Bon Jovi unleashes new movies, music[Thai translations ]April 12, 2000 ; by CNN
LOS ANGELES (CNN) - Jon Bon Jovi is cranking out movies and music like a machine these days. His band is planning the release this summer of its first album in five years. The rocker also has starring roles in two films : in the World War II action-thriller "U-571," with Matthew McConaughey, Bill Paxton and Harvey Keitel; and in "Pay It Forward," a comedy-drama with Kevin Spacey, Helen Hunt and Haley Joel Osment. CNN Entertainment News Correspondent Paul Vercammen sat down with Bon Jovi, one on one : CNN: At the top of the list for your fans is this album "Crush," which comes out June 13. And you have updated your sound ? Bon Jovi: Yes, it's a throwback to the days of "Slippery (When Wet)" (1986) and "New Jersey" (1988), but with a very 21st century, contemporary sound. CNN: And of course you are able to help yourself in that you've got this elaborate - we shouldn't call it a home studio, because it's just like a regular record studio. But you have a lot of tricks that you can pull, a lot of gimmicks, a lot of things you can add to an album. CNN: And of course you are able to help yourself in that you've got this elaborate -- we shouldn't call it a home studio, because it's just like a regular record studio. But you have a lot of tricks that you can pull, a lot of gimmicks, a lot of things you can add to an album.
Bon Jovi: Well, comfort is most important in the studio -- a place where the meter is not running and you're not worrying about the next client coming in. It gives you the opportunity to experiment. And when you're at home, you can go in when you want and leave when you want. That's a big deal. So we built a studio at my house, and little things -- like windows to know what time of day it is -- are a big deal when you're making records.
CNN: This is a big summer album. This is the kind of record you listen to down there at Long Beach Island.
Bon Jovi: That's right.
CNN: You've got the stereo turned up, the towel...
Bon Jovi: Top down, you know. It's a big summer record. It's unlike my solo records, which sometimes I write for the theater. This is meant for stadiums. This is that kind of big, anthemic Bon Jovi record you've come to know. Tour update
CNN: All right, you brought up the stadiums. I know viewers around the world are saying to themselves, "Jon Bon Jovi: Is he going to end up in my backyard this summer?" Talk about the tour. Where are you going?
Bon Jovi: (The) tour starts in Japan in July. I know it's two nights at the Tokyo Dome and then it goes throughout the country. By August we get to Europe and all the major venues ... Germany, London, Paris. And we hit the American shores in September. By year's end we'll visit South America, at least briefly, (plus) Australia; (and) South Africa. Anywhere there's electricity, we go. If you don't have it, we'll bring it. That's always been the attitude.
CNN: And guess what? If you have a movie theater somewhere near you, you can see you coming up in "U-571," submarine thriller, a nail-biter. What was it like shooting that?
Bon Jovi: It was a lot of fun. It was a great experience to be a part of my first big movie ... the first one with a real budget. But to be a part of this for five months of my life last year, with Matthew McConaughey, Bill Paxton, Harvey Keitel -- it was a great experience for all of us, and we think it's a great movie. 'Boys with toys'
CNN: Also, they put you through a great physical test. Now, from what we understand, they had the world's biggest rainmakers in this tank in Malta and they absolutely deluged you with salt water. What was that?
Bon Jovi: It's the world's biggest rainstorm in movie history. And so every single night that we were having the raid of the German submarines, which was over a couple-weeks period, we were being soaked to the bone with salt water that they pump up out of the ocean and rain back down on you. And it was a test of wills, but at the end of it we realized we were boys with toys, we were having more water fights than anybody cared. We played with the guns, we jumped on the boats, and it was a great experience.
CNN: You were also in Rome for a while -- Jon Bon Jovi in Rome, turned loose. What was that like?
Bon Jovi: The Italian boy back on the streets. It was great. I always have a great reception when I go to Italy because of my heritage. But I think it surprised the producers of the film -- the enormity that the name has, and the band's name has -- when I hit the shores of Italy. They were pretty surprised by all the notoriety it received. But once I got the haircut and got the bad perm, you know, I was Frank Sinatra in "Here to Eternity." We got to make our movie and be left alone.
CNN: We'll forward to the new haircut and the new record, and all of it coming up soon. You can see that haircut on screen...
Bon Jovi: Next Friday. |
