Jon Bon Jovi claims he’s being kept out of the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame by a “personal mission,” after he fell out with two members of the board.
The band have been eligible for entry since 2009, and the frontman believes they tick all the boxes necessary for induction.
The nominations for the class of 2017 include Pearl Jam, Journey, Bad Brains, ELO, Yes and Jane’s Addiction – along with Chaka Khan, Janet Jackson and Tupac Shakur.
Bon Jovi tells The Howard Stern Show, “There’s guys on that thing that have made it their personal mission to f–k with me. And that’s okay. I get it – I’ve sold more records than their artists.”
Without naming names, he continues, “I called him a few choice words, and I’m never shy, when I see him, to call him a few more choice words.
The criteria is that your music had an influence on generations that came after you, and that it’s still out and very present. We have every criteria.”
Asked who would argue against the band’s induction, Bon Jovi replies, “These two f–kers in the room.”
Public voting for 2017 induction runs until December 5th, with the public allowed to vote once a day until then.
In recent Bon Jovi news, the band recently announced their 2017 This House Is Not For Sale tour dates. Click here to view the band’s itinerary.
This House Is Not For Sale will be released on November 4th. This album is the band’s first without longtime guitarist Richie Sambora, who left in 2013, during the band’s Because We Can World Tour.
additional source: Classic Rock via teamrock.com
18 Responses
In case anyone’s wondering who Jon is referring to, let me make it easy for you: Jann Wenner and Dave Marsh.
Here’s a verbatim quote from Marsh regarding another band he had a vendetta against: “KISS is not a great band, KISS was never a great band, KISS never will be a great band, and I have done my share to keep them off the ballot.”
Bon Jovi was arguably the biggest band of the eighties and absolutely should be in the HOF. But, I don’t think we will see that anytime soon. They are too much associated with the term “hair band” to ever be inducted.
I agree they should have been in years ago, along with Def Leppard, on record sales alone. Of course, my mighty Priest, being overlooked is a disgrace as well.
D 🙂
Or they should just change the name to the “Music Hall Of Fame,” take Rock N’ Roll out of the equation, because the induction committee, certainly has.
D 🙂
Agreed that the R&R HOF is a joke- just a corporation that claimed the name and calls the shots. They’re an establishment, and I always thought Rock and Roll is supposed to be about getting amped up in the moment and forgetting the establishment. I agree with you, Dana, that they should at least change the name to reflect the wide variety of music they induct.
Having said that, maybe JBJ should just be happy with having a large audience, (presumably) tons of money, amazing looks, and whatever other fortunes he has in life, and stop being a petty whiner. What he describes above is basically harassing these guys whenever he can, and it says more about him than them, and that’s just from his side of the story.
Bon Jovi was relevant 30 years ago…and has not been relevant since…Period. I think it’s funny that BJ thinks he’s on the level of a band so worthy of anything more than record sales. Records sales alone, they should be in as a band, but not him alone and there are WAY more bands worthy before Bon Jovi… Records sales don’t matter today, but they did back then so on that alone they should be in, But they should wait another few years until BJ.’s ego wanes a little…and maybe Richie tours with them again?
Agreed, Coredrum, that Bon Jovi was relevant about 30 years ago. They are surviving today off their early success….They are the Metallica of the “hair” bands. :o)
But I do think Bon Jovi deserves to go into the R&R Hall of Fame. And I will be at one of their shows during their upcoming tour because my wife wants to see them perform…even without Ritchie.
Well, that is a debatable point, because that could be said about a lot of the bands that we love.
In their defense, whether you think they are relevant or not, they have morphed their sound a few times, including having crossed over to different genres, namely country, where they gained a new audience.
As for Jon’s ego, what can you expect? There are lesser artists who act that way, or worse. He was a huge success, still is to some degree, has acted, loves photography, is invested in multiple businesses and charities, owns quite a bit of real estate. So all this to say, he is a smart business man and is still attractive. I am not defending his behavior, but I can see his point, and understand his frustration.
The Rock Hall has it in for “hair bands” and hard rock/metal, in general. They are definitely prejudicial, but at least it is Rock music. Unlike, a lot of the other dreck they have inducted over the years. Can’t wait for Chic to make it in before Priest. The thought of that, really makes me want to, Freak Out. 😉
D 🙂