Bon Jovi opens up on highs and lows
By John Carucci |
December 16, 2012, Sunday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
Jon Bon Jovi has been with his band for more than 30 years, so he's something of an expert when it comes to the durability of rock stars. Still, even Bon Jovi is mystified at how the senior set is dominating on the stage.
"I can't get over it," said Bon Jovi, who performed last week with Paul McCartney, The Who, Bruce Springsteen and a host of other superstars at the concert at Madison Square Garden to benefit victims of Superstorm Sandy.
"I'm (expletive) dying already and I'm gonna go out there and play four songs. How do they do it?" he said, joking. "The Who and (Mick) Jagger and McCartney. ... I'm not going to be that journeyman. ... I'm not going to be that 75-year-old guy doing 150 shows a year."
But at 50, he's not ready for early retirement, either. Bon Jovi has a couple of songs in the upcoming Al Pacino film, "Stand Up Guys," and the band just completed their 12th studio album, "What About Now," set for release early next year. They kick off a world tour in Connecticut in February.Bon Jovi was in a jovial mood when he discussed his group's upcoming projects, but turned somber in discussing the more painful events in 2012: the devastation caused in his home state of New Jersey by Superstorm Sandy, and the recent troubles of his 19-year-old daughter, Stephanie Bongiovi, found unconscious after suffering an apparent heroin overdose. Still, he discussed it all with candor - and optimism.
Q: Why release the single, album and tour in stages?
A: I know how to do it. It's simple. New songs are why artists go on the road. It's a three-prong play. Writing: You're intrigued. Recording: It brings it to life. And then you want to share it.
Q: What's the Jersey rocker pedigree?
A: Depends on the day of the week. Those are my roots. That truth helped us not fall into the trap of our peers in the mid-'80s. Being from New Jersey was actually a great asset, now that I'm a much older, wiser man. ... If you ask me about a mistake I made, it's calling my fourth album, "New Jersey," because for the first time in my life, we were compared to the E Street Band. I don't think we're anything like them. I love the band. But do I want to sit up there telling (imitating Springsteen), "Jonny when I was 16 ...?" Uh uh. There was a lot of guys jumping on that bandwagon. I didn't do that.
Q: Are you and Bruce Springsteen similar as philanthropists?
A: My philanthropy is no relation to anybody else's. None. My philanthropy and what we do at the foundation speaks for itself. I'm talking about what I do at the Soul Kitchen (his community restaurant in New Jersey). It's a whole other level. It's millions of dollars in a foundation that does stuff.
Q: You seem to honestly care about people, not just the photo opp. You left London early after Sandy. Why?
A: That's a deep question without a simple answer. I throw gasoline and light the match on that photo opp guy. This was the argument in politics this year. Entitlements. I call them empowerments. If a guy doesn't have to worry so much how he's going to get fed tonight, maybe he can concentrate on reading a book or getting a job. Maybe his kids are going to be happier.
Q: After your daughter's troubles, how do you go forward?
A: I didn't have sisters. We bring home this girl the first day. Now what? Where's the manual? No manual. So you bring her up the best you can, surround her with hugs and kisses and know she may eventually fall down. ... I'm shocked as much as the next parent with this situation and had no idea. But then you surround them with the best help and love and move on, and that's where we're at. ... Hopefully, we caught it when we did and that's the end of it. But who knew? I've got three more (growing children) to come.
"I can't get over it," said Bon Jovi, who performed last week with Paul McCartney, The Who, Bruce Springsteen and a host of other superstars at the concert at Madison Square Garden to benefit victims of Superstorm Sandy.
"I'm (expletive) dying already and I'm gonna go out there and play four songs. How do they do it?" he said, joking. "The Who and (Mick) Jagger and McCartney. ... I'm not going to be that journeyman. ... I'm not going to be that 75-year-old guy doing 150 shows a year."
But at 50, he's not ready for early retirement, either. Bon Jovi has a couple of songs in the upcoming Al Pacino film, "Stand Up Guys," and the band just completed their 12th studio album, "What About Now," set for release early next year. They kick off a world tour in Connecticut in February.Bon Jovi was in a jovial mood when he discussed his group's upcoming projects, but turned somber in discussing the more painful events in 2012: the devastation caused in his home state of New Jersey by Superstorm Sandy, and the recent troubles of his 19-year-old daughter, Stephanie Bongiovi, found unconscious after suffering an apparent heroin overdose. Still, he discussed it all with candor - and optimism.
Q: Why release the single, album and tour in stages?
A: I know how to do it. It's simple. New songs are why artists go on the road. It's a three-prong play. Writing: You're intrigued. Recording: It brings it to life. And then you want to share it.
Q: What's the Jersey rocker pedigree?
A: Depends on the day of the week. Those are my roots. That truth helped us not fall into the trap of our peers in the mid-'80s. Being from New Jersey was actually a great asset, now that I'm a much older, wiser man. ... If you ask me about a mistake I made, it's calling my fourth album, "New Jersey," because for the first time in my life, we were compared to the E Street Band. I don't think we're anything like them. I love the band. But do I want to sit up there telling (imitating Springsteen), "Jonny when I was 16 ...?" Uh uh. There was a lot of guys jumping on that bandwagon. I didn't do that.
Q: Are you and Bruce Springsteen similar as philanthropists?
A: My philanthropy is no relation to anybody else's. None. My philanthropy and what we do at the foundation speaks for itself. I'm talking about what I do at the Soul Kitchen (his community restaurant in New Jersey). It's a whole other level. It's millions of dollars in a foundation that does stuff.
Q: You seem to honestly care about people, not just the photo opp. You left London early after Sandy. Why?
A: That's a deep question without a simple answer. I throw gasoline and light the match on that photo opp guy. This was the argument in politics this year. Entitlements. I call them empowerments. If a guy doesn't have to worry so much how he's going to get fed tonight, maybe he can concentrate on reading a book or getting a job. Maybe his kids are going to be happier.
Q: After your daughter's troubles, how do you go forward?
A: I didn't have sisters. We bring home this girl the first day. Now what? Where's the manual? No manual. So you bring her up the best you can, surround her with hugs and kisses and know she may eventually fall down. ... I'm shocked as much as the next parent with this situation and had no idea. But then you surround them with the best help and love and move on, and that's where we're at. ... Hopefully, we caught it when we did and that's the end of it. But who knew? I've got three more (growing children) to come.
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