ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, DEC. 3, 1993
By Steve Newton
On the way home from the Coliseum after last Sunday’s Bon Jovi show, I flicked on CFOX to hear Bruce Allen‘s talk show, Sound Off. Now, I don’t know if Allen is currently trying to wangle the job of managing the New Jersey rock act, but he sure went on and on about how successful the band is, foaming at the mouth over how many millions of records it has sold and how its latest tour has left multitudes of sold-out venues in its mighty wake.
While Allen’s loudly stated figures were no doubt accurate, it’s that same kind of sensationalistic promotion that has given Bon Jovi a bad name among more serious-minded rock fans. The fact remains that underneath all the industry hoopla and media hype lies a very talented band, but one that just happens to have some really lame tunes.
As Gary Glitter’s “Rock On” churned from the P.A., the Bon Jovi members, sans Jon, took their places on a vast, multilevelled grey stage with runways stretching out onto the floor. Amidst a blast of shooting sparks, the former Mr. Bongiovi raced out, banging away on a black Les Paul to the strains of “I Believe”.
As expected, the crowd of 10,500 went nuts. It had been a long four years since Vancouver’s Bon Jovi fans had seen their heroes in the flesh, and though this show was a step down in ticket sales for the band–from a 17,000-plus B.C. Place crowd–its members seeemed thrilled to be back in the town that spawned their last three hit albums.
Bon Jovi himself couldn’t contain his enthusiasm during the set’s second tune, “Wild in the Streets”, dashing unescorted into the crowd at stage right. At that point, it looked like the risk-taking rock idol’s new hairdo would be seriously altered–or worse–but none of his crazed fans caused physical damage. One of them knocked the cordless mike from his hand, but he quickly retrieved it and headed back to the safety of the stage. The diminutive rocker must have taken a few years off the life of his head of security with that brave stunt.
Still not out to win favour among feminists, Bon Jovi dedicated “You Give Love a Bad Name” to all the strippers he and his bandmates have enjoyed ogling at the local peeler joints, in particular the Number 5 Orange, where the title of the group’s breakthrough album, Slippery When Wet, was conceived. There wasn’t any chanting of “Shower! Shower!” from the Coliseum crowd, so Bon Jovi kept his own clothes on. Later he did invite one well-endowed woman up on stage, though, and made sure that everyone in attendance took note of her two big talents.
What a wacky guy!
Other weak points of the two-hour show were the performance of Bon Jovi’s tedious (yet somehow Grammy-nominated) solo hit “Blaze of Glory” and perhaps his band’s most insufferable tune, “Lay Your Hands on Me”. Fortunately, impressive selections such as “Born to Be My Baby”, “Living on a Prayer”, and the recent “Keep the Faith” evened things up.
Musical stalwarts of the night were drummer Tico Torres, whose consistently boisterous skin-bashing led the way, and guitarist Richie Sambora, whose stunning vocal stole the show during an a capella version of the Beatles’ “Help”. If their titular singer ever decides to leave, the remaining Bon Joviers won’t have far to look for a replacement.
To hear the full audio of my interviews with Jon Bon Jovi from 1986 and Richie Sambora from 1993 subscribe to my Patreon page, where you can eavesdrop on over 275 of my uncut, one-on-one conversations with:
Dave Martone, 2020
Ian Gillan of Deep Purple, 2006
Joss Stone, 2012
Glenn Tipton of Judas Priest, 2005
Jack Blades of Night Ranger, 1984
Vivian Campbell of Def Leppard, 1992
Colin James, 1995
Kim Simmonds of Savoy Brown, 1998
Tom Cochrane of Red Rider, 1983
Ed Roland of Collective Soul, 1995
Taj Mahal, 2001
Tom Wilson of Junkhouse, 1995
Mike McCready of Pearl Jam, 2003
David Lindley, 2002
Marty Friedman of Megadeth, 1991
John Hiatt, 2010
Nancy Wilson of Heart, 2006
Jeff Golub, 1989
Moe Berg of the Pursuit of Happiness, 1990
Todd Rundgren, 2006
Chad Kroeger of Nickelback, 2001
Steve Earle, 1987
Gabby Gaborno of the Cadillac Tramps, 1991
Terry Bozzio, 2003
Roger Glover, 1985
Matthew Sweet, 1995
Jim McCarty of the Yardbirds, 2003
Luther Dickinson of North Mississippi Allstars, 2001
John Rzeznik of the Goo Goo Dolls, 1995
Steve Hackett from Genesis, 1993
Grace Potter, 2008
Buddy Guy, 1993
Trevor Rabin of Yes, 1984
Albert Lee, 1986
Yngwie Malmsteen, 1985
Robert Cray, 1996
Tony Carey, 1984
Ian Hunter, 1988
Kate Bush, 1985
Jeff Healey, 1988
Richie Sambora of Bon Jovi, 1993
Colin Linden, 1993
Kenny Wayne Shepherd, 1995
Justin Hayward of the Moody Blues, 1986
Elliot Easton from the Cars, 1996
Wayne Kramer from the MC5, 2004
Bob Rock, 1992
Nick Gilder, 1985
Roy Buchanan, 1988
Klaus Meine of Scorpions, 1988
Jason Bonham, 1989
Tom Johnston of the Doobie Brothers, 1991
Joey Spampinato of NRBQ, 1985
Patterson Hood of the Drive-By Truckers, 2003
Andy Powell of Wishbone Ash, 2003
Steve Kilbey of the Church, 1990
Johnette Napolitano of Concrete Blonde, 1990
Dan McCafferty of Nazareth, 1984
Davy Knowles of Back Door Slam, 2007
Jimmy Barnes from Cold Chisel, 1986
Steve Stevens of Atomic Playboys, 1989
Billy Idol, 1984
Stuart Adamson of Big Country, 1993
Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull, 1992
Warren Haynes of Gov’t Mule, 1998
John Bell of Widespread Panic, 1992
Robben Ford, 1993
Barry Hay of Golden Earring, 1984
Jason Isbell, 2007
Joe Satriani, 1990
Brad Delp of Boston, 1988
John Sykes of Blue Murder, 1989
Dave Mustaine of Megadeth, 1998
Alice Cooper, 1986
Lars Ulrich of Metallica, 1985
Shannon Hoon of Blind Melon, 1992
Myles Goodwyn of April Wine, 2001
John Mellencamp, 1999
Mike Campbell of Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, 1999
Kenny Aronoff, 1999
Jon Bon Jovi, 1986
Dickey Betts of the Allman Brothers, 1992
Little Steven, 1987
Stevie Salas, 1990
J.J. Cale, 2009
Joe Bonamassa, 2011
…with hundreds more to come