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Bon Jovi  

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• Upcoming 2024 concerts: none

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Bon Jovi (formed in 1983) is an American hard rock band known for their arena-filling live shows and instantly recognisable worldwide hit single “Livin’ on a Prayer”, hailing from Sayreville, New Jersey.

Originally comprised of Garden State natives, frontman Jon Bon Jovi, keyboard and backing vocalist David Bryan, drummer Tico Torres, lead guitarists Richie Sambora, and bassist Alec John Such, the group has remained a fairly solid lineup since its formation. The band began playing around New Jersey, opening for touring bands, which is how they caught the attention of record executive Derek Shulman. He subsequently signed Bon Jovi to Mercury Records and released their debut, self-titled album in January 1984. Peaking at No. 43 on the Billboard 200, the record introduced the band’s huge, dramatic and heavy guitar-driven sound, which resulted in the band opening for the Scorpions in the U.S. and Kiss in Europe.

After a disappointing second album “7800° Farenheit” was released in 1985, Bon Jovi issued their breakthrough album “Slippery When Wet” in August 1986. Holding the top spot of the Billboard 200 for a remarkable eight weeks, the record was led by the No. 1 knockout singles “You Give Love a Bad Name” and “Livin’ on a Prayer”, turning the group into household names the world over. The group’s 130-show supporting tour became a huge success and earned the band nearly $30,000,000. Building on this success Bon Jovi’s fourth, “New Jersey” once again found the top of the charts aided by the No. 1 singles “Bad Medicine” and “I’ll Be There for You”. With a reputation as one of the best and most intense touring bands in the world, Bon Jovi set off on a 232 show tour which included a show in the Soviet Union.

The constant cycle of recording and touring began to take its toll on the group and in 1990 Bon Jovi took a hiatus to focus on family and individual pursuits. After a conversation about the longevity of the group in St. Thomas, the members agreed to start making a new album. That new album proved to be “Keep the Faith” released in November 1992. Marked by its mature, thoughtful lyrics, the album was succeeded by the compilation “Cross Road”, which featured the band's most successful single to date, “Always”. Bassist Alec John Such was subsequently fired from the band and unofficially replaced by Hugh McDonald.

Following another huge worldwide tour, Bon Jovi issued their sixth album “These Days” in 1995, followed by “Crush” in 2000, and “Bounce” in 2002. In 2003 the band reworked a number of their biggest hits and compiled them onto the studio album “This Left Feels Right” in November. Prior to the arrival of their 10th studio album, “Have a Nice Day” in 2005, Bon Jovi was bestowed with the Award for Merit at the American Music Awards in 2003. Playing to nearly two million fans the world over, the “Have a Nice Day” Tour grossed nearly $200 million, following close behind successful tour by The Rolling Stones and Madonna.

The full-length “Lost Highway” followed in June 2007, led by the singles “(You Want to) Make a Memory” and “Lost Highway”. Following the subsequent tour, Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora were inducted into the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame in 2009, the same year they released their 12th studio album, “The Circle”.

Live reviews

funny because in google before you click to this site. It says

BON JOVI is on tour and has one

Coming up. But then when you go to

The actual site It states there are

NO Bon Jovi yours coming up.So why are they Conradicting themselves here on Song kicks ????. the only

thing is Jon Bon Jovi has only been

Playing at small Venues. Along with the band that is backing him up "kings of suburbia" He hasn't done anything with the Bond Jovi

band members since he recorded a

Shot concert on April 29,2021 for

Druve-Ins and Theaters. Now the only thing he is doing is for a vacation company called "RUNAWAY TOURS" for Halloween And it is only 2 nights He is gonna do a short gig and then take pictures and maybe answer some questions there's some questions for a couple of nights this is mainly just a vacation package to Miami, Florida That is outrageously expensive Is nothing like a tour concert. This thing hes doing now is a couple of $1000 plus And you have to pay for your plane fare and your food. And as for the Night of 29th and 30th And the 31st of October. But the hotel is only for 2 nights. And they still haven't booked up completely. The 1st one they did a few months ago booked up really fast for all that's for all 3 of the prices prices but this time they're not booking everything up. Most people can't afford several $1000.

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I've been going to Bon Jovi gigs in UK since 1986. I was 15, already had both their previous albums. First UK tour, they played a tiny local theatre, which was half empty as they were barely known over here back then! I've been to every UK tour since, except one..even saw them at Donnington "Monsters of Rock", which is now Download. Manchester, Stoke City Stadium, Coventry; I've loved every concert, but I have to say, Coventry is a lousy venue!! It's a nightmare to get to and the lack of parking is a complete ball ache. PLEASE do more dates at Manchester and replace Coventry with the Stadium in Stoke, now called The BET 365 Stadium and is home to Stoke City fc, so same size as Coventry. Loads of parking, and not clogging up motorway slip roads to get there either. Other than that, cannot fault ANY concet I've seen; Jon is so professional. 2 concerts, on 2 consecutive tours, it belted it down with rain and they carried on, towelling off inbetween. Jon even laughed while singing the line "til the heavens burst" during "Always" Phil X is a great guitarist too. I've seen Kiss, Halestorm, Def Leppard, TOTO, Tina Turner, Guns n Roses, plus many more and Bon Jovi will always be top of my list. Lifelong fan, 37 years on from my first concert and 39 yeats since my first album "Bon Jovi". Keep on rocking!

Bon Jovi remains, to this day, a musical icon. The band is one of the most successful and famous rock bands of all time and, judging on the ridiculously large crowd that excitedly came to see the band perform live, they will never, ever lose their star. Years after their formation in 1983, Bon Jovi’s hits are still classics that everyone, young and old, can’t fail to recognise. And this is precisely why it was so brilliant to watch them perform live, in a packed out arena of thousands of fans. The energy was out of this world, and the fans were so excited that they could barely contain themselves. Even the sound check guy got an ear deafening scream when he appeared on stage. When Jon Bon Jovi himself appeared, the world exploded. Proving that he still got it, Jon Bon Jovi put his famous vocals to test with a big opener: ‘Always’. The crowd went wild. We were treated to all the hits, spanning all the decades. ‘Who Says You Can’t Go Home’ was a notable one, with the whole crowd singing along, but it was ‘Livin’ on a Prayer’ that, of course, brought the house down.

I Love Bonjovi!!!Have been a fan since 1984, seen them 9 times in concert, have all their music old and new, 3 shows I went to see them by myself, this show I went by myself, and as always it was awesome!!!! Jon is amazing, I loved what he did when he quizzed the audience about the radio station, lol I just can't get over that, as any woman I wish that was me lol,they always put on a great performance, and make you feel good, I also loved when he would turn to the back of the stage and kick box into the video at the end of the song he did this 3 times, I give them 10 stars on this show, Philx was really good, I could see how much he really enjoys what he is doing, the stage was phenomenal, with the slinky lights, and how this house is not for sale picture of the album was included awesome!!!! I also have to say how much I missed seeing Richie, but, they're performance proved they've moved on, got it together and Jon Bonjovi, Tico, and David, I remember you guys in your 20's,30's,40's, I just can't believe its been over 30 years, you guys are amazing!!

Some bands never lose their appeal due to the fact their hit singles still seem relevant and able to play on radios years later. They turn from songs into much loved anthems and are passed down between families and friends. New Jersey glam rock outfit Bon Jovi definitely sit within this category thanks to their runaway success in the 80s.

Years later they are still packing out arenas with fans old and new who are all enthusiastic and ready to bellow along to those recognisable choruses. Although it is over thirty years since the band first formed, all the musicians remain so lively and passionate onstage most noticeably Jon himself who conducts his crowd like a pastor addressing his faithful church commune. He preaches, they agree although there are no hallelujahs just great rock choruses on the likes of 'Always' and 'Bad Medicine'. They leave stage in a barrage of lights and guitar riffs yet the crowd knows they will be returning for the synonymous 'Livin' On A Prayer' which unites the thousand strong audience in one almighty singalong.

Bon Jovi has been rocking it around the world since the eighties and hasn't given up yet.

They've been touring huge arenas for years and even in their ripe old age they still manage to put on over a two hour long performance that will leave you breathless and will have you singing along and dancing all night to the hits from Slippery When Wet all the way up to their latest album What about Now.

They'll make you feel like you've been time warped to the land of neon t-shirts and big hair! You'll want to go bust out your members only jacket and flock of seagulls haircut after you see them. Bringing back a blast from the past you'll be able to see the hits like "Wanted Dead or Alive" and "Living on a Prayer" just like they were in the eighties.

Bon Jovi can still hit every note perfectly and does it with a flair that only he can bring. Richie Sambora never misses a note in any of his solos and can still rock out with the best of them even going as far as doing a ten minute long guitar solo in the middle of their set.

We paid for general admission seating so we couldn't get anywhere near the stage. The screen would have been fine, but the sound system was horrible and we could barely hear him. From what we did hear, the sound was entirely muffled.

In addition, people smoked all around us and there was no fresh air. Our 10 and 8 year old boys were miserable. There were a lot of people complaining but no one from Dick's Sporting Goods was there. There were only volunteers and no one knew how to address the issue. We decided to leave after 15 minutes of the music starting. And speaking of the music starting, he started 2 1/2 hours late.

It was the worst concert I've ever experienced. And not only did we put $280 for four tickets, we paid for a hotel room so we could go to the concert.

My first concert was 95 wembley stadium. Ab absolutely mega l cant explain to people just how mega it was you wouldn't be able to understand or appreciate it unless you ate a fan of theirs. It was just electric. I was so excited it was Wembley stadium.l had never been anywhere as big as that. I remember going to the seats the sound of the music booming out. I think it was vanhalen jump.l was so excited l got to a bit where you could stand and l looked over the bars and felt as though l was going to fall into the crowd. I felt like l was walking on air and no l hadn't been drinking.it was just amazing l went with my mum who has now passed away. A memory l will hold in my heart forever.

What can i say, the show was fantastic, mind i have not been to a bad one yet, and i have been going since 1995, the shows get better and better, we always get vip, we have stood in que's for hours and had gold circle, also being at the front, but know we like a bit of comfort , so we go vip, which is fabulous , of you have not been to a Bon jovi concert you are missing out, the only thing i was dissapointed about was how long it took them to come to England and then there was only a choice of 3 venue' one up north and 2 down south, also jon i do miss the fireworks at the end bring them back , but all in all fab as always, just dont leave it so long next time xxxxxxxxx

Fortunate enough to be in a hospitality box, with a very good (close) view.

The biggest issue, was the terribly poor sound quality. I don't know if this was because of where our box was (to the side) or whether the sound was generally very poor.

when he spoke, we could not make out a single word he said.

again, when he sang, were it not for us knowing the words to his most famous songs, we would not have had a clue what he was singing.

visually, excellent, atmosphere was tremendous, but the sound was terrible.

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Today marks a thrilling moment for Bon Jovi fans worldwide as the highly anticipated documentary series, "Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story." Is released on Hulu.

The docu-series promises an intimate, raw and compelling look into the legendary rock band's journey through their over 40 year career. It takes viewers behind the scenes, from their humble beginnings in New Jersey to becoming one of the most iconic rock bands in history. Through exclusive interviews, never-before-seen footage, and candid moments with band members, the documentary captures the highs, lows, and pivotal moments that shaped their music and legacy.

LISTEN TO “LEGENDARY”    |    WATCH OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO

PRE-ORDER FOREVER HERE

BON JOVI , Grammy Award®-winning, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band, and one of history’s most iconic acts, continues their 40th anniversary celebration, with the release of “Legendary,” new single + video out now via Island Records. The monumental new track sets the stage for BON JOVI’s upcoming 16th studio album, FOREVER , arriving on June 7, 2024. The new album is now available for pre-order HERE where fans can find exclusive colored vinyl options, CDs, cassettes, and limited edition signed copies. An extremely limited run of Ocean Waves colored vinyl will include a one-of-a-kind instant photo of Jon.

In conjunction with last month’s 66th annual Grammy Awards®, Jon Bon Jovi was named 2024 MusiCares Person Of The Year and was honored with an all-star tribute concert at the L.A. Convention Center featuring Bruce Springsteen, Shania Twain, Melissa Etheridge, Sammy Hagar, Jason Isbell, Jelly Roll, Pat Monahan of Train, and many others.

“This record is a return to joy. From the writing, through the recording process, this is turn up the volume, feel good Bon Jovi,” said Jon Bon Jovi.

The commemoration of BON JOVI’s 40th anniversary year continues tonight at the SXSW Conference, when HULU premieres Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story. The career-spanning four-part docu-series will have its official debut on HULU on April 26th. This marks the first-ever docu-series on the band’s history that has been made with full cooperation from all past and present members of BON JOVI. The docu-series is a ROS production, the banner of filmmaker Gotham Chopra. For further info, please see the HULU press announcement HERE .

BON JOVI: FOREVER – track listing

• We Made It Look Easy
• Living Proof
• Kiss The Bride
• The People’s House
• Walls Of Jericho
• I Wrote You A Song
• Living In Paradise
• My First Guitar

“The Fastest Seats in Sports” on Sunday March 10 were occupied by none other than Jon Bon Jovi, and four-time winner of the indy 500 Helio Castroneves. The two of them paced the field during race warmup laps at the Firestone Grand Prix in St Petersburg, Florida. “Crazy” Jon said of the experience “This was a chance of a lifetime” and after asking if he’d like to come back to race he quipped “How about I buy a team, we’ll start there”

That wasn’t where the Bon Jovi take-over ended either. Driver Felix Rosenqvist was on the front row of the starting line as the race was just about to begin, his Indycar decked out in SiriusXM Bon Jovi Radio decals, and Hampton Water Wine, the award winning rosé owned and operated by Jon’s son Jesse.

Then engines roared, and the race was on, speeding into the Florida afternoon.

MusiCares named Jon Bon Jovi as the 2024 MusiCares Person of the Year. He is the honoree of the 33rd annual Person of the Year benefit gala. Proceeds from the event provide essential support for MusiCares, the leading music charity providing music professionals health and human services across a spectrum of needs. The MusiCares Person of the Year tribute ceremony is one of the most prestigious events held during GRAMMY Week.

Bon Jovi, Brandy Clark, Damiano David of Måneskin, Melissa Etheridge, Goo Goo Dolls, Sammy Hagar, Jason Isbell, Jelly Roll, Marcus King, Larkin Poe, Mammoth WVH, Pat Monahan, Orianthi, Bruce Springsteen, Shania Twain, The War and Treaty, and Lainey Wilson performed at the MusiCares tribute to Bon Jovi’s legacy and his impact on rock and roll since the 1983 inception of his eponymous band. The benefit gala was hosted by GRAMMY-nominated comedian Jim Gaffigan. Joining the evening’s host were presenters Gayle King and GRAMMY Award-winning musician Kylie Minogue.

“MusiCares is thrilled to honor Jon Bon Jovi at the 2024 Person of the Year Gala,” said Laura Segura, Executive Director of MusiCares. “His remarkable contributions to rock and roll have not only left an indelible mark on the music industry, but also in the hearts of countless fans around the world. Furthermore, his long-standing commitment to serving food insecure and unhoused individuals inspires us all. We’re looking forward to celebrating him and the many ways he has made a difference in this world.”

In addition to his extensive musical achievements, Jon Bon Jovi is recognized for his impactful philanthropic work. In 2006, he established the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation, an organization dedicated to disrupting the cycle of hunger, poverty and homelessness. The organization’s objective is to recognize and maximize the human potential in those affected by hunger, poverty and homelessness by offering programs that provide food and affordable housing while supporting social services and job training programs. As a health and human service charity, MusiCares is proud to shine a light on Jon Bon Jovi’s impactful philanthropy and hopes to raise awareness for these important human rights issues.

“I’m truly humbled to be this year’s MusiCares honoree. MusiCares’ work with music professionals is vitally important in creating much needed support and wellness programs that cultivate a healthier and more vibrant community for us all.” said Jon Bon Jovi. “Philanthropic work has been a cornerstone of my life and has always run in tandem to my music career and achievements. Nearly two decades ago when I formed the JBJ Soul Foundation and JBJ Soul Kitchens, I saw firsthand and continue to see today the impact of charitable community-based work. I know this for sure: helping one’s community is helping one’s self.”

Since 1991, money raised from this gala goes toward MusiCares health and human services programs that assist the music community with physical and mental health, addiction recovery, preventative clinics, unforeseen personal emergencies, and disaster relief.

MusiCares helps the humans behind music because music gives so much to the world. Offering preventive, emergency and recovery programs, MusiCares is a safety net supporting the health and welfare of the music community. Founded by the Recording Academy in 1989 as a U.S.-based 501(c)(3) charity, MusiCares safeguards the well-being of all music people through direct financial grant programs, networks of support resources, and tailored crisis relief efforts. For more information please visit: www.musicares.org.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band BON JOVI commemorates the 40th anniversary of its self-titled debut with the digital release of BON JOVI DELUXE EDITION on all streaming platforms, an exclusive limited-edition ruby color vinyl LP, and limited-edition cassette.

BON JOVI DELUXE EDITION consists of the remastered original album in addition to a total of nine bonus tracks, including unreleased studio recordings and four rare live cuts. Jon Bon Jovi co-produced BON JOVI DELUXE EDITION alongside longtime sound engineer Obie O’Brien who also mixed the bonus material.

Remastered from the original tapes, the limited-edition ruby color vinyl of the band’s original 9-track LP boasts an alternate cover design, high-end tip-on jacket, and an exclusive lithograph of an early Ross Halfin photo session.

Finally, the limited-edition cassette features all of the original album tracks with an enhanced design that now includes lyrics and the original band photo from the LP’s inner sleeve, elements missing from the original U.S. cassette release.

Listen & Pre-Order Now: https://bonjovi.lnk.to/BonJovi40

Hulu is about to (willingly) take some bad medicine.

The streamer has acquired a four-part series about Bon Jovi. Titled Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story, the project comes from Gotham Chopra’s Religion of Sports banner and will chronicle the mega-selling arena rock band’s 40-year run of riding steel horses and giving love a bad name.

Thank You, Goodnight is also the first retrospective on Bon Jovi’s history that will feature participation from all present and past members of the band. It’s set to premiere April 26 on Hulu in the United States and later in the year on Star+ in Latin America and Disney+ in the rest of the world.

The announcement comes on the 40th anniversary of the release of Bon Jovi’s self-titled first album, which peaked at No. 43 on the Billboard 200 chart. Two years later, the band’s Slippery When Wet exploded, spending eight weeks at No. 1 and selling 12 million-plus copies on the backs of singles like “You Give Love a Bad Name,” “Livin’ on a Prayer” and “Wanted Dead or Alive.” The band has placed 13 albums in the top 10 of the Billboard 200.

The docuseries will cover those highs, as well as low points and “public moments of friction” in the band via interviews with lead singer Jon Bon Jovi and other band members, personal videos, unreleased demos, lyrics and previously unseen photos.

Thank You, Goodnight is directed and executive produced by Chopra (Kobe Bryant’s Muse, Man in the Arena). Giselle Parets and Ameeth Sankaran of Religion of Sports also executive produce. Alex Trudeau Viriato produced and edited the series.

Article Link: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/bon-jovi-documentary-hulu-1235803400/

Photo Credit: KOH HASEBE/SHINKO MUSIC/GETTY

Arena rock is a genre of music that will never die, as long as crowds convene inside hockey arenas around the country to sing along to our favorite anthems from our favorite artists. That’s exactly what took place when Bon Jovi kicked off their 2022 tour in Omaha, NE at the CHI Health Center on Friday, April 1st, for their first public in-person concert since the pandemic started.

Bon Jovi brought their New Jersey flare to the heartland, led by lead singer Jon Bon Jovi. Bon Jovi is an expert showman, first and foremost. He has a young soul to him, and on Friday, he pulled off an incredible Mick Jagger-like crowd control with the audience that was both engaging and entertaining.

It was also Bon Jovi’s first official concert since the pandemic started – they’d had to cancel a planned 2020 run – and it was clear they were very excited to finally play in front of a crowd. “It’s been a long time since I said good evening,” said Bon Jovi, before they kicked into “You Give Love A Bad Name.”

As for the rest of the band, they were in top form. Phil X has had some major shoes to fill playing lead guitar for over five years, but he does it flawlessly. During “Keep the Faith,” he impressively went through three guitars during the whole song, breaking one of the strings during the process. Elsewhere, Tico Torres was a beast behind the drum kit, while you can hear David Bryan’s signature synth sound from a mile away. Also, is it possible for guitarist/producer John Shanks to be made a permanent member of Bon Jovi? The man shared lead guitar duties and was a phenomenal rhythm player, earning the spotlight more than once during his guitar solos.

The band also paid tribute to Ukraine, performing “It’s My Life,” a song that has been adopted as an anthem for Ukrainians, and “We Don’t Run,” which was being filmed as part of a Global Citizen special. Elsewhere, they dusted off songs released over the past couple of decades, including five cuts from their latest album, 2020, with Jon Bon Jovi stating he is “proud of this album.”

Finally, they ended their main set with the iconic “Livin’ On a Prayer,” which immediately had the whole arena singing in unison. At last, it was time for the two-song encore, starting with “Love’s the Only Rule” and ending with “Bad Medicine.”

Bon Jovi remain one of the most influential rock bands, while proving arena rock is far from dead. Sometimes, you just want to sing along to a great hook, and that’s exactly what you’ll get on this run.

Tickets for the rest of the tour are available via Ticketmaster and BonJovi.com.

Consequence of Sound article: https://consequence.net/2022/04/bon-jovi-concert-review-2022-tour-setlist-photos/

Photos Credit: Dustin Jack

(February 16, 2022) – Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band Bon Jovi announced today the chance for local bands across the country to perform on the highly anticipated Bon Jovi 2022 Tour. Bands are encouraged to submit an audition video of original music for the chance to open for the band at a concert stop on the tour. One local band will be selected for each tour date. For more information and to upload a submission, visit www.bonjovi.com/openingact

The Bon Jovi 2022 Tour will launch this spring in arenas nationwide. Tickets and VIP packages are on sale now. Click here for tickets and more information.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band Bon Jovi announced today the Bon Jovi 2022 Tour, produced by Live Nation and sponsored by Hampton Water. The tour is scheduled for arenas this coming Spring. Tickets will go on-sale to the general public for most markets beginning Friday, January 14th at 10:00am local time. For early access to ticket and VIP packages, The JBJ Experience member pre-sale will begin on Tuesday, January 11th at 10:00am local time.

The band spent much of the past two years recording and releasing new music, while also creating livestream performance content and launching Bon Jovi radio for their fans. Bon Jovi’s 2020 was one of the most critically acclaimed album releases of that year with USA Today calling it “BRILLIANT” and Associated Press highlighting the depth of lyrics within the songs that “chronicle pain, loss, fear and death from the coronavirus, police killings and mass shootings.”

Bon Jovi remains one of the most prolific and sought-after tour tickets in live music today, and getting back on tour was a top priority for the band. “We have all missed touring and we know that nothing can replace the energy of a live show for the fans or the band,” said Jon Bon Jovi.

TOUR DATES:

* On-Sale date January 21st ^ On-Sale date February 4th

The JBJ Experience member pre-sale for Milwaukee and Indianapolis will begin on Tuesday, January 18 at 10am local time and will go on sale to the general public on Friday, January 21 at 10am local time.

The JBJ Experience member pre-sale for Houston and Nashville will begin on Tuesday, February 1 at 10am local time and will go on sale to the general public on Friday, February 4 at 10am local time.

View the article here:

https://variety.com/2021/music/spotlight/intrepid-museum-gala-jon-bon-jovi-iheartradio-bob-pittman-veterans-1235105256/

On October 1, Diana: The Musical will debut on Netflix. Diana features music and lyrics by our very own David Bryan, and Joe DiPietro.

Rock and Roll Hall of Famer   Jon Bon Jovi   will sit down for an exclusive interview March 20 with Spotify’s head of rock, Allison Hagendorf, for “ AXS TV   Presents: A Conversation With Jon Bon Jovi,” followed by the broadcast premiere of the band’s only concert performance of 2020, “On A Night Like This — Bon Jovi 2020.”

“We released our new album during such a unique year and without a tour we had to find a different way to perform these songs for our fans,” said Bon Jovi. “AXS TV has been a great partner and I’m looking forward to everyone getting the chance to watch this special showcasing the band’s first and only time performing 2020 live together.”

The pre-show event will air prior of the broadcast premiere of “On A Night Like This – Bon Jovi 2020” at 8:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. PT. Filmed in quarantine in a studio in Nashville, the film features first-time performances of tracks from the band’s 15th studio album, “2020,” including “Limitless,” “Beautiful Drug” and “Do What You Can.” The film offers fans a glimpse into how the band managed and weathered the storm during a global pandemic, with backstage footage and interviews interspersed throughout the film.

The wide-ranging interview with Hagendorf will explore the past year, with a focus on how Bon Jovi navigated the musical waters in unprecedented times, which resulted in the band delaying the release of its record, cancellation of a tour and Bon Jovi writing two songs inspired by the unfolding events in the nation. The chat will also delve into how the band was able to eventually find a way to film the concert and segments for “On A Night Like This,” and Bon Jovi’s personal focus on passion projects doing his own part to help with the Covid-19 crisis. As a bonus, viewers can submit their own questions in an AXS TV sweepstakes, where several will be selected to be answered in a “Fans Ask” segment.

“I first interviewed Jon nearly a decade ago in New York, and it is truly an honor to have the opportunity to sit down with him once again,” said Hagendorf, host of the Spotify podcast “Rock This With Allison Hagendorf.” “It is such a treat for fans, including myself, to hear firsthand about the band’s personal journey during this challenging past year. I was fascinated to learn how these moments, both big and small, culminated into their latest body of work, and I cannot wait to share it with AXS TV’s audience when the interview premieres on March 20.”

“AXS TV has quickly risen as a premier multiplatform brand sought out by acclaimed artists and entertainers. We are proud to be able to offer them strong promotional partnerships such as this, which empower them to share their latest projects directly with a massive audience of dedicated music enthusiasts,” said Sarah Weidman, head of original programming, development and multi-platform content for AXS TV. “AXS TV is honored to join forces with Bon Jovi to bring ‘On A Night Like This’ to television for the first time as part of a multiplatform event — giving our viewers the best seat in the house for an unforgettable evening featuring an exclusive interview with Jon Bon Jovi followed by a unique performance from one of rock’s most legendary bands.”

Both the interview and the concert will be available across all AXS TV digital platforms immediately following the broadcast premiere, with an encore presentation airing Sunday, March 21 at 10 p.m. ET on AXS TV.

(February 18, 2021)   – Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band BON JOVI releases a new video for their current single   “STORY OF LOVE”   off the band’s critically acclaimed fifteenth studio album   2020 .  True to the lyrics, the video takes a deeply personal look at songwriter Jon Bon Jovi’s family life with never-before-revealed family photos and home videos.  The video will premiere on YouTube this Thursday at 12:30pm ET and Jon will be live on YouTube answer fan questions starting at 12pm ET.  The video can be seen   HERE .

“Although I wrote “Story of Love” about my family, I hope when people listen to the song and watch the video, they will see themselves and their family,” said Jon Bon Jovi.

About Bon Jovi: Over an illustrious career spanning more than three decades since their formation in 1983, Bon Jovi has earned their place among global rock royalty and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as well as the Songwriters Hall of Fame. With over 130 million albums sold worldwide, and extensive catalog of hit anthems, thousands of concerts performed in more than 50 countries for more than 35 million fans, and ticket grosses well over $1 billion around the world in the last decade alone.  Bon Jovi is the consummate rock and roll band.

Bon Jovi has never released an official holiday album, but Jon Bon Jovi is gifting fans this year with not one, not two, but three holiday songs for them to enjoy. The songs are covers of Tom Petty's "Christmas All Over Again," The Pogues' "Fairytale of   New York " and "If I Get Home on   Christmas   Day," which was recorded by Elvis Presley on the 1971 album "Elvis Sings the Wonderful World of Christmas." Petty's "Christmas All Over Again" is a 1992 song that appeared on both the charity album "A Very Special Christmas 2" and on the soundtrack for "Home Alone 2: Lost In New York." The Pogues' song, which is a duet with late singer Kirsty MacColl, came out in 1987, but was recently in the headlines due to the BBC's Radio 1 announcing last month that it would only play a censored version of the song, removing several offensive words in lyrics. In his version, Bon Jovi has gotten around that by rewriting the lyrics to remove the offending words. The music videos for the songs are exclusively available to members of the JBJ Experience Fan Club.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jon Bon Jovi (@jonbonjovi)

NEW YORK, NY – Last week Bon Jovi’s concert documentary On A Night Like This – Bon Jovi 2020 was seen by more than one million viewers who tuned into the Bon Jovi Facebook page to watch the band’s first-ever full album performance of their critically acclaimed release 2020. This week, Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Jon Bon Jovi is giving fans an early holiday gift with the release of three holiday songs: “Christmas All Over Again,” “Fairytale of New York,” and “If I Get Home on Christmas Day,” available Monday, December 7th on all streaming and digital platforms. Recorded this Fall to cap off the 2020 holiday season, the song’s accompanying music videos can be seen exclusively by members of the “The JBJ Experience” which also features outtakes and never-before-seen content on https://www.bonjovi.com/pages/fan-club .

About Bon Jovi:

Over an illustrious career spanning more than three decades since their formation in 1983, Bon Jovi has earned their place among global rock royalty and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as well as the Songwriters Hall of Fame. With over 130 million albums sold worldwide, and extensive catalog of hit anthems, thousands of concerts performed in more than 50 countries for more than 35 million fans, and ticket grosses well over $1 billion around the world in the last decade alone. Bon Jovi is the consummate rock and roll band.

Sometimes it takes an artist to reflect an event back at us, so we can truly see and feel it. It could be a photo taken by a journalist or a witness, like the   Falling Man   from 9/11. Or it could be a film, like Spike Lee’s   When the Levees Broke , which brought home the reality left in Katrina’s wake. This year, Jon Bon Jovi’s trying to show us who we are with his new album   2020 , which tackles the pandemic, political divisiveness, and police violence, among other fractures in the current American landscape. It’s his attempt to, as he puts it, “bear witness to history.”

This is Bon Jovi’s second record since longtime writing partner and guitarist Richie Sambora abruptly left the band during a world tour back in 2013, amid some personal challenges and family struggles. He talks about   2020   as his first time stepping out from behind the rock star person, and it’s a more personal, less glam record than we’ve heard from him before.

But this is still Jon Bon Jovi:   2020   opens strong (first words: “Wake up!”) and grabs you immediately with its straightforward pop-rock clarity. The album is unusual and maybe necessary and inspiring—it became a kind of personal musical life raft this summer during a difficult stretch for my family. When I watched Jon perform ‘Do What You Can’ and ‘Livin’ on a Prayer’ for a benefit he organized for first responders and front-line workers in his home state of New Jersey this summer, it felt as if Bon Jovi could connect the dots between the different voices struggling to be heard in America, and help lead by example through this tumultuous time.

Bon Jovi has also put his money where there were suddenly more mouths to feed than ever and fewer hands to do the work. Since March, both he and his wife could be found most days at the two community restaurants and massive food bank supported by his foundation near his homes in hard-hit New Jersey and Long Island. During the unending months of lockdown, he helped support thousands who needed it, and now he’s delivered a credible soundtrack of American life this year. GQ spoke to Bon Jovi about   2020   and 2020.

GQ: What was the process for this record, now that you’re calling all the shots?

Jon Bon Jovi : Well, I turned the record in and then Covid happened and shut the world down. So I knew that if I was gonna have a topical record in 2020, I better write a Covid song. That’s ‘Do What you Can.’

I was inspired by the health care workers, the students who sacrificed, the grocery store clerk who became an essential worker, the caregiver, the unsung heroes who stepped up to help their neighbors and those who simply wore a mask, not because it was a political tool but because it was a sign of respect for their fellow man.

Then of course the George Floyd incident hit, BLM, so then I sat down to write ‘American Reckoning’ and, finally, at that time I said Amen, the album is now complete. I took the two, let’s call them love songs, off the record and put on ‘Do What You Can’ and ‘American Reckoning’ and I said now there is my   2020.

You say that as if it’s easy to write pop songs about a pandemic and systemic racism and police violence.

I think experience has probably given me that ability, to be honest. Now I find that I have nothing left to really prove, and I have nothing to hide. And the world is in such a place that I felt that I could bear witness to history, as long as I was willing to   be   that witness. I am but a witness to history.

The events I touched on in   2020   touched me. Topics such as veterans dealing with PTSD, gun control, inequality, racial injustice, and many others have an unbiased seat at this table. I didn't take sides on any of these important issues. I just reported on them factually. That was my technique throughout the process. Make it very obvious what the song is about and where I stand, but don't wave a finger, don't be accusatory, that was what I set out to do.

Truthfully, I'm at a point in my career where I know what I do for a living but it doesn't define me; it’s just what I do.

Do what you can. So, what does define you, as a man?

Well, being a father, being a philanthropist. Being the guy that was working in the food bank today and needs a shower desperately and probably should see a doctor for the fuckin hernia that I’m sure I have [laughs].

The model at my restaurants, JBJ Soul Kitchen, is that those in need volunteer for their meals and earn a certificate that will feed up to four family members. Due to the pandemic, we couldn't have any volunteers work. But we still had mouths to feed. So Dorothea and I worked five days a week for two months before we went to Long Island and opened a food bank that fed 6,000 people a month there.

From May through the summer, we worked there every day we were open. We’ve been working since the pandemic began, whether it was at the Soul Kitchen or at the foodbank here on Long Island, giving the food to seven pantries that myself and our foundation have been funding.

When you consider the people who are hungry, they dont give a shit that I play music [laughs]; they’re grateful that I'm the guy that’s giving them the palette of food every week. They   never   ask me about a record. They ask me about, you know, “Is the egg noodles coming next week?” “Are we getting more fruit?” And that’s what I did this morning, from about seven o’clock today till about noon.

The lyrics include what seems like fairly religious imagery: “On a night like this, one prayer, one wish,” “Is there something more? There is an open door, What are you waiting for?” Was that intentional or connected to all this somehow?

I came through that very Catholic upbringing. I went in and out of Catholic school a couple times and did have a problem with what had become the organized Catholic church, the stuff with the priests and altar boys. Not personally mind you. It was from the outside looking in, I wasn’t touched by it. We were removed from it.

Eventually I found spirituality. And now I think that I revert back to, whether it’s just prayer and my connection, for a yearning for that kind of simpler time of my youth? But I do it more now than I ever did. I look toward some kind of higher power.

Someone else I interviewed recently told me he’d finally started trying to “pray into himself.”

Yeah, I think that’s right. You know, shine a light within and that will shine outwardly and enlighten your actions and how you reach the world around you.

Like the line “shine a light” in “American Reckoning.” Who is the record for?  

Me! [laughs] For me. I did this record to get back to the reason why I wanted to do it again. I’d been going through a tough period. In light of what happened with Richie and his kids, his leaving us like that, and not staying to talk. It was very hard for all of us. And it took its toll on me.

The band is a family inasmuch as we had grown up together, done everything together, we had ups and downs, but we never deserted the ship. Whether it was work, or the death of parents or divorces or fame or confusion. We had alcoholism, it got to the point where we had to make decisions that weren’t in the interests of the band, that was for sure.

And so anyhow we came through it. And   This House Is Not for Sale   [the first release after Sambora left the band] was a kind of waving my fists in the air, saying “I refuse to let my house crumble,” but it’s tough finding people who want to go out there and then showing them how to play the songs and write the songs and have something to say.

It certainly wasn't going to be a big pop record because I’m just not in that place. So then I needed to get in touch with that gift that I have for writing songs. So I’ve worked   very   hard, whether it was on the record or lately on myself or my relationship with Tico and Dave, so that we got stronger as a unit. And it turned out to be really great, because we got tighter and as a result we felt we, the collective we, did no wrong.

In a strange way my forgiveness for Richie allowed me to grow, and David to grow, and Tico to grow into who we are today. Because we were forced down a different road. You don’t blame someone for that, you sort of have to say thank you, because it helps you continue your little journey. Sometimes someone has to get off an exit in order for you to continue this journey.

There was no fourth leg on the table. And by the way, we had 80 more shows left on that tour. But we did it. And it was   very successful .

Having been through this personal rough patch, I really want to know: What’s your philosophy of life these days?

Philosophy? I think that my goal is just to try to be a better version of myself every day. Just try to do something to better yourself. Even if that something is just... sleep. You know? Just something to make yourself better, I don’t mean a better singer or a better rock star. A better person.

That’s important, especially now. I’ll be honest: I’ve had a very tough year myself. Middle age is rough. You got the kids to take care of, the parents getting older—you’re in the “middle.”

Yeah. How old are you?

A lot happens between 48 and 58. I sort of joke that 50 is the last decadent birthday, but by 58 you have a different kind of perspective. And I’m not old enough to start thinking about mortality, I think that’s still another ten, twelve years ahead of me, but the idea that we’re not the kid in the room anymore.

48, 58—you’re sort of accomplishing or have accomplished the great things that you’re gonna do, and that’s all well and good, but what matters more is what you’re building with your family. Because those two chapters, you can’t fuck up either one of those or they’re gonna scar you.

Fix those circumstances and get them right now, start writing your own chapters. Live with them. Make them something worth reading again.

How are your kids?

No real problems. Stephanie is doing well and works in television. The youngest is fully committed to playing the guitar and wanting to learn how to write. He just took a step where he can really play the guitar. That’s what came out of Covid for him, six months in the wood shed. Jake is gonna go to Syracuse for acting. He spent the past year studying. And Jesse has the wine business—very successful, if you like a good rosé.

We talked about family, religion, music—Jersey law requires me to ask you about football and politics. I know you’re a fan of at least one of those things. But you seem to code switch between worlds and get along with lots of different people.

I don’t think that I get along with lots of different people [laughs]. But yeah, football was something that was a common thread in our house, whether it was my father or my uncle, you could find them Sunday watching the Giants. And then my relationships through my celebrity allowed me to meet people on the Giants, which then led me to my relationship with a young man who is now an old man by the name of Bill Belichick. Last night I had dinner with Robert Kraft, who is one of my dearest friends.

Is he still mad at Tom Brady?

He’s not mad at Tommy! No!

Unlike football, politics is not anything I ever grew up with. My family was not involved at all. My wife’s family was probably more involved in politics. And we’ve met a number of politicians over the years. Whether the current governor, or the previous governor, Chris Christie.

I’m friendly with Chris. Although we didn't have to agree with each other’s politics all the time, we could certainly talk as fellow New Jerseyites with things in common that we wanted to do for people there. So you could have a conversation with somebody, regardless of what side you’re on.

Do you think people are still listening to each other? Are you worried about the current political climate? You have a song on the record, “Blood in the Water,” about it.

I think the division that’s evolved in the last four to six years is an America that I'm afraid for. Bickering among political themes has become something that’s dividing families—parents and kids, husbands and wives. I’m worried about how we come together as a country. [A silent pause.] I’m so scared. I’m so scared. I’m scared. 

Yeah. Me too.

When I grew up, the idea of the middle class in Sayreville, it was hardworking, blue collar, really white, but a really good hardworking solid town made up of second-generation, primarily European immigrants. Believed in this kind of John Kennedy mantra of we can do anything we wanna do, we can go to the moon, and so I grew up in this very innocent wonderful kind of time. And then I came to be old enough to vote and Ronald Reagan was telling everybody that there should be a car in every driveway and a chicken in every pot, telling Gorbachev to tear down that wall. It certainly wasn't the day and age my kids are growing up in now.

But it also allowed us to dream ridiculously big, because we didn't know any better. You know I’ve told this story many times before: Bono grew up thinking about the Orangemen marching, and we grew up thinking about Little League and Pop Warner. It was many years after the race riots, many many years after the work of MLK, RFK, Malcolm X. It was a different era.

Now my kid just graduated from college. Those poor kids missed out on graduation, the prom, turned 18 at home, given one hour of outdoor time, they were born out of 9/11. That’s a shit hand to be dealt. But on the other hand, I think they’re going to be that next great generation, because they have to be. Are they going to have the same opportunities? What are the chances they’re going to have a chance to sell 130 million albums?

Is that possibility even out there anymore? How different are things now?

The pandemic changed lives. Everyone has their own story. And hopefully out of a crisis comes the next generation’s innovators, inspired, and engaged, ready to lead by example and move into an era of ‘we,’ not ‘me.’

This interview has been edited and condensed.

His chagrin turned to songs.

“American Reckoning.” “Lower The Flag.” “Brothers In Arms.” “Unbroken.” “Let It Rain.” “Blood In The Water.” There’s a tension to them, a sense of a live electric wire down on a rain-covered street; dangerous, hard to handle, yet the sparking wire absolutely must be addressed. If “Limitless” and “Do What You Can” took on “Livin’ On A Prayer” faith and positivity, while “Beautiful Drug” and “Story of Love” offered the realities of how  all  the different kinds of love unfold for classic Bon Jovi fans, the 58-year old rocker needed more from  2020 . Not just more “hey, watch me be serious,” or “hey! let me be a big rock star!!!” more, but more helping people shake off the stupor induced by emotional-button-pushing so they could plug into their fellow humans.

“I set out to make a topical record,” concedes the earworm king of “It’s My Life,” and “You Give Love A Bad Name” on the phone from Jersey. “The first song was ‘Blood in the Water’ two years ago. The names have changed, but the story hasn’t…

“Because the song’s not just a moment in time, I wondered ‘Would it be dated?’ It starts with Storme Daniels and the line ‘a storm is coming…’ – and it’s not (dated).

“The immigration problem with kids in cages, Russian hacks, which we’re going to be seeing again. At one point, it’s Guiliani or Barr, Michael Cohen, all the people who’ve stood up for him…”

Not that he’s taking sides. Aware enough to know, he realizes preaching to the choir doesn’t help.

“I’m just the narrator. You know my position, there’s no need to go there. But ‘Lower the Flag,’ ‘American Reckoning,’ just the facts tell the story,” he pauses, thinking about the conflicting voices and confusion around all of us. Left, right, liberal, conservative, Republican, Democrat, Independent, Anarchist, Kanye: so many points of view, so little grounding.

“I don’t know where to tell you to view the unspun truth. Either side of the aisle, the news, social media, it’s hard to find the truth. We’re politically divided, and unable to have testing because no one wants to find the common ground.

“But what if this – any of these songs – happened to someone in your life?”

Empathy. Not a buzzword for ‘80s and ‘90s arena rockers, yet “Unbroken” found him working to understand the reality of PTSD, injured vets and the power of service animals. He admits, “I never served. This came from a phone call from my publisher, asking if I’d be interested in writing a song for a small documentary about soldiers with PTSD…”

Not even edited, the director shared a couple clips, sent over some facts, talked about the mission of both the film and the story being told. In a world often looking away from those who served, Bon Jovi – whose parents met in the Marines – knew the landmines would be in repeating the canon of post-military songs.

“I was very conscious of Billy Joel’s ‘Saigon,’ Bruce’s ‘Born in the USA,’ ‘Sam Stone,’ but the kids in this movie… they weren’t drafted, they signed up for a better way of life. When they put on that uniform, it was something they’re so identified by and with,  when you take it away from them, it’s like Superman’s cape is gone.

“So in talking to some of the people, someone told me, ‘You’re either broken, or you’re put back together.’ That struck me, so I made it a hymn, or a prayer for all of us.”

A prayer for all of us. What could be more necessary in times like these? Considering the delay, providence given the addition of “American Reckoning” as a reality check with urgency that doesn’t tell anyone how to think,   2020   somehow didn’t miss its moment. While so many people’s music has seen its meaning shift during the shutdowns, the waiting, the pause and the inability to tour, JBJ got lucky. For him, the gap only made his new record more necessary, more of the moment and more urgent. If “You Do What You Can” is a fizzy rocker empowering whatever difference you can create, the rest of the album opens up perspectives for the state of America no matter what side you’re on.

Forbes.com "It's a long way from 'You Give Love A Bad Name' to 'American Reckoning.'" Jon Bon Jovi says laughing. Don't misunderstand, tThe Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame frontman is very proud of his storied past.

As he says during our 45-minute Zoom call to discuss the band's superb new   2020   album, he stands behind the band's seminal hits, like "You Give Love A Bad Name" and "Livin' On A Prayer. But now at age 58, he isn't trying to recreate his past.

" I said this when I was 25, 'When I'm 50 I don't want to be painting my fingernails black and writing bitch on my belly,'" he says laughing.

So on this new album he has written some of the most powerful and compelling songs of his storied career, including "American Reckoning," which directly references the George Floyd killing this past May, and "Lower The Flag," a forceful song about the gun violence epidemic in America.

I spoke with him about the writing of the album, remaining a fan of his heroes, including his friend "Beatle Paul," his philanthropic foundation and his favorite lyricists.

Steve Baltin: Do you feel a sense of prophecy in these songs?

Jon Bon Jovi: I'll give you a great example of a prophecy is "Blood In The Water." It was the first one in the summer of '18 and I could walk you through it. "A storm is coming," Stormy Daniels. "Let me be clear/the walls around you are closing in," could've been last night's debate. So whether it was Stormy Daniels and Michael Cohen and General Flynn to the impeachment hearing to the Russian hack at the end of it, which was in '16, that's relevant now, this same storyline, to me, is a revolving door of characters. I did think for a period of time, "Oh my god, this is gonna be dated. No one is gonna know who I am referencing." But it doesn't matter because it was as relevant this morning after last night's debates. So that song, to me, specifically, is a prophecy, it's timeless.

Baltin: Another song I really loved is "Unbroken," which falls in the tradition of great anti-war songs.

Bon Jovi: A song like "Unbroken" will always be timeless because soldiers will always be coming home and dealing with this. I had a conversation with a director [Josh Aronson] of a very small, but moving documentary called   To Be Of Service . And he had asked me to write a song hoping that my name and his bet that I could write "the" song could bring attention to this issue. And I wanted my spin to be the pride that men and women have when they put that uniform on. And then the issues they have once they take it off. When you think about how identified a soldier is when he walks down the street that's a great sense of pride in the world in which live today. It's not the Vietnam era with the young men and women returned to be spat upon. Nowadays they're heroes and they come back and we all appreciate what they give. When you take that uniform off, you put the Superman costume back in the closet and yet you're having to deal with the traumas. And I still wanted to find that thing that made them want to keep doing it and be proud of what they did. So in the very last line, when it says, "You asked me was it worth it to be of service in the end/Well the blessing and the curse is/Yeah, I'd do it all again." And the responses I have gotten to that differentiate it from [John] Fogerty writing Vietnam-era songs or Bruce [Springsteen] writing "Born In The U.S.A."

Baltin: If I remember you are also a huge Tom Waits fan and "Day After Tomorrow: is as good an anti-war song as you will find.

Bon Jovi: I adore Tom Waits, Waits and [Leonard] Cohen, two of my favorite lyricists absolutely. He's a genius. Some people just think of "The Heart Of Saturday Night" or if they really think they're witty they go, "You know, he wrote 'Jersey Girl.'" (Cracks up) Yeah, I know. I love a good storyteller and he is one of the greats.

Baltin: One of the things I love about this album is it's built around just telling relatable stories. And it's funny because people may think you haven't spoken out before on these issues. But even "Livin' On A Prayer" is very much a story.

Bon Jovi: It is a story song. The thing about a song like that, which was the timeless boy meets girl, we will win in the end, fill in the blank with the names and then they become you, the story has been told. What I loved about this is I didn't make these my story. This is just the truth being reported, just facts and moments in time that I either lived or watched or read about. So I really didn't have much of an interest in writing a pop song in the true sense of a pop song with that boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl back. It wasn't inspiring.

Baltin: Writing is a subconscious thing often. So were there moments on there you didn't realize how deeply you felt about things until you made this album?

Bon Jovi: Oh yeah. "Lower The Flag" and "American Reckoning" come to mind off the top of my head. Both issues that obviously I felt very deeply about and that I could articulate. And to be able to articulate them not only in conversation , but in a song. These weren't things that I had ever tackled before, but I was cognizant of. And to get it to a place where I'm very proud of the presentation so I'm able to share it, it's a long way from "You Give Love A Bad Name" to "American Reckoning" (laughs).

Baltin: Are you more comfortable with it as you've gotten older since most every artist seems to get more comfortable and confident with themselves as get older?

Bon Jovi: For clarity, in truth, I adore "Runaway" and "You Give Love A Bad Name" and "Livin' On A Prayer." And that's absolutely positively who and what I was and what I wanted to say. And it's all I knew how to say at that time. I wasn't looking to do more than that. And because I've been around so long this is who I am at 58 years old. That's not who I was at 21 and 25. So this has just been the journey I'm on. Here I am today. If a listener picks up an album and expects "Livin' On A Prayer" part six, you're not gonna find it here. I don't want to rewrite it. That was then.

Baltin: Do you feel, and this ties in with your charity work, as you've gotten older it's more important to focus on and share that?

Bon Jovi: Because we've taken the foundation to such a place I never thought we would, where that motivation comes from, it really wasn't instilled me as a kid. Not to the place I do it now. My parents weren't political or involved in the community. It's something that evolved in me with my wife, which is why. And it happened as I grew and grew up. No one should blame a twenty-year-old for having single-minded focus on wanting to be the lead singer in a rock band and singing about that. Amen to it. But if I were 58 and still writing songs about that I think it would be a waste of an opportunity. I said this when I was 25, "When I'm 50 I don't want to be painting my fingernails black and writing bitch on my belly" (laughs). And so we stood out from the genre from whence we came and I'll stand here in front of you with gray hair and a 32-inch waist and say, "It's who I am, that's where it's at. I'm not pretending and dying my hair and getting Botox on the 'Where are They Now' tour." I'm not interested. I'd rather walk away and leave a good-looking corpse than try and chase the past. To me, that would be a sin.

Baltin: Are there artists you admire for the way they evolved and aged gracefully? And of course saying that about John Lennon feels ironic because he didn't get to age gracefully. His evolution was in such a short time.

Bon Jovi: Boy, what he did. I have the absolute incredible, heaven-sent gift to actually be able to say I'm friendly with Paul McCartney. And I get to spend a lot of time with him in the summers. And I jokingly tell him that John and George just went back to their planet. It just doesn't make any sense. John went from "She Loves Ya" to "Imagine." Who would've thought that in that boy was that man?

Baltin: I love that you refer to it as a heaven-sent blessing to be friendly with him. What would your childhood self think about being friendly with Paul McCartney?

Bon Jovi: I refer to him as Beatle Paul all the time. Wherever I'm at with him it's "Hey, Beatle Paul, hey Beatle Paul." And one night he actually said to me, "Why do you do that?" And I said, "Because I'm too old to call you Mr. McCartney and I'm too in awe to think that I could call you Paul. I'm too reverent." And he's like, "Okay." That was one amazing but true story. I'm such a fan of a lot of people. When I met Tom Waits it was the same way. I was like, "No, you don't get it. I have tried to write 10 of your songs for the last 30 years." I was like that with [Bob] Dylan and with Bruce [Springsteen], from the time I was a little boy. So a lot of those guys that I still look up to in that kind of way.

Baltin: What is the one Tom Waits song you wish you could have written and why?

Bon Jovi: "Who Are You." That just immediately came to mind, the same way Dylan's "I Want You" is one of those kind of songs, or "Just Like A Woman." But you know, "Who Are You?" F**k! And I love "I Don't Wanna Grow Up,"   Bone Machine , they're all so good. "Hold On," what a great f**king song. "Come On Up To The House," "The House Where Nobody Lives," oh those f**king lyrics, awesome. Oh yeah, you and I could go deep on this.

Baltin: No songwriter is ever satisfied. But you hit moments you feel you are coming closer to where you want to be. Did you find those on   2020 ?

Bon Jovi: I'm too close to the album today to tell you a song, but this album says that for me. I'm just a little too close to it right now because I'm literally working on the live film we shot of it and editing. I'm too close. But I'm so proud of it as a whole. One thing that Covid did was it allowed me to go back and listen to a whole bunch of the albums. Some of it was better than I thought. Some of it wasn't as good as I hoped, but the body of work still holds up to me.

Watch the video HERE on RollingStone.com Bon Jovi   were the latest musical guests on  Ellen   this week, performing the song “Beautiful Drug” from their new album  2020 .

On a makeshift stage surrounded by carpeting and draped curtains, the band played a socially distanced rendition of the song, which celebrates the power of love through the darkest times. And like several of the songs on   2020 , “Beautiful Drug” finds   Jon Bon Jovi   getting topical about the current American crisis: “Tear off your mask, no need to hide/There’s a prescription that no doctor can prescribe,” he sings. “Can’t walk on water, down on your knees/You enter numbers, step right up, the stuff is guaranteed.”

Last month, Bon Jovi previewed  2020   with the single   “Do What You Can,”   with an accompanying music video featuring Jon Bon Jovi walking around a deserted New York City during Covid-19 lockdown. Jon Bon Jovi   later dueted   with Sugarland singer Jennifer Nettles on the song.

“As I finished the mix and did the video [for the album version], I said, ‘Boy, this song would have such crossover potential.’ Jennifer was my first choice, and she said yes,” Jon Bon Jovi told   Rolling Stone   in an interview . The pair previously scored a Number One country hit in 2005 with “Who Says You Can’t Go Home.”

APNews.com Jon Bon Jovi has been churning out love songs and arena anthems for nearly 40 years, but his latest release “2020,” has taken his music to another level.

It’s Bon Jovi’s most socially conscious album to date. Calling the collection, a “moment in time,” he references COVID-19, the killing of George Floyd, the 2019 Dayton shooting, PTSD of returning soldiers and other issues concerning the 58-year old rocker.

But tackling hot-button topics can be divisive, especially with fans on both sides of the political aisle. Bon Jovi says that’s not his intention.

“I am a witness to history, and if I took that position throughout the project, I didn’t think it would be political. I thought it would be social commentary,” Bon Jovi said. He defended his approach saying, “nowhere along this line does it say, you know, left, right, red, blue, black, white.”

Originally set for a spring release, the album was delayed, and a tour was cancelled because of the pandemic. That gave him more time to reflect on the world around him. That period added “Do What You Can,” a tribute to those fighting COVID-19, and “American Reckoning,” which was an emotional response to hearing Floyd calling out for his mother as a police officer kneeled on his neck.

“My eyes welled up with tears and I couldn’t help but go in my room and try to write a song,” he said.

Proceeds from the single will support the Equal Justice Initiative.

Bon Jovi shared his thoughts on these tumultuous time during an interview with The Associated Press. He also spoke about the weirdness of the band’s recent live performance in Nashville, Tennessee, whether he plans to tour on the senior circuit like Bruce Springsteen or Mick Jagger and why he sees hope in the next generation.

AP: During a lockdown, a lot becomes evident. Where have you found hope?

Bon Jovi: I have a son who graduated high school this year, now as a freshman at college, and he’s not having any of the experiences that other kids would have had. But out of that, what I really believe in my soul is that those kids who were born out of 9/11 and graduate school in a pandemic are going to be the ones that are the innovators, the creators, the ones that are going to fix the mess that old guys like me and you left them. And I think that they’re gonna be the ones that don’t give a damn about the color of your skin or your sexual orientation.

AP: Did you have any concerns when writing about George Floyd in “American Reckoning”? Bon Jovi: Even though we have the foundation and I’ve built affordable housing for 15 years from Newark to Camden to Philly to Georgia to L.A., I don’t pretend to know what it’s like to walk a mile in his shoes. And so, I made sure I wrote that down. If there’s a such thing as white privilege, then obviously I fit that profile: A white, older, affluent man who happens to also be a celebrity. I never had to have “the talk,” you know. And so, I made sure I wrote that down. And all of this, I had to make sure I got right. READ THE FULL INTERVIEW HERE

AmericanSongwriter.com In an incredibly timely interview,   People Have The Power   host Steve Baltin sat down with   Jon Bon Jovi   to discuss his latest album release,   2020 , and how he chooses to witness history. 

Released this past Friday,   2020   is a 13-track ode to humanity’s current state as well as a timeless body of work embodying the larger emotions of a tumultuous time. Baltin had exclusive access to the brain behind the album as he questioned Bon Jovi on his many inspirations and songwriting practices.

TRACKLISTING with songwriter credits

Limitless (Jon Bon Jovi, Billy Falcon, John Shanks) Do What You Can (Jon Bon Jovi) American Reckoning (Jon Bon Jovi) Beautiful Drug (Jon Bon Jovi, Billy Falcon, John Shanks) Story of Love (Jon Bon Jovi) Let It Rain (Jon Bon Jovi) Lower the Flag (Jon Bon Jovi) Blood in the Water (Jon Bon Jovi) Brothers in Arms (Jon Bon Jovi) Unbroken (Jon Bon Jovi)

APP.com Twenty twenty has been a year like no other.

So how about a   Bon Jovi   album like no other? Bon Jovi's “2020,” due Oct. 2, is promised to be more socially conscious of current events than previous works.

“I am a witness to history,” said frontman Jon Bon Jovi in a statement. “I believe the greatest gift of an artist is the ability to use their voice to speak to issues that move us.” Tracks like “Lower the Flag,” which takes on gun violence; “Unbroken,” a look at soldiers and post-traumatic stress disorder; and “Blood in the Water,” a take on today's caustic political environment, are very much in the moment. Two tracks added after the album's planned May release bear it out even more. “Do What You Can” speaks to the resiliency of those on the frontlines — and everybody else — of the coronavirus outbreak. “American Reckoning” is about the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis and the impact of the Black Lives Matter protests across the globe. Yet, perhaps the work of Bon Jovi was always socially aware, if not politically proactive. Tommy and Gina from “Livin’ on the Prayer” are living a hardscrabble life due to an economic downtown and “Runaway” details strife at  home.

More: How Bon Jovi became the rock 'n' roll epicenter in the battle against the coronavirus

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Bon Jovi Heads Back on the Road This Spring: ‘We Have All Missed Touring’

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees will hit U.S. arenas throughout April.

By Taylor Mims

Taylor Mims

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Bon Jovi will be back on the road this spring with their 2022 North American tour. Produced by promoter Live Nation, the tour is scheduled to kick off April 1 in Omaha, Neb., at CHI Health Center.  

The 15-date trek will run through arenas in Minnesota, North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Missouri and more. Bon Jovi will make three stops in Texas before closing out the dates on April 30 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.   

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Jon Bon Jovi

“We have all missed  touring  and we know that nothing can replace the energy of a live show for the fans or the band,” said Jon Bon Jovi in a release.  

Madonna Thanks 'Incredibly Talented' Kids for Joining Her on Celebration Tour

The tour will be in support of the band’s most recent album 2020 , which was released in October 2020 and reached the top 20 on the Billboard 200 album chart. The band has also been working on new material over the course of the pandemic.   

In addition to new music, the band launched Bon Jovi radio on SiriusXM. The limited-run channel celebrates the career of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducted group and features insight from Jon Bon Jovi and band members, as well as their crew. The channel also provides fans with exclusive weekly live concerts directly from the band’s archives.   

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The 2022 tour is sponsored by Hampton Water, a wine company founded by Jon Bon Jovi and his son, Jesse Bongiovi.   

Tickets will go on sale to the general public for most markets beginning Jan. 14 at 10 a.m. local time. Head to BonJovi.com for specific details on VIP packages as well as on-sale dates and timing. The JBJ Experience member pre-sale will begin on Tuesday, Jan. 11, at 10 a.m. local time. Check out a full list of dates below.  

It’s official! We’ll be headed back out on this road this April for the #BonJovi2022Tour . Pre-sales begin January 11th and tickets will be available to the public beginning January 14th. For more information on tickets and VIP, head to https://t.co/6OX1pkc5GD . See you soon! ❤️🗡 pic.twitter.com/HqJ1rGACMb — Bon Jovi (@BonJovi) January 7, 2022

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Bon Jovi Kick Off Spring 2022 Tour in Omaha: Photos, Recap + Setlist

The band is back on their first major live run since the global pandemic

Arena rock is a genre of music that will never die, as long as crowds convene inside hockey arenas around the country to sing along to our favorite anthems from our favorite artists. That’s exactly what took place when Bon Jovi kicked off their 2022 tour in Omaha, NE at the CHI Health Center on Friday, April 1st, for their first public in-person concert since the pandemic started.

Ione, a singer from Sioux City, IA, was the contest winner of the opening slot for the Omaha tour date. With a full backing band — two guitar players, a bassist, a drummer, and a keyboardist — Ione filled the arena with her soulful voice, reminding one of ‘70s singer-songwriters like Linda Ronstadt and Stevie Nicks. She emitted a free-spirited energy on stage, and captivated the audience with her pure, unadulterated pop-rock sound. It was a spectacular showing all around, and certainly worth arriving early for.

Then it was time for the main event. Bon Jovi brought their New Jersey flare to the heartland, led by lead singer Jon Bon Jovi. While it’s now occasionally a little difficult for Bon Jovi to project those higher notes to the back of the arena as he did back in the ‘80s, he is still an expert showman, first and foremost. He has a young soul to him, and on Friday, he pulled off an incredible Mick Jagger-like crowd control with the audience that was both engaging and entertaining.

It was also Bon Jovi’s first official concert since the pandemic started — they’d had to cancel a planned 2020 run — and it was clear they were very excited to finally play in front of a crowd. “It’s been a long time since I said good evening,” said Bon Jovi, before they kicked into “You Give Love A Bad Name.”

As for the rest of the band, they were in top form. Phil X has had some major shoes to fill playing lead guitar for over five years, but he does it flawlessly. During “Keep the Faith,” he impressively went through three guitars during the whole song, breaking one of the strings during the process. Elsewhere, Tico Torres was a beast behind the drum kit, while you can hear David Bryan’s signature synth sound from a mile away. Also, is it possible for guitarist/producer John Shanks to be made a permanent member of Bon Jovi? The man shared lead guitar duties and was a phenomenal rhythm player, earning the spotlight more than once during his guitar solos.

The band also paid tribute to Ukraine, performing “It’s My Life,” a song that has been adopted as an anthem for Ukrainians, and “We Don’t Run,” which was being filmed as part of a Global Citizen special. Elsewhere, they dusted off songs released over the past couple of decades, including five cuts from their latest album, 2020 , with Jon Bon Jovi stating he is “proud of this album.”

Finally, they ended their main set with the iconic “Livin’ On a Prayer,” which immediately had the whole arena singing in unison. At last, it was time for the two-song encore, starting with “Love’s the Only Rule” and ending with “Bad Medicine.”

Say what you will about Bon Jovi, but they remain one of the most influential rock bands, while proving arena rock is far from dead. Sometimes, you just want to sing along to a great hook, and that’s exactly what you’ll get on this run.

Bon Jovi next play St. Paul, MN at the Xcel Energy Center on Sunday, April 3rd. Tickets for that show, and for the rest of the tour, are available via Ticketmaster .

Check out the setlist and gallery of exclusive photos from opening night, taken by Robert Chadwick, below.

Limitless The Radio Saved My Life Tonight You Give Love a Bad Name We Weren’t Born to Follow It’s My Life Just Older Born to Be My Baby Beautiful Drug Let It Rain Keep the Faith American Reckoning We Don’t Run Someday I’ll Be Saturday Night Who Says You Can’t Go Home Lost Highway Wanted Dead or Alive Do What You Can This House Is Not for Sale Have a Nice Day Livin’ on a Prayer

Love’s the Only Rule Bad Medicine

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(January 7, 2022)  – Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band  Bon Jovi  announced today the  Bon Jovi 2022 Tour , produced by Live Nation and sponsored by Hampton Water.  The tour is scheduled for arenas this coming Spring.  Tickets will go on-sale to the general public for most markets beginning Friday, January 14 th  at 10:00am local time, check  www.bonjovi.com  for specific details on VIP packages as well as on-sale dates and timing. The JBJ Experience member pre-sale will begin on Tuesday, January 11 th  at 10:00am local time. 

The band spent much of the past two years recording and releasing new music, while also creating livestream performance content and launching Bon Jovi radio for their fans.  Bon Jovi’s  2020  was one of the most critically acclaimed album releases of that year with USA Today calling it “BRILLIANT” and Associated Press highlighting the depth of lyrics within the songs that “chronicle pain, loss, fear and death from the coronavirus, police killings and mass shootings.”

Bon Jovi remains one of the most prolific and sought-after tour tickets in live music today, and getting back on tour was a top priority for the band.  “We have all missed touring and we know that nothing can replace the energy of a live show for the fans or the band,” said Jon Bon Jovi. 

The Bon Jovi tour is excited to be offering a variety of VIP packages for each show! These packages include the BEST tickets available and may also provide access to the official "Bed of Rosés" VIP Brunch Experience, an autographed take-home chair, a chance to win a signed Jon Bon Jovi guitar, a Bon Jovi wine accessory set, crowd-free shopping, priority entry, and a selection of other exclusive VIP merchandise and on-site benefits! For full VIP package details, please go to  www.bonjovi.com

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Bon Jovi 2022 Tour North American Arena Tour Announced

INDIANAPOLIS -  Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band  Bon Jovi  announced today the  Bon Jovi 2022 Tour , produced by Live Nation and sponsored by Hampton Water.  The tour is scheduled for arenas this coming Spring.   The show in downtown Indianapolis will take place at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Tuesday, April 19 .  Tickets will go on-sale to the general public for the Indianapolis show beginning Friday, January 21 at 10:00am local time, check  www.bonjovi.com  for specific details on VIP packages and more. The JBJ Experience member pre-sale will begin on Tuesday, January 11 at 10:00am local time. The band spent much of the past two years recording and releasing new music, while also creating livestream performance content and launching Bon Jovi radio for their fans.  Bon Jovi’s  2020  was one of the most critically acclaimed album releases of that year with USA Today calling it “BRILLIANT” and Associated Press highlighting the depth of lyrics within the songs that “chronicle pain, loss, fear and death from the coronavirus, police killings and mass shootings.” Bon Jovi remains one of the most prolific and sought-after tour tickets in live music today, and getting back on tour was a top priority for the band.  “We have all missed touring and we know that nothing can replace the energy of a live show for the fans or the band,” said Jon Bon Jovi.   About Bon Jovi: Over an illustrious career spanning more than three decades since their formation in 1983, Bon Jovi has earned their place among global rock royalty and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as well as the Songwriters Hall of Fame. With over 130 million albums sold worldwide, and extensive catalog of hit anthems, thousands of concerts performed in more than 50 countries for more than 35 million fans, and ticket grosses well over $1 billion around the world in the last decade alone.  Bon Jovi is the consummate rock and roll band.   |  Twitter  |  Instagram  |  Facebook  |  Website  | About Live Nation Entertainment:  Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE: LYV) is the world’s leading live entertainment company comprised of global market leaders: Ticketmaster, Live Nation Concerts, and Live Nation Sponsorship. For additional information, visit  www.livenationentertainment.com .

Event Starts 8:00 PM

Bon Jovi Preview ‘Feel Good’ New Album ‘Forever’ With First Single ‘Legendary’

• By Daniel Kreps

Daniel Kreps

A f our-part documentary about Bon Jovi isn’t the band’s only gift to fans as the band celebrates their 40th anniversary: The group announced Thursday the upcoming release of their new album Forever .

Ahead of the LP’s June 7 arrival via Island Records, Jon Bon Jovi and company have shared the music video for the first single and opening track “Legendary”:

“This record is a return to joy,” Jon Bon Jovi said in a statement of Forever , the band’s first album since 2020’s 2020 . “From the writing, through the recording process, this is turn up the volume, feel good Bon Jovi.”

Forever — which features 12 new tracks from the Rock Hall-inducted Jersey rockers — is available to preorder now.

The new album announcement coincides with today’s SXSW premiere of Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story , a four-part documentary that will arrive on Hulu in April. 

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North america tour, the diamond vip experience.

One Incredible Front Row Reserved Ticket in the Ultra-Exclusive Pit *

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One Collectable Bon Jovi Concert Chair

• Hell Yeah - The Chair is Back! (Each Package Includes the Next Generation Collectable Chair)
• You Sit in it. You Watch the Show in it. You Take it Home with You.

One Autographed, Limited Edition Bon Jovi Fine Art Print (Autographed Exclusively for Diamond VIPs)

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• Separate Preshow VIP Lounge - Party Like a Rock Star Before the Show!
• VIP Preshow Open Bar - Includes Beer, Wine & Assorted Soft Drink Selections** -- Please note State College, PA (Bryce Jordan Center) is an alcohol-free facility. Alcohol will not be provided in any VIP preshow parties.
• VIP Preshow Buffet (Includes an Eclectic Selection of Foods)
• Preshow Prizes & Giveaways - Includes Memorabilia & Limited Edition Items (Subject to Availability)
• Preshow Party Music Playing Your Favourite Bon Jovi Hits and More
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Exclusive Bon Jovi VIP Merchandise

• One Exclusive Bon Jovi VIP Gift (Created Exclusively For VIP Package Purchasers)
• One Souvenir Bon Jovi Tour Program
• One Commemorative Bon Jovi VIP Laminate & Matching Lanyard

* Please note venue seating configurations may vary market-by-market

** Please note you must be of legal age to consume alcohol; proper identification required for consumption of alcohol

*** VIP Preferred Parking, Priority Check-In & Separate Entrance may not be available in all markets due to restrictions

THE EMERALD VIP EXPERIENCE

One Amazing Reserved Ticket in Rows 2 -3 in the Ultra-Exclusive Pit *

• Based on First Five (5) Rows in Chicago, E. Rutherford, Detroit and Cleveland (Stadium Configuration)

One Limited Edition Bon Jovi Fine Art Print

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• Based on First Thirteen (13) Rows in Chicago, E. Rutherford, Detroit and Cleveland (Stadium Configuration)

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One Excellent Top Price Reserved Floor or Lower Level Ticket Outside the Pit*

Exclusive On-Site VIP Perks

*** VIP Priority Check-In & Separate Entrance may not be available in all markets due to restrictions

THE GOLD VIP PACKAGE

One Premium Second Price Reserved Ticket in the Lower Level *

• In Uncasville (Mohegan Sun Arena) The Gold VIP Package is Based on a Top Price Reserved Ticket
• Special Bonus - Each VIP Package Purchaser Will Receive a Custom Bon Jovi Tour Poster!

* Please note The Gold VIP Package is based on a second price reserved ticket outside the Pit; venue seating configurations may vary market-by-market

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* Please note The Silver VIP Package is based on a third price reserved ticket outside the Pit; venue seating configurations may vary market-by-market

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• Get access to preferred seating to see the Bon Jovi UP CLOSE! Just find your event and click on the "Platinum Seats" tab.

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Please note that 'The Diamond VIP Experience, The Emerald VIP Experience, The Sapphire VIP Experience and The Ultimate VIP Party Pack' package purchasers will be contacted via e-mail a few days prior to the actual show date with additional details specific to their VIP package program. Gold & Silver package purchasers do not need to be contacted with any additional details. Information will sent to the e-mail address provided at the time of purchase. Please note that if you do not receive an e-mail a few days prior to the event please contact [email protected] .

Merchandise for Diamond, Emerald, Sapphire and Ultimate package purchasers will be distributed on-site. Merchandise for Gold and Silver packages will be shipped directly to each purchaser. Some exceptions may apply as it relates to distribution and shipping of merchandise. Merchandise (Gold & Silver) will be shipped to the address provided at the time of purchase. VIP merchandise is not required for venue entry. Delivery of VIP merchandise could occur after event date. There are no guarantees that VIP merchandise will arrive in advance of show date; please make sure to consider this before you purchase a package. All preshow VIP programs & times may vary market-by-market and are subject to modification at any time for any reason. Please note that you must be of legal age to consume alcohol; additional (local) restrictions may apply. Valid identification is always required for consumption of alcohol. VIP Preferred Parking, Priority Check-in & Separate VIP Entrance may not be available in all markets due to restrictions. All sales are final. There are no refunds or exchanges for package purchases under any circumstances. Please note that 'The Diamond VIP Experience, The Emerald VIP Experience, The Sapphire VIP Experience and The Ultimate VIP Party Pack' package tickets are will-call only. Will-call tickets may only be collected the evening of the event. All packages are non-transferable; no will-call name changes will be permitted under any circumstances. The person who purchases the tickets must be the same person who claims the tickets at will-call with a valid identification. Package purchases are restricted to U.S. & Canadian addresses only. Merchandise will not be shipped outside of the U.S. or Canada under any circumstances. Please note that the information provided at the time of purchase (e-mail, address, etc) is the same information that will be utilized for shipping and individual contact requirements where applicable. Please note that the artist, tour, promoter, ticketing company, venue or any other affiliated parties are not responsible for outdated or inaccurate information provided by the consumer at the time of purchase. Commemorative VIP laminates are for commemorative purposes only. The VIP laminate does not gain or authorize access into the venue, VIP or any backstage areas.

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Celebrating 30 years on the road this year, The Bon Jovi Experience is back with a brand new production for 2024. Get ready to rock your way through an unforgettable journey with the only show to be endorsed by Jon Bon Jovi himself!

Immerse yourself in a phenomenal celebration of Bon Jovi’s timeless classics as the official band to Bon Jovi recreates the magic that defined an era with electrifying energy - transporting you back to the heyday of stadium rock.

The Bon Jovi Experience features smash-hits such as ' Livin’ On a Prayer ,’ ' Always ’, ‘ It’s My Life ‘, ' You Give Love a Bad Name ‘, ' Bad Medicine ‘ and many more. Whether you’re a lifelong Jon Bon Jovi devotee or a new fan seeking an unforgettable night out, this show promises an experience like no other!

“ The best Bon Jovi tribute band I’ve ever watched ” - Jon Bon Jovi

“ Have you seen this guy? He looks so much like Jon Bon Jovi, it’s freaky man !” - Chad Kroeger, Nickelback

“ The Bon Jovi Experience are not only half way there, they’ve finally made it ” – Outline Magazine

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Jon bon jovi doesn’t know if he’ll ever be able to tour again.

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LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - JUNE 19: Jon Bon Jovi of Bon Jovi performs on stage at Anfield on June 19, 2019 ... [+] in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Shirlaine Forrest/WireImage)

2024 is turning out to be a busy year for Bon Jovi. The rock band has a docuseries coming out next month, and they just announced a full-length, along with a new single. Fans of the beloved group are surely enjoying this surge in activity, but they might not want to hold their breaths for a tour.

Lead singer Jon Bon Jovi–from whom the band gets its name–recently spoke to Boston radio station Mix 104.1 (via Far Out Magazine ) about this latest era. When asked about plans to perform live again in a major way, the rocker was candid about his outlook for the future, and what he’s doing to try to make touring happen again.

“I don’t know about a tour,” Bon Jovi stated, matter-of-factly. He made it clear that is is his “desire to do a tour next year,” but at the moment, he can’t say whether it will happen or not.

Bon Jovi has been forced to deal with some health issues in the past few years, which have essentially stopped the touring business for him and his band entirely. In his radio interview, the rocker clarified why he’s not touring, or planning on it at the moment, explaining that he’s “still recovering from a major surgery,” though he didn’t elaborate too much on that topic.

The rock legend did paint a hopeful picture for the future, though. “I’m well on the road to recovery,” he commented…though it seems he’s not quite there just yet. “My need, want, desire is to be able to do two-and-a-half hours a night four nights a week for months on end,” he admitted, which is exactly what his fans would love for him as well.

Bon Jovi also talked about the band’s forthcoming album, Forever . The set was announced earlier this week and is expected to drop later this year. A single from the project, "Legendary,” arrived on Thursday (March 14).

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Speaking about the making of Forever , Bon Jovi said that he was “able to take my time and do a song a day when I made the record.” That’s a solid plan for a group in the studio, but it won’t cut it on the road. Bon Jovi (the band) last toured in 2022 on their aptly-titled Bon Jovi 2022 Tour.

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• Date Apr 9 , 2022

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Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band  Bon Jovi  have announced the Bon Jovi 2022 Tour , produced by Live Nation and sponsored by Hampton Water.  The tour is scheduled for arenas this coming Spring. 

The band spent much of the past two years recording and releasing new music, while also creating livestream performance content and launching Bon Jovi radio for their fans.  Bon Jovi’s 2020 was one of the most critically acclaimed album releases of that year with USA Today calling it “BRILLIANT” and Associated Press highlighting the depth of lyrics within the songs that “chronicle pain, loss, fear and death from the coronavirus, police killings and mass shootings.”

Bon Jovi remains one of the most prolific and sought-after tour tickets in live music today, and getting back on tour was a top priority for the band.  “We have all missed touring and we know that nothing can replace the energy of a live show for the fans or the band,” said Jon Bon Jovi. 

The Bon Jovi tour is excited to be offering a  variety of VIP packages for each show! These packages include the BEST tickets available and may also provide access to the official "Bed of Rosés" VIP Brunch Experience, an autographed take-home chair, a chance to win a signed Jon Bon Jovi guitar, a Bon Jovi wine accessory set, crowd-free shopping, priority entry, and a selection of other exclusive VIP merchandise and on-site benefits! For full VIP package details, please go to  Bonjovi.com . 

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Why Jon Bon Jovi’s wife, Dorothea Hurley, skipped doc screening after his scandalous marriage remarks

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Jon Bon Jovi’s wife, Dorothea Hurley, did not miss the screening of his new documentary, “Thank You Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story,” because the rocker gave love a bad name, Page Six has learned.

His rep confirms to Page Six exclusively Saturday that the karate instructor, 61, wasn’t able to attend because she contracted COVID-19, and therefore she had to quarantine at home since it is contagious.

“As of this morning, she’s feeling well and recovered,” the spokesperson adds.

A separate insider also tells Page Six Saturday that Bon Jovi, 62, was “super sad” his spouse couldn’t make it to his screening.

The Grammy winner — who tested positive for COVID-19 himself back in 2021 — understandably supported Hurley’s decision as he knows how serious the illness can be.

In April 2022, Bon Jovi told the Star Tribune that coronavirus made him realize “how volatile we are and how fragile life is.”

“It didn’t matter if you were young or old, American or Egyptian, no matter who you were or where you were from, the COVID-19 pandemic affected you,” the “It’s My Life” singer added at the time, also sharing that he and his family were “double vaxed.”

When Hurley was noticeably absent from the Hulu doc’s red carpet Thursday evening, though, there was speculation she stayed behind because of eyebrow-raising remarks her husband recently made to press.

Earlier this week, the “You Give Love a Bad Name” singer admitted that he hadn’t “been a saint” in his 34-year marriage.

“These are all the wonderful clichés of rock stardom,” he said in an interview with the Independent, published last Sunday.

“It’s about never lying about having been a saint, but not being a fool enough to f–k up the home life, either.”

Bon Jovi also praised Hurley’s tolerance for his infidelity, of which he wrote about in his 1993 hit single, “Bed of Roses.”

He sings on the track, “Now as you close your eyes / Know I’ll be thinking about you / While my mistress she calls me / To stand in her spotlight again.”

Bon Jovi has been married to Hurley since 1989 and shares four kids with her: Stephanie, 30, Jesse, 29, Jake, 21, and Romeo, 20.

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Following the sit-down with the Independent, the “Livin’ On a Prayer” singer told “Good Morning America” that “every day is a challenge” with his wife.

“The magic for me has just been growing together with Dorothea,” the Grammy winner said Thursday, hours before the doc screening, adding, “Every day is a challenge and a change.”

He then concluded, “But if you’re growing together, hopefully things will work out.”

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Inside Bon Jovi's 40-Year Career: From Their Big Break in the '80s to Where They Stand Today

Bon Jovi's legendary career is the subject of the new Hulu docuseries 'Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story,' which is streaming now

Nicole Briese is a contributing writer at PEOPLE. She has been working at PEOPLE since 2022. Her work has previously appeared in Us Weekly, Brides and MTV News.

There are few rock bands that have the longevity of Bon Jovi.

Formed in 1983 by singer Jon “Bon Jovi” Bongiovi Jr. , keyboardist David Bryan, drummer Tico Torres, bassist Alec John Such and guitarist Richie Sambora , the band debuted its self-titled album in January 1984.

In the 40-plus years since, Bon Jovi has cemented its place in musical history. In 2017, CNN listed the group among the top-selling rock bands of all time. Bon Jovi has sold more than 130 million albums filled with rock anthems like “You Give Love a Bad Name” and “Livin’ on a Prayer” and played more than 2,600 concerts for its fans.

The group’s lineup has changed several times, with Such, who died in June 2022 , leaving the group in 1994 (bassist Hugh McDonald took over in his absence) and Sambora departing in 2013. (Guitarist Phil X officially took his place in 2016.) Still, their shared experiences have forged an unbreakable brotherhood between all of its members, past and present.

“But just to be clear, there was nothing but love, " Jon told PEOPLE of Sambora's sudden exit from the band over a decade ago. "There was never a fight. Ultimately being in a rock band is not a life sentence. He had to deal with his other issues.”

Gutchie Kojima/Shinko Music/Getty

Bryan added of the band's determination to succeed, "We were relentless young men who set out to make it — and we made it."

Now, Bon Jovi is immortalized in the Hulu docuseries Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story , which is the first series about the group's history with full cooperation from past and present members.

Keep reading to find out more about the band, its origins, its highs and lows and where its members stand with each other.

Bon Jovi’s first hit was recorded before it was a band

Chris Walter/WireImage

Jon wrote the band’s first single, “Runaway,” at the age of 19, according to The Irish Times .

“I got the idea for the song when I was at the bus station, on the way to my janitor’s gig at the Power Station," the singer told the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

However, Jon originally recorded the demo with studio musicians who could not be part of Bon Jovi. “The other guys on the demo all had commitments to other bands, so I had to form a new band,” he explained to The Independent in 1995.

Not only did he find new members, he stuck with them for decades. “It was supposed to be just for a couple of weeks, not for 11 years,” he mused.

Jon and Bryan played in a cover band together and Bruce Springsteen once joined them onstage

Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic

Keyboardist Bryan, who became Jon’s first Bon Jovi bandmate, opened up about meeting the singer as a teenager in a 2017 interview with The Morning Call . “We were, like, almost 17 years old and I joined his cover band and the journey started from there,” he said.

According to AP News , their horn-led cover band, which was called Atlantic City Expressway, earned $7 per night in 1979 and performed classic hits like Eddie Floyd’s “Knock on Wood.”

The band also covered Bruce Springsteen : As Jon told Conan O’Brien on the podcast Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend in March 2023, the Boss once jumped up from the crowd to perform his own song with them.

“The first time Bruce jumped onstage with me, I was 17 years old,” Jon confirmed.

Sambora auditioned for KISS before joining Bon Jovi

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Before he was shredding solos on hits like “Wanted Dead or Alive,” Sambora was auditioning for the likes of KISS . The guitarist tried out to replace Ace Frehley after his departure from the band in 1982, but it wasn’t meant to be.

Shortly after returning from his audition in Los Angeles, Sambora, who had previously played in a band with Such, went to see his former bassist perform with his new band, Bon Jovi. “I thought Jon was so charismatic,” Sambora recalled to The Independent in 1995. "I went backstage and gave him a verbal resume. ... About a week later, I got a call, inviting me to a rehearsal.”

Jon also recalled the meeting, saying, “Richie came down to see one of my shows. Afterwards, he made a point of meeting me and saying, ‘I'm the guy. I'm what you need.' ”

Though Jon initially thought Sambora was “a little crazy because he was so forward,” he spent an afternoon writing with him in a session that produced two songs. “They weren't the best songs we've ever written, but from the start, we could see that we were compatible,” he said. “More importantly, we got on as friends.”

Sambora replaced Jon’s childhood neighbor Dave Sabo, who had decided to go back to college, per The Hollywood Reporter . Sabo went on to co-found Skid Row.

They slept on the floor to make ends meet while recording their second album

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Despite the success of “Runaway” and Jon’s subsequent record deal, the living situation of Bon Jovi’s early members was quite modest while recording their second album, 7800 Fahrenheit .

“When we were doing the Fahrenheit record, we were all living in the same apartment in Philadelphia, sleeping on the floor when it was 12 below zero outside,” Sambora told The Independent in 1995. “The heating wasn't working well, and there wasn't a lot of food in the refrigerator.”

As Sambora explained, their financial situation didn’t stop them from having fun. “That's the kind of thing that bonds you, high points, low points, everything,” he told the outlet. “That's what makes a great band.”

Jon and Sambora had successful solo projects while in the band

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Both Jon and Sambora began to pursue solo projects outside of Bon Jovi in the early ‘90s.

In 1990, Jon wrote and performed the soundtrack for Young Guns II starring Emilio Estevez , Christian Slater and Kiefer Sutherland . He recruited the musical talents of Elton John for songs such as “Billy Get Your Guns” and “Dyin’ Ain’t Much of a Living;" Little Richard , who appeared on “You Really Got Me Now;” and Jeff Beck, who served as the guitarist on six of the album’s tracks, including its lead single, “Blaze of Glory,” which reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 .

One year later, Sambora followed suit with his own solo album, Stranger in This Town , from which his track “Ballad of Youth” spent seven weeks on the charts .

Though Jon also released Destination Anywhere under his name in 1997, he opened up to The Independent in 1995 about wanting to return to his Bon Jovi roots.

“The reason I wanted to get back with the band, even after the success of the Young Guns record, is that I missed the camaraderie,” he said. “I had living legends playing on the Young Guns record, and it would have been an amazing thrill to ask Elton or Jeff to play a couple of shows ... But all we'd have had in common was the moment. A band proves itself to you time and time again.”

They won their first Grammy for a country song in 2006

Rick Diamond/WireImage

Though Bon Jovi had plenty of commercial success in the rock and roll genre, scoring four No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 and six No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200 as of 2016, it earned its first Grammy Award for 2006’s “Who Says You Can’t Go Home,” a country collaboration with Jennifer Nettles .

The song also hit No. 1 on the country charts, marking what NBC reported was the first time a rock crossover had reached that status.

“I knew that the song had great crossover appeal,” Jon told CMT Insider of the track in 2006. “I just feel like a good song is a good song, and it’s a shame that we have such limitations on radio and genres.”

Fourteen years later, the Sugarland frontwoman paired up with the group once more for 2020’s “ Do What You Can ," which Jon wrote in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sambora abruptly left the band in 2013 to focus on his family

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After 30 years of performing together as a band, Bon Jovi fractured in 2013 when Sambora was a no-show for the group's world tour which he never re-joined.

“We were all shocked,” Jon recalled to PEOPLE in 2024. “It was a show that night ... and he just didn't show up. And then the next night, and then the next night ... We had 120 people on the road, 80 other shows to do. So the train kept going.”

Sambora previously opened up to PEOPLE about his decision to leave the band in 2020, saying, “It wasn't a popular decision by any means, obviously, but there was really almost no choice about it. I had a lot of conscious work to do around [my personal life].”

The lead guitarist explained he needed to prioritize his daughter Ava Sambora , whom he shares with ex-wife Heather Locklear . “I realized Ava needed me to be around at that point in time. Family had to come first, and that’s what happened.”

Sambora addressed his sudden departure in the band's 2024 docuseries, saying, “I don’t regret leaving the situation, but I regret how I did it , so I want to apologize fully right now to the fans, especially, and also to the guys because my feet and my spirit were just not letting me walk out the door.”

Phil X, who had previously filled in for Sambora while he was in rehab, took over for the rest of the Calgary tour and officially joined the band in 2016. “ Phil really helped us out in a time of need,” Bryan told The Morning Call in 2017. “We didn’t know whether it was going to be one show or 10 shows or ... three years.”

He added: “You can’t ever replace anybody because Richie is incredibly talented ... but the nice thing about Phil is he adds his own dimension.”

Bon Jovi waited a decade to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Theo Wargo/Getty

Bon Jovi first became eligible for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2008 but wasn't inducted until April 14, 2018.

“Good things come to those who wait,” Jon told PEOPLE at the time. “All through those nine years of suffering, it was never pleasant on this day.”

The celebratory occasion marked a reunion for the band, which performed with both current and former members, including Sambora and Such, for the first time since 2001.

“As founding members, they’re entitled, but they were also guys who were there with me when I had this vision,” Jon told PEOPLE, adding, “They deserve it.”

Jon underwent major vocal surgery in 2022

John Nacion/Getty

After facing vocal cord issues for at least seven years, Jon underwent major vocal surgery in 2022 following a conversation with his wife.

After performing an arena show in Nashville in 2022, which Jon told PEOPLE he thought "went well," his wife gave him tough love, saying, “It wasn't great, and I’ve seen you be great.”

Though Jon described the conversation as "heart-breaking," he knew he needed to seek medical attention or retire.

“If it were going to be over, I just had to wrap my arms around that and say, ‘I've had an incredible career. It doesn't mean I can't write you a song tomorrow, just means I won't be doing a hundred-show tour,' " he told PEOPLE.

Jon underwent vocal fold medialization surgery in the summer of 2022 to alleviate loose vocal folds. Two years later, Jon told PEOPLE he still works with vocal coaches and does vocal exercises, but remains optimistic.

“I’m capable of singing. What I’m not necessarily capable of is two and a half hours a night, four nights a week,” he said, “but I’m aspiring to get that back.”

Bon Jovi's founding bassist died in 2022

Michael Ochs Archives/Getty

On June 5, 2022, Bon Jovi announced the death of founding bassist Such on X (formerly Twitter). “We are heartbroken to hear the news of the passing of our dear friend Alec John Such," the group wrote in a statement. "As a founding member of Bon Jovi, Alec was integral to the formation of the band. ... He was a childhood friend of Tico and brought Richie to see us perform.”

The group ended its message by describing Such as "always wild and full of life” and that they would “miss him dearly.”

Such left Bon Jovi in 1994. “When I was 43, I started to get burned out,” he once told the Asbury Park Press . “It felt like work and I didn’t want to work. The reason I got into a band to begin with is because I didn’t want to work.”

He was replaced by McDonald — one of the studio musicians who recorded “Runaway” with Jon in the '80s.

“Livin’ on a Prayer” has more than 1 billion streams on Spotify

Koh Hasebe/Shinko Music/Getty

Arguably Bon Jovi’s most famous song, “Livin’ on a Prayer” was released as the second single on the band’s third album, Slippery When Wet . “If you had to sum up Bon Jovi’s legacy, that song would be probably at the top of the list, and I think because of the optimism,” Torres told The Morning Calls in 2017. He noted: “[It] has transcended time.”

Like the band, the song has undergone several transformations throughout the years. An acoustic version was released on 1994’s Cross Road album under the name “Prayer ‘94,” while the original demo was released as a hidden track on 2004’s 100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Can't Be Wrong.

In 2013, 26 years after initially reaching the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Top 100, the song charted once more thanks to a viral video it was featured in per Rolling Stone .

Ten years later, the song reached another milestone when it garnered more than 1 billion streams on Spotify.

The band’s frontman celebrated the achievement in an Instagram video in January 2023, saying, “This is unbelievable, and I’m really grateful for it.”

Jon and Sambora reunited to watch the band’s 2024 docuseries together

Ray Garbo/Shutterstock

Following Sambora’s 2013 exit from Bon Jovi, Jon lost touch with his former bandmate, but denied any feelings of animosity between them. " We're not in contact because he's not in the organization any longer," he told Ultimate Classic Rock in March 2024. "Doesn't mean that there's not love forever.”

The vocalist elaborated on his relationship with Sambora at a screening of Thank You, Goodnight . “ There was never a fight ,” he clarified. “There was substance abuse, there was anxiety, there was being a single parent, there [were] a lot of personal issues he was going through. But never to this day did any of us, me or him or David or Tico, ever have a fight.”

Jon went on to say that he respected Sambora’s decision to stay home and support his daughter. “It's unfortunate for us and for the world, but I am not mad about it.”

The pair, who were interviewed for Thank You, Goodnight separately, reunited at Jon’s house to watch the first three episodes side by side. “He came over and watched three parts of the docuseries at my house,” Jon told PEOPLE. “There’s never animosity.”

Bon Jovi is working on their 16th album

Amy Sussman/Getty 

Bon Jovi will release its 16th studio album, Forever , on June 7, 2024.

“ We worked as hard or harder on this album as I did on Slippery When Wet , in fact, harder because we're not as naïve as we were in 1986,” Jon told PEOPLE in April 2024.

Forever is the band’s first new album in four years and will include several sentimental tracks that pay homage to Jon's family.

In addition to a song called “Kiss the Bride,” which Jon wrote for daughter Stephanie Rose Bongiovi’s impending wedding day, its lead single, “Legendary,” is a sweet nod to his wife of over three decades, Dorothea Hurley .

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One of the most successful bands of the last three decades, Jon Bon Jovi and his fellow rockers have sold over 100 million albums worldwide. Combining more...

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Thank You, Goodnight review – Bon Jovi’s surprisingly devastating ode to lost youth

There’s plenty of great stuff in this documentary to keep super fans happy – but you only need to know 80s banger Livin’ on a Prayer to get emotional as the ageing band break down before your very eyes

E very pop biography has the same dilemma: fans of the artist want to know all the details, while viewers with only a passing interest just want to get to the good stuff. You can tell which side of the line Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story falls on by looking at the running time. Its four episodes are all well over an hour long.

By far the strongest instalment is the opener, which can be watched in isolation as an evocative charge through the period leading up to the band’s formation and breakthrough. The best rockumentaries have the power to pitch us into a past moment we wish we could hang out in – the place and time here that crackles with fantastic potential is New Jersey in the back half of the 1970s.

In clubs such as the Fast Lane, the Upstage and the Stone Pony, singers including Southside Johnny and a rapidly rising Bruce Springsteen play blue-collar rock mixed with blue-eyed soul. Handsome, ambitious John Bongiovi and his nerdy pianist sidekick, David Bryan, are awestruck audience members by the age of 16, and are soon on stage themselves with their covers band, the Atlantic City Expressway. They get home from gigs in Bryan’s van at 5am, then get up again at 7am and go to high school. We’re at the peak of suburban, pre-Reagan America, with second- and third-generation immigrants settled into a life where their paychecks pay for decent everyday existences, with some fun and a few dreams on top. The documentary has enough newsreels, press clippings, reminiscences and home movies to put us right in the middle of it.

By 1983, Bongiovi has met his musical soulmate, guitarist Richie Sambora, and named himself and his new band Bon Jovi, the two-word styling a homage to (Eddie) Van Halen. Episode two tracks the group as they release a brace of reputation-building albums followed by a third LP, Slippery When Wet, that sells 14m copies. With their torn T-shirts, leather jackets and outrageous hairdos, plus a pop-metal sound that’s like Mötley Crüe with better tunes or Springsteen without the anxieties about the American Dream being a swiz, Bon Jovi tour the world relentlessly, seeing a million faces and rocking them all. The sixtysomething versions of them interviewed here still glow with the rush of it.

Then, however, we must work our way through the band’s increasingly uninteresting post-Slippery career. It’s a catalogue of rock tropes: Bon Jovi burn out as the carefree 80s end, record solo albums, regroup, do a country album, do a stunning-return-to-form album, quietly replace their bass player with a session musician because their old pal drinks too much and can’t really play, forge a more “mature” (dull) sound, then fall out with Sambora when he fails to attend a studio session and Jon gets someone else to record his guitar parts. Lowlights include 2002’s Bounce, an LP that aimed to help the US heal after 9/11, and the album 2020, named after its year of release, which responds to Covid and Black Lives Matter and contains a song called, regrettably, American Reckoning.

Bon Jovi take themselves too seriously. At least, to us they do, but the documentary points up the tension, in an ephemeral art form, between performer and consumer. Viewers with the correct view of Bon Jovi’s oeuvre – Bad Medicine and You Give Love a Bad Name are bangers, and Livin’ on a Prayer is an almost heartbreakingly perfect work of art, but everything else is cheesy stodge – have to reckon with footage shot in 2022, behind the scenes on the band’s comeback US tour. Jon Bon Jovi, his big rock barnet now in that grey area between “still got it” and “yer nan’s had her hair done”, is outwardly the smooth CEO of the enterprise, but he can’t sing like he could before. Thousands of live shows, all of them including that reckless key change in Livin’ on a Prayer, have taken their toll. The vitamins, vocal exercises, humidifiers and laser treatments aren’t working. In interview, he breaks down as he remembers the days when he knew his band members, his crew and the 60,000 people who had bought a ticket to see Bon Jovi could rely on him to deliver a flawless performance. He can’t go back there.

Being blindsided by a surprisingly devastating rumination on lost youth bolsters the lesson you’re rewarded with if you sit through all of Thank You, Goodnight: that three-minute throwaway track you half-listen to on the radio is the culmination of somebody’s life’s work. All that life is here.

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What to stream this weekend: A Bon Jovi documentary, Idris Elba in ‘Knuckles’ and ‘Anyone But You’

This combination of images shows promotional art for the Paramount+ series “Knuckles,” the Apple TV+ series “The Big Door Prize,” and the Netflix series “Dead Boy Detectives. (Paramount+/Apple TV+/Netflix via AP)

This combination of images shows album cover art for “Funk Generation” by Anitta, and promotional art for the Hulu series “Thank You, Goodnight” (Republic Records/Hulu via AP)

This image released by Universal Pictures shows Violet McGraw, right in a scene from “M3GAN.” (Geoffrey Short/Universal Pictures via AP)

This image released by Sony Pictures shows Glen Powell, left, and Sydney Sweeney in a scene from “Anyone But You.” (Brook Rushton/Sony via AP)

This image released by Sony Pictures shows Glen Powell, left, and Sydney Sweeney in a scene from “Anyone But You.” (Sony via AP)

This image released by Hulu shows Jon Bon Jovi in a scene from the four-part docuseries “Thank You, Good Night: The Bon Jovi Story,” premiering April 26. (Disney/Hulu via AP)

This image released by Hulu shows Richie Sambora in a scene from the four-part docuseries “Thank You, Good Night: The Bon Jovi Story,” premiering April 26. (Disney/Hulu via AP)

This image released by Paramount+ shows the character Knuckles, voiced by Idris Elba, in a scene from the series “Knuckles.” (Paramount Pictures/Sega/Paramount+ via AP)

FILE - Jon Bon Jovi poses for a portrait in New York on Sept. 23, 2020 to promote his new album “2020". Hulu is streaming a four-part docuseries “Thank You, Good Night: The Bon Jovi Story,” premiering April 26. (Photo by Drew Gurian/Invision/AP, File)

This album cover image released by Republic Records shows “Funk Generation” by Anitta. (Republic Records via AP)

This combination of images shows album cover art for “Funk Generation” by Anitta, promotional art for the Hulu series “Thank You, Goodnight,” and album cover art for “The Coldest” by Skilla Baby. (Republic Records/Hulu/Quality Control/UMG via AP)

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The Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell romantic comedy “Anyone But You” hitting Netflix and an album by Brazil superstar Anitta are some of the new television, movies, music and games headed to a device near you.

Also among the streaming offerings worth your time as selected by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists : Everyone’s favorite dancing demon doll “M3GAN” comes back to Peacock, a beautiful woman battles hideous beasts in Sony’s video game Stellar Blade, and a documentary detailing Bon Jovi’s early days, rise to fame and breakups and breakdowns.

NEW MOVIES TO STREAM

— The Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell romantic comedy “Anyone But You” is finally on Netflix starting Tuesday. The movie is about two young singles whose magical one-night stand ends in miscommunication and hurt feelings, and then find themselves both in a small family wedding party and staying in the same house. It’s loosely based on Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing.” Reviews were mixed and the box office started out tame, but it became a slow burn sleeper hit in theaters, earning more than $218 million worldwide. If you’ve been holding out to see what the fuss was about, now is your low stakes chance (it’s also not a bad plane option, which is where this film critic finally watched it). And afterwards, if you need a rom-com palate cleanser, “You’ve Got Mail” is also currently on Netflix.

— Another stealth box office hit, everyone’s favorite dancing demon doll “M3GAN” is coming back to Peacock starting Wednesday. Is it great cinema? Probably not, but everyone who watches it seems to have a fun time (in spite of themselves). Entertainment Weekly’s Leah Greenblatt wrote in her review that, “This is not the morose, carnage-soaked horror of dank basements and clammy night terrors; most of the movie happens in bright daylight, every maniacal head tilt, ungodly hip swivel, and murder-by-gardening-tool calibrated for screams that end not with a gasp but a giggle. M3GAN came to play, and possibly reboot her motherboard for a sequel. Are you not entertained?”

— Finally, if you’ve exhausted all your “Tortured Poets” analysis, you can pivot to watching a Joe Alwyn movie instead. He stars in Claire Denis’ 2022 romantic thriller “Stars at Noon,” which comes to Hulu on Sunday. Based on the 1986 Denis Johnson novel, Margaret Qualley plans an American journalist in Nicaragua during COVID-19 who starts an affair with a mysterious British guy, played by Alwyn.

— AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr

NEW MUSIC TO STREAM

— Shot through the heart, and they’re to blame: Forty years after a bunch of kids from New Jersey got together and formed a great American rock band, a documentary detailing their early days , rise to fame, and best of all — breakups and breakdowns — has arrived. The only Bon Jovi documentary series to feature all members past and present, “Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story” premieres on Hulu Friday in the U.S., Star+ in Latin America and Disney+ in all other territories. Binge all four-parts one after the other or dole them out slowly. However you do it, expect to have “Livin’ On A Prayer” stuck in your head for the next week.

— Anitta , arguably Brazil’s most recognizable global pop singer since Astrud Gilberto sang “The Girl From Ipanema” nearly 60 years ago, is preparing to release a new album Friday. It’s titled “Funk Generation,” her first since the 2022’s “Versions of Me,” and its viral hits “Envolver” and “Girl From Rio” (with its interpolation of the Gilberto classic) made her an international star. She’s long aimed to bring Brazilian sounds to the worldwide music market, and focusing on Brazilian funk is an extension of that desire. “’Funk Generation’ is an album where I celebrate my roots. It’s where I express the power of Rio’s funk in every track its unique, danceable, and sensual beats,” she said in a statement. “It’s a rhythm born in the favelas, where I grew up, and it exudes resistance and art in every community.”

— It is time to give Midwest MCs their flowers: Fresh off a tour opening for Migos rapper Offset , Detroit’s Skilla Baby is preparing to drop a new project on Friday, “The Coldest.” If his trap earworm “Bae,” with its celebratory, ladies-first lyrics (“Bae, you know you’re fine, don’t you?” in the chorus) and the community-focused “Plate” are a taste of what’s to come, the release is going to be delicious.

— AP Music Writer Maria Sherman

NEW SHOWS TO STREAM

— “The Big Door Prize,” a sweet, silly dramedy about the residents of a small town turned upside down by the arrival of a machine that reveals a person’s true calling, returns for a second season on Apple TV+. Starring Chris O’Dowd as a local high school teacher, “The Big Door Prize” is based on a book by M.O. Walsh and was one of The Associated Press’ TV shows worth watching in 2023. Season two of “The Big Door Prize” debuted Wednesday. Season one is also still available on the streamer.

— Two teen ghost detectives who appear in DC comic books star in their own series called “Dead Boy Detectives.” The story follows Edwin and Charles, two long-dead teens who spend their afterlife still on Earth and investigating paranormal cases. They’re assisted by a living teen named Crystal Palace who is a clairvoyant. “Dead Boy Detectives” also features Lukas Gage in an over-the-top, comedic role of the Cat King. “The Summer I Turned Pretty” actor David Iacono plays a demon. The ghostly investigations are available now on Netflix.

— Idris Elba and Adam Pally reprise their “Sonic the Hedgehog” characters for the new animated series “Knuckles” on Paramount+. Elba plays Knuckles, an Echidna with super strength, who is adjusting after moving to Earth at the end of “Sonic the Hedgehog 2.” Pally is Wade Whipple, a not-so-bright deputy sheriff. “Knuckles” is part of Paramount’s efforts to expand the popular “Sonic” brand. Ben Schwartz and Tika Sumpter also reprise roles from the films. All six-episodes of “Knuckles” stream Friday.

— Alicia Rancilio

NEW VIDEO GAMES TO PLAY

— Sony’s Stellar Blade takes place on an Earth that’s been mostly abandoned after an invasion by hordes of mysterious monsters called the Naytiba. Enter Eve, a sword- and gun-wielding warrior who has returned to her home planet to help out the few people left, including a scavenger named Adam. The Biblical references pile up — for example, the last city standing is Xion — but the real influence is the popular hack-and-slash epic Bayonetta. If you’ve been craving another flamboyant adventure with a beautiful woman battling hideous beasts, Korean studio Shift Up hopes it’s got you covered. Start swinging Friday on PlayStation 5.

— Electronic Arts’ Tales of Kenzera: Zau is less campy and more down to earth. Its protagonist, Zau, aims to become a healer and, maybe, bring his father back from the Land of the Dead. The aspiring shaman has some nifty parkour skills as well as sun and moon masks, which allow him to, respectively, launch spears and manipulate time as he fights evil spirits. Tales of Kenzera is the debut title from Surgent Studios, which was founded by voice actor Abubakar Salim, and he says it was inspired by Bantu folklore as well as his own experience with grief. The journey began Tuesday on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox X/S and PC.

— Lou Kesten

Catch up on AP’s entertainment coverage here: https://apnews.com/entertainment.

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Jon Bon Jovi, 62, on New Documentary: ‘It’s Each of Our Individual Truths’

New hulu series addresses bon jovi’s voice issues and richie sambora’s departure.

John Colapinto,

“Everything is exposed.” That’s the word from Jon Bon Jovi, 62, about a new four-part documentary on Hulu that debuted April 26.

And by “exposed,” he really means everything — his personal struggles, the band’s highs and lows, his split with songwriting and singing partner Richie Sambora.

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This show about the feel-good pop-rock band Bon Jovi has an unexpectedly elegiac title: Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story . Isn’t that what bands say (“Thank you, Cleveland — and good night!”) when they are done performing? Turns out that as well as tracing Bon Jovi’s rise to worldwide multiplatinum fame from the gritty bar scene of the New Jersey Shore, the documentary also tells the recent tale of how bandleader and founder Jon Bon Jovi faced potentially career-ending trouble with his singing voice.

It’s hard to say which of the two stories is more compelling, thanks partly to the thoroughness of director and executive producer Gotham Chopra, who seemed determined not only to dig up every significant photo and film clip dating back to Bon Jovi’s birth in 1962 but also to speak to everyone of significance in his rise to stardom, including current bandmates; his wife, Dorothea; a notorious ex-manager; friends; and even former lead guitarist Sambora, who left the group abruptly in 2013 during the first leg of a lengthy world tour.

Sambora, who has spoken a few times about his mysterious departure, appears as a wonderful teaser at the end of the first episode, grinning into the camera and asking mischievously, “Are we telling the truth or are we gonna lie — what are we gonna do?”

Like everyone else in the documentary, he strives for the truth, although his is a complex one that’s equal parts addiction struggles and ego clashes with songwriting partner and close friend Bon Jovi.

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Detailing the split was, Bon Jovi says, in keeping with the film’s chief aim: keeping it real, which was achieved by including the voices of as many of the relevant people as possible. “It’s not my truth,” he says. “It’s each of our individual truths.”

Indeed, Good Night doesn’t shy away from Bon Jovi’s vocal troubles, the result of natural aging of the vocal tissues. This culminates in a tour in 2022 when he is forced to confront how weak his voice has become. He undergoes vocal surgery soon after. The star is shown recording a song eight months later, and he is still so raspy that he says downheartedly, “I don’t even sound like me.” (Spoiler: With continued improvement, Bon Jovi was able to record a new album, Forever, to be released on June 7.)

Many is the singer who might have been content to leave such struggles to viewers’ imaginations. Not Bon Jovi. “Telling a truth sells itself,” he told me when I asked about this tough scene. “And the truth is easier than a series of lies. Because how long can the liar remember the lies? So tell the truth, sell your truth, and if anyone is buying, good for you.”

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This goes for those archival photos and film clips as well, many of which are of Bon Jovi in the mid-1980s, sporting silk scarves and sometimes cowboy chaps — a look very different from his current silver fox elegance. He laughs, saying, “There was a period where I was repulsed by some of those pictures. Now I can look back on them and say, ‘Yep. Guilty as charged.’ Those were my baby pictures. Chances are, if you were alive at the time, you looked the same. Fortunately, I’m here to tell the tale.”

Jon Bon Jovi is AARP the Magazine ’s next cover star. Check back at the end of May for a full interview.

Additional reporting by Caitlin K. Rossmann

Journalist John Colapinto is a longtime contributor to The New Yorker and Rolling Stone and author of As Nature Made Him and This Is the Voice . He profiled Jimmy Buffett in the December 2021/January 2022 issue.

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