HAPPY BON JOVI DAY
Bon Jovi is set to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame tonight in Cleveland, Ohio, and the entire state of New Jersey is celebrating, as Governor Phil Murphy has declared that April 14th as Bon Jovi Day.
The announcement was made on Friday night during a private event at the the historic 925 Building. It was a surprise for the group members in attendance: Jon Bon Jovi (with his wife and four children), David Bryan, Tico Torres, Hugh McDonald, Richie Sambora, and Alec John Such (who will be inducted tonight).
In a formal letter declaring April 14th “Bon Jovi Day,” Murphy wrote, “Five musicians from New Jersey communities believed in their dream and used their talents to form Bon Jovi, one of the most famous, enduring rock bands of all time.”
Other VIP guests included sports icons Robert Kraft, Jerry Jones, Bill Belichick, and Charlie Weiss; music executives Irving Azoff, Island Records head David Massey, CAA’s Rob Light, Paul Korzilius, and longtime PR man Ken Sunshine; along with close personal friends Michael Feldman and wife Savannah Guthrie.
Guests feasted on seared snapper, Swiss chard, micro cilantro, truffle whipped mashed potatoes, vegan eggplant roulade, and were treated to a rose bar featuring Jon and his son Jesse Bongiovi’s brand new Hampton Water rose.
In a toast, Guthrie said that there isn’t a hall of fame big enough for Jon when one considers his philanthropy, legacy, impact on popular culture and trends, and his loyalty. She added that Bon Jovi should also be in the Hall of Fame for “wife-picking.”
The jovial evening ended with members of the band singing “Inducted! It’s about time….” to the tune of “Wanted! Dead or Alive…”
Bon Jovi will be inducted into the Rock Hall tonight along with The Moody Blues, Dire Straits, The Cars, Nina Simone, and Sister Rosetta Tharpe. The ceremony will air May 5tg on HBO.
source: variety.com
Wow, that is awesome! 130 million albums is incredible. Sounds like an awesome celebration and ceremony. Thanks for sharing this Dana. Looking forward to hearing Howard’s induction speech. As much as he’s been bitching about it he should end up doing a great oratory. Hope we get to hear that new version of Dead or Alive.
Aye, Aye, Aye so 1 day after we celebrate Aerosmith Day – April 13th, (which the state of Massachusetts declared 25 years ago) now we have to celebrate Bon Jovi Day on April 14th? Cool! It’s all good! Congrats to The Moody Blues, Dire Straits, The Cars, and of course BJ on joining Aerosmith in the R&RHOF! Have A Nice Day. 😉 Cheers! 🙂
I know I am one of the very few people in the world it seems who was/is not a fan of bon jovi , i have never liked his voice- i am however a big fan of Richie sambora his playing and his voice- I do like the song wanted dead or alive , chris daughtry did an amazing cover of it which i have to say i like much better than the original – should they be in the hof – probably … if the criterion is records sold then… yes – for me they had only a few songs that you could really call timeless – to me they have always been rock n roll “lite” –
youtube clips are up and howard was great- absolutely hilarious induction speech – watching them perform i hadn’t watched any bon jovi stuff in several years, jon seemed to have lost what voice he did have , his high register is gone and he sounded pretty bad , he is not as bad a paul Stanley , but i feel bad for him – as bad as i can feel for a multi millionaire lol- hell he is not even that old … 50 ?? not sure .. pretty early for a voice to go – for me priest should have gotten in instead –
I was never a fan of BonJovi for similar reasons you express. They were played so much on the radio and MTV in the 80’s-my teen years- that it was over saturated. Besides, they’ve pretty much always being bubble gum rock or pop rock. I’m a METALLICA fan and it’s hard to not laugh at James & Lars throwing darts at Bon Jovi’s fanmag poster during the recording of the Black Album. That being said, they have a couple of mainstays and I like John even more after being on Howard over the years. I think it’s really neat that they were given such props in their home state and 130 million albums sold ain’t to shabby either. Always liked Tico Torres, though. Priest should’ve gotten in ages ago, but then again they should’ve gotten in hands down. Rick Ocacek……bunch a’ shite.
tasker, wasnt that kip winger.?
Of course Priest should’ve gotten in the HOF a long time ago, but don’t blame Ric Ocasek and The Cars for that, it’s not their fault the R&R HOF still can’t get their shite together.
I honestly have to say I was never a fan. I’ve always liked the heavier stuff and Bon Jovi just wasn’t my cup of tea. But I’m not so snobbish that I can’t acknowledge they’ve made some great, pop oriented hard rock. I may not be a big fan, but I respect Jon and the band and the career they’ve had. And, at one time, Bon Jovi were the biggest band in the world.
Some more that deserve induction: Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Motorhead, Ronnie James Dio (should have been inducted with Sabbath!), Scorpions, Mötley Crüe, Def Leppard, Megadeth, Thin Lizzy, Ted Nugent, just to name a few.