Bon Jovi Is ‘Legendary’
The new Bon Jovi Forever album lands June 7 but “Legendary,” its first single, is out now. The album is the iconic band’s 16th studio release in 41 years (they formed in Sayreville, Middlesex County, in 1983). Longtime members Tico Torres and David Bryan are intact. Guitarist Phil X replaced Richie Sambora. Bassist Hugh McDonald replaced Alec John Such who died in 2022. “The record is a return to joy,” intones Jon Bon, 62, “from the writing, through the recording process, this is turn-up-the-volume, feel- good Bon Jovi.” Admitting his vocal cords were “atrophying,” he adds that, “I say in the [new Hulu four-part docu-series] that if I just had my tools back, the rest of it I can deal with. I can write you a song, I can perform as well as anybody, but I need to get my tools back.” In fact, there’s a scene in the doc where he exits the stage in Indiana and collapses. You can clearly hear him say it was “by far the worst show.”
He also admits that despite the overwhelming success and popularity of his band, the lack of critical acceptance has always bugged him. Indeed, when Slippery When Wet, on its way to selling millions, was originally reviewed in Rolling Stone magazine, it was called “a smudgy Xerox of Quiet Riot.” Alcohol almost destroyed the band. Former manager Doc McGhee’s legal problems didn’t help. And losing lead guitarist Richie Sambora in the middle of a 2013 tour could’ve been the death knell. The two haven’t spoken in years. Sambora regrets how he did it and Jon Bon maintains he tried like hell to get him back. On the plus side, his friendship with Springsteen is ongoing, the two used to take long drives together without their cell phones. Vocal surgery has corrected some of the problems but a tour is still a long shot.
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