Irish interview w/JBJ The Island Ear
Bon Jovi- Never Say Goodbye
Jon Bon Jovi has the gift of being able to
write a hook and sell it with a smile. As his eponomously-titled band progresses
into its third decade, many people wonder how this foursome (originally five)
are able to continue their journey of platinum albums, hit singles and sold-out
tours. The answer is simple: Jon Bon Jovi. Jon puts his heart and soul into his
writing while still keeping his ear to the ground commercially. This
once-labeled “hair band” has succeed far beyond superstardom and are on
their way to the Rock ‘N’ Roll Hall Of Fame with the release of their new
– and best – album Crush. The Island Ear recently spoke with Mr. Bon Jovi
about the re-grouping of the band, his growing acting career and recovering from
the success of the past.
The Island Ear: What was the vibe like regrouping again with the band?
Jon Bon Jovi: It was a positive confirmation of everything. We wanted to take
time off, and then take our time to get the material right. There was a real
feeling of accomplishment coming off the last tour (1995) because it was so
successful. We said we were going to take a couple of years off; we didn’t
know it would be this long, but when it turned out to be this long, we took
advantage of the time by writing sixty songs.
When you go on break, do you ever wonder if this might be the end of the band?
No. The first time (after the New Jersey tour ended in 1990) there may have been
some trepidation that came into play when the Young Guns II soundtrack (Jon’s
first solo album) was so successful. People thought, “He doesn’t need them
any more.” That was never the case, because as wonderful as my solo success
was, and a confidence builder, I had no one to celebrate it with. I knew the sum
of the parts was better than any individual.
Is it tough to keep the band together after all these years?
There’s ups and downs in many bands, and success thrusts you into a whole
other environment. The indulgences that come with it all happened. We are
fortunate to have learned through the mistakes of others and worked our problems
out. The truth is, we are beyond the point of breaking up.
Is it difficult to know where you stand with the public after being gone for
five years?
We have no idea where we stand in America. In a way, it’s unsettling. We’re
playing two nights at Wembley Stadium in London, which holds 72,000 people.
Where are we going to play in America? I don’t know. I hope it’s the Garden
and the Meadowlands, but it ain’t Giants Stadium any more. At the end of this
record, in a year from now, I don’t know, maybe it could be again. I don’t
know and nor can I worry about it.
One smart element when marketing the band from the beginning is that you guys
always toured the whole globe. In fact, you sell more albums and tickets in
Europe than you do in the States. Why do you think that is?
Music that became popular in the ‘90s in America, like grunge and hip-hop,
didn’t get outside the borders here. At the end of New Jersey, when the ‘90s
began, we played Giants Stadium; that’s where it got cut off here. We went
back to arenas and sheds. The good news is, all our peers stopped making
records. We were still able to play three dates at Jones Beach and sell out. We
did OK. Nowadays a platinum act plays Roseland, to me that’s like my living
room.
What would you say has changed in the band and what has remained?
The personalities have changed, but only for the better. Like in any
marriage, you can’t try to change somebody; you have to accept them for who
they are. We gotten over a lot of that early success hump. Newfound fame and
money make you executives all of a sudden instead of being a group of guys in a
bar band. Things change. People stick around for the ride and some don’t. Alec
(John Such, former Bon Jovi bassist) and Tico (Torres Bon Jovi drummer) both got
divorced over it.
You are clearly the leader of the band, but how does the inner politics work?
Does everybody get a say?
Everybody has an opinion and the opinions are usually very good. Somebody’s
gotta be the quarterback and in this case it’s me. Richie (Sambora, Bon Jovi
guitarist) has experienced what it’s like to be the leader of a band with his
own solo work, so he understands my position a little bit better. He realizes
that the role of “consigliere” fits him better. He knows what he can add to
the band is bigger than him being the leader of his band. I acknowledge his
presence and contributions. This new record is what it is because of him. We
co-wrote six songs together on the new record. But, he understands that when I
showed up with the first thirty songs written that I was capable of doing it.
Did that make Richie feel inferior?
No, if anything it encouraged him to get on the stick. But, more than anytime
since, Slippery When Wet (1986), he stepped up, man.
How did the death of your former producer Bruce Fairbairn affect you guys?
He and Bob Rock were going to co-produce for the first time for the new album.
We were going to do it for old times’ sake, for fun and they liked the songs.
The day I got back from filming, U-571, literally with my coat still on, I
answered the phone and found out that Bruce passed away that morning. I had
detailed notes on our songs and the start dates from him. We were ready to go.
We had to start over again trying to figure out who was going to do it and how
we were going to do it. We were very comfortable with Bruce and Bob. It would
have been a different record. It was traumatic. We’ve known his kids since
they were babies. It was a drag.
You released a solo album in 1997, Destination Anywhere, which was your lowest
selling release. What are your reflections on that project?
I made an arty record in an artsy fashion. I didn’t even make videos in the
usual ways or tour behind it. It was my art record. It was my way of expanding
and trying different things knowing I really wasn’t going to support the
record. The record label, because of my past success, gave me the opportunity to
express myself in different ways. Even though it was my least successful record,
it was in the record company’s top ten sales for the year. That’s with no
support. But I will continue my solo career.
How would you describe the Bon Jovi songwriting formula?
The process usually starts with a great title, then you work backwards. The
process then leads you to a chord progression, which leads you to a lyric.
That’s the procedure. What makes for a great Bon Jovi song is trying to find
something lyrically that a lot of people can relate to regardless of their walk
of life. It’s finding universal themes, which is why people care about the
music for so many years. When I’m writing, I’m thinking about me. The magic
moments are when people care.
What has your acting brought to your role as Bon Jovi’s frontman?
Nothing. Anything I’ve ever done on stage, whether I was in good voice or bad,
if I split my pants or didn’t, if I had a good audience or not, was me. But
the great thing that I was able to bring from acting to music was a certain
humility. And what I brought to acting from music was the youth and exuberance
of a 21 year-old kid excited to be there with the wisdom of a 38 year-old man
whose had more success and notoriety than most people in the some of the movies
I’ve been in.
How important is your acting career to you in comparison to your music career?
It’s right next to it. I want to make a lot of movies.
Many other lead singers of bands have ventured into acting and were totally
laughed at. What backlash, if any, did you have to deal with?
I wasn’t laughed at, but I was met with a lot of resistance because of a lot
of guys that had come before me. People weren’t anxious to put a guy who’s a
rock singer in a movie; there were too many actors that wanted that job.
Did acting come naturally to you?
No, it didn’t. I was incredibly introverted and felt like a one-trick pony.
But, the lessons brought out an extrovert that I didn’t know existed and
somebody was willing to take a risk with me.
Do you still keep in touch with your old bassist Alec John Such, who you parted
ways with in the mid 90’s? What happened with him?
No one has seen Al in a few years, I have to admit. It’s disappointing. I
think about him often. Last I heard he was selling all his worldly possessions
and living a nomadic life, drivin’ around on a tour bus. Al was cool with who
he was and just didn’t care anymore. He wanted to do his own thing. We grew
apart both creatively and socially. He didn’t play much anymore. We all became
much better players with time and he didn’t contribute much to the band. He
even said he didn’t want to play on the records. We couldn’t have a part
time situation when Alec was happy to have his house, cars and toys and didn’t
care about the work the rest of us were putting into the band.
Hugh McDonald has been playing bass for the band for some time. Is he now an
official member?
He is playing bass for us, but is not an official member. Al will always be the
bass player in Bon Jovi. Hugh is paid handsomely for it and obviously he’d
like to be a member, but it’s just a little psychological problem that the
other four of us have. As much as I love him, adore him and would never play
with anyone else, it’s difficult to enter that circle. I’m sorry, it’s a
psychological problem that I have. Those guys who jumped in the garage with me
in 1982 and had the faith in me are rewarded. No one else can get into that
circle.
Since you guys have sold millions of albums, when releasing a new one, is there
a certain pressure to reach a high position on the sales chart?
It would obviously be nice to sell 10 million copies of Crush. We would all
enjoy it again. But, to be honest, if it sold three million like Destination, I
wouldn’t lose my record deal. It’s not gonna change my livelihood.
You guys often refer to the Slippery When Wet album in the press saying your new
album is “the best record since Slippery” or you’re returning to the
“Slippery vibe.” What makes that album so special to you?
That was our phenomenon. It was our Thriller, Born To Run or Like A Virgin.
It’s still one of the biggest selling rock records of all time. That’s the
milestone record that changed our lives. Some magic happened at that time. For
some reason it touched a nerve. We were never able to duplicate that. That’s
the benchmark.
Do you think you’ll ever shake that “hair band” image?
Longevity gives you that. Look, we were the poster boys in the ‘80s; there’s
no doubt about it. But the whole ‘90s have gone by and we’re still here
putting out, what I think is the best record we ever made. Longevity will get us
over any kind of hump we might face. There’s going to be a lot of trepidation
going into this record. I’m gonna have to get over that. That’s the truth,
there’s no denying that.
You often sight Bruce Springsteen, Little Steven Van Zandt and Southside Johnny
and some of your musical heroes. What qualities about these guys do you most
admire?
There was a camaraderie amongst them that was similar to the era of Motown or at
least in my romantic notion of it. They were singing about places that I knew.
They were from the neighborhood. They were very benevolent, all three of them,
towards me and everything I ever did. They made the unbelievable very
obtainable. They made it all seem a lot more real.
You often have a lot of cowboy references in your early work. How do you
identify with cowboys?
In our early days, we were up and moving like the circus or like cowboys. Never
knowing whose bed you were sleepin’ in tonight or what was going to happen
tomorrow. Everyday was an adventure. We felt like it was us against the world.
Ride into town, steal the money, take the woman, drink the booze and leave.
It’s not like that any more, but that was the ultimate rock-n-roll lifestyle
and we were livin’ it.
In addition to your music and movies, you’re also famous for your hair.
Currently, it’s trimmed to a short shag. What are your thoughts on your famous
locks?
I’m 38 years-old. I’m not gonna grow my hair down to my ass anymore. It’s
not who I am today. When I was in my early 20’s, that’s who I was and what I
did. I didn’t do it to be popular, it was just how I was feelin’. But, I
don’t have any regrets about any of that because it was a part of the process.
It’s just that my baby pictures were public. Believe it or not, every kid in
the mall looked like that in ‘86. By ‘97, my hair was shorter than ever and
I was makin’ movies.
Did your good looks hurt or help your career?
It did both, early on. I was really excited to be on the cover of Rolling Stone
then you read the article and it says, “he’s got a nice haircut and isn’t
he cute.” And you’re like, “Oh, f--k!”
You’re closing in on 40, how long do you forsee Bon Jovi lasting?
Thirty was a great birthday and facing forty, I feel another growth period
coming on as of late. I certainly don’t feel like an old man, that’s for
sure. As far as the band goes, it can go on as long as we want it to. Let’s
use the Stones as the gauge. When they quit, we’ll know that’s as long as
you’re supposed to go.