Bon Jovi tours behind debut album, frontman Jon Bon Jovi claims it’s “not your typical opening act”

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON APRIL 27, 1984

By Steve Newton

“Before the album came out we’d play anywhere with anyone at any time,” says Jon Bon Jovi. “We were just happy to be playing. But now that we’re out in support of a hit record it’s a lot nicer–and a lot more luxurious than six guys in a station wagon.”

“Hit record” is right. At press time, the album Bon Jovi was #43 with a bullet on Billboard‘s Top 200, and the single “Runaway” #37 with a bullet. Not bad for a debut by a kid from New Jersey.

Before forming Bon Jovi in March of last year, Jon (his real last name is Bongiovi; he’s second cousin to producer Tony Bongiovi) gigged on the New York/Philly/Jersey club circuit, playing in everything from a 10-piece horn band to a four-piece Knack-like pop band.

Bon Jovi’s keyboardist David Rushbaum had played with Jon in clubs before the two were even legally old enough to get into such places and was followed in the band by bassist Alec John Such and drummer Tico “The Hit Man” Torres, formerly of Frankie & the Knockouts.

The last member to join, lead guitarist Richie Sambora, had the strangest introduction to the band.

“I was playing one night at a big radio concert,” recalls Jon, “and this guy in the audience says to me as I walk off the stage, ‘I’m gonna be your guitar player.’ At first I just laughed at him, but once I heard him play that was it. I knew I finally had the band.”

Bon Jovi may believe he has the band, but that didn’t stop him from recruiting guest musicians such as Aldo Nova (synthesizer programming and background vocals} and ex-Rainbow drummer Chuck Burgi (drums on “Runaway”).

Before the release of Bon Jovi the band toured with Eddie Money and opened for ZZ Top at Madison Square Garden, but their current tour with Germany’s Scorpions–which will have them opening this Wednesday’s (May 2) concert at the Coliseum–is undoubtedly their most important yet. And Jon is definitely up for the occasion.

“It’s not your typical opening act where they go up there and you don’t really know or care who they are. There’s an elaborate stage setup. And this band is very much a live band. It starts at 100 miles an hour and works up from there.”

To hear the full audio of the interview I did with Jon Bon Jovi two years later, in 1986, subscribe to my Patreon page, where you can eavesdrop on my uncut, one-on-one conversations with rockers since 1982.