, USA - April 30, 2022
Bridgestone Arena
Livin' on a Prayer
You Give Love a Bad Name
The Radio Saved My Life
We Weren't Born to Follow
It's My Life
Beautiful Drug
Born to Be My Baby
This House Is Not For Sale
Just Older
Let it Rain
Keep the Faith
American Reckoning
Whole Lot of Leavin'
Do What You Can
I'll Sleep When I'm Dead
Lost Highway
Roller Coaster
Who Says You Can't Go Home
encore #1:
Wanted Dead or Alive
Bad Medicine
encore #2:
I'll Be There For You
Selected videos from Nashville
"Livin' on a Prayer". "Limitless" was dropped for the first time this tour so they could open with "Prayer". Jon performed it from the back of the arena while mingling with the fans and it's probably the most fun a live "Prayer" has been in years. And he's definitely singing the bits he doesn't throw to the crowd:
"I'll Be There For You". If that does end up being the last thing they ever play on tour, it's a good song to remember:
Where to now?
I know there are plenty of fans who are totally cool with the current state of affairs and would happily continue to pay big bucks to see Jon multiple times a tour in his current state.
I also think the dudebros trying to build their platforms with "What is wrong with Jon Bon Jovi's voice?!" videos are pretty scummy.
But that doesn't change the fact that he just doesn't sound good. There are moments where he sounds okay... but it's not good... and once upon a time, he was great. If certain fans want to tell the rest of us that we're horrible humans for having functional ears, then that's okay. Because I know myself, and I'm not trying to take potshots at Jon -- I'm legitimately heartbroken.
He had vocal coach Katie Agresta with him in 2008, and he sounded brilliant -- better than he had in a long time. And then things started falling off the cliff around 2013, which I'm sure he was aware of since he started requesting a vocal coach as part of his rider during the Because We Can Tour. Mary Jo Duprey started working with him, as well as Everett Bradley, on the This House Is Not For Sale Tour in 2018, but it hasn't yielded the results we all want. (I'm in no way suggesting that's Mary Jo's fault -- she uses the same methods as Katie, after all. But Everett's probably a much better advertisement for her than Jon is.)
Is it a physical issue that's beyond repair? I've read people suggesting that Jon has a voice disorder like spasmodic dysphonia but I wouldn't have a clue about that. I just know that I don't want my idol going out there in front of the whole world (and thanks to the internet, it really is the whole world) sounding like... well, a professional singer who can't sing for toffee.
The acoustic set they were doing earlier on this tour had a lot of promise, and I think that could potentially be a way forward if Bon Jovi keeps touring after this. I know Jon wants to sell out the desert but an intimate acoustic tour would be pretty cool.
Anyway, while Jon takes an indefinite break and hopefully finds a way through this, Phil X is currently on the road with Kurt Deimer, supporting Yngwie Malmsteen.