Bon Jovi (8 page)

DAVID

Lost Highway
tour, Punchestown Racecourse, Dublin, Ireland, June 7, 2008.
Phil Griffin

W
hat an amazing ride it’s been for over twenty-five years! From the first time I met Jon in Sayreville in 1978 (when I was a mere seventeen years old) until today, the journey of this band has been an unbelievable series of events that have defined us.

I always knew the chemistry between us was undeniable; the combination is truly magical.

When you start out, you have dreams of making it
big time
. When we left New Jersey on our own tour bus for the first time, we were like Christopher Columbus, seeking new adventures in the great unknown.

I had the choice, as a young man, to become a surgeon or a classical pianist or join a rock ‘n’ roll band; I’ve always known my choice was correct. I’ve had the opportunity to bring music and joy to people around the planet (and had
a
lot
of fun along the way). If you work hard and have a lot of luck, dreams can and do come true. I know that’s a corny phrase … until it happens to you.

Spending so much time together, fighting for the same cause, has cemented our relationships for good. We could never break up. We only grow stronger as time goes by. We’ve always had each other to rely on in good times (and not so good times). A band of brothers always watches each other’s backs.

Thank you, Jon, Tico, and Richie, for making my life very special. Our lives have been an adventure few people get to experience. It always has been, is, and will be an honor, pleasure, and privilege to play alongside each of you, until I can’t play any longer.

—David

Lost Highway
tour, soundcheck, Madison Square Garden, New York, NY, July 14, 2008.
Phil Griffin

Lost Highway
tour, XCEL Energy Center, St. Paul, MN, March 2008.
Phil Griffin

Lost Highway
tour, Great Lawn, Central Park, New York, NY, July 12, 2008.
Phil Griffin

Crush
showcase concert, House of Blues, Chicago, IL, May 5, 2000.
Mark “WEISSGUY” Weiss/www.markweiss.com

THE SHOW

Lost Highway
tour, Twickenham Stadium, London, England, June 28, 2008.
Phil Griffin

TICO:
Emotions are what make a great song. It’s one thing to write it, but if you can play it because you believe it and you feel it, that’s special. I think people feel an honesty and purity in our music. You can’t fabricate that. The message is in the relationships—between the band and our fans. And it’s shared through the works—our songs, our live shows.

6th Annual Charity Christmas Concert, backstage, Count Basie Theater, Red Bank, NJ, December 21, 1995.
Mark “WEISSGUY”Weiss/www.markweiss.com

JON:
People say, “Do you like playing stadium shows? I don’t want to go out in front of stadiums. I want to be in an intimate club.” Fuck that! I want to play the desert. And sell it out. More than once.

RICHIE:
I think our fans get to exorcise their pains through the music we write. There is comfort in knowing they’re not alone. They’re feeling the gravity of the lyrics and it’s accessible in their lives. When you go through something and someone else is feeling the same way you are, that’s magic. When I was listening to “Layla,” I knew Clapton was pining for Pattie Boyd. I was fourteen years old. I was pining for some chick myself at the time. I felt, “Hey, I’m not alone.”

Lost Highway
tour, backstage pre-show huddle, XCEL Energy Center, St. Paul, MN, March 2008.
Phil Griffin

TICO:
I’ve heard the most amazing things. People relate to the lyrics. Fans have cried over these songs. They’ll say, “This song brought me through a very bad time in my life when I was sick.” People actually thank you. That’s pretty heavy—that your music can move people. There are certain songs that fans call their own.

JON:
You’ve got to find things that last. Those songs touched people. They want to be a part of it. If they feel that, that’s the thread of optimism in our music that helps them hold on in their lives. You can’t just go out onstage and say, “Everything is right and bright.” You can’t do that; it’d be a lie.

TICO:
I don’t think we’re here to preach. We’re just as human as anybody else. We’re real. We could stand on the soapbox and say we’ll lead you through the waters, but that’s bullshit.

Lost Highway
tour, Punchestown Racecourse, Dublin, Ireland, June 7, 2008.
Phil Griffin

Lost Highway
tour, Punchestown Racecourse, Dublin, Ireland, June 7, 2008.
Phil Griffin

Lost Highway
tour, XCEL Energy Center, St. Paul, MN, March 2008.
Phil Griffin

Lost Highway
tour, XCEL Energy Center, St. Paul, MN, March 2008.
Phil Griffin

JON:
The
These Days
record is perceived as being socially conscious or darker. “Hey God” and those kinds of songs worked great for me but they aren’t necessarily the ones that work best live or became the ones I perform every night. Usually it’s the songs like “It’s My Life” and “Livin’ On A Prayer” that say to those folks, “Come on, get up, you can do it! Get out there and fight the next round.” They’re the ones that resonate. I know it’s not easy for anybody in this day and age. It’s getting harder every day.

People want optimism. They want to know that everything is going to be alright.

It’s a sense of community: our community, each of us as individuals, our friends and families, the road crew, the record label staff, and the fans. We feel it.

Lost Highway
tour, Punchestown Racecourse, Dublin, Ireland, June 7, 2008.
Phil Griffin

Lost Highway
tour, Punchestown Racecourse, Dublin, Ireland, June 7, 2008.
Composite of photos by Phil Griffin

JON:
When I’m performing onstage, there is no character to hide behind. I don’t put on another persona for that. It’s all me. There’s no “in and out of character.” That’s all there is. It’s as me as me can get.

When I’m up there singing, I’m not thinking about the lyrics. I’m thinking about “What’s the next song? What do I want to do?” I’m already past the moment. I’m looking back at it. I’m thinking, “Where am I gonna take this ride?”