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Jon Bon Jovi has got the tabloid press in his garden, IRA bombs down the road, and Phil Alexander in his conservatory. But he's still having such a blast here, that's he's written the next Bon Jovi album.
We are sitting in the conservatory of Jon Bon Jovi's rented house in South London when a pole with a mirror on the end of it is poked over the garden wall. "Did you see that?" asks Jon Bon Jovi, "That's a paparazzi guy at the wall. That's pretty wild."
Quite what a tabloid snapper might expect to find by invading Jon's privacy on this particular Saturday afternoon is open to debate. There is a pool in the conservatory - maybe he thought he'd find Jon cavorting in there with his wife Dorothea, or even with a host of bimbos. Nothing could be further from the truth.
In fact, the only thing that's out of the ordinary are a few birthday balloons scattered around the place in the preparation for Jon's son, Jesse's first birthday. Jon and Dorothea's two-and-a-half-year-old daughter Stephanie is running around wanting to open her younger brother's presents. And that's about it.
As for Jon himself, he's been off from filming his role in 'The Leading Man' for three days and the adrenaline has stopped flowing. It's the chance ho him to put his feet up. He's also quick to point out that his home life these days has very little to do with the burn-out-and-fade-aways excesses of old.
"I live such a normal life," says Jon, shaking his head. "We don't hang out with entourages and we never have. Those kind of things don't really ever happen so it's hard to imagine why people would care."
Jon's reality is incredibly comfortable, but relaxed. By the time he's finished filming mid-March, he'll have been in London for three months. His rented house looks deceptively small from the outside. Inside it's sumptuous spacious. The kitchen is a large white affair, looking on the conservatory, its pool, and into the garden. The front room has the drapes drawn for privacy and is grandly decorated with a piano and a large couch. In the middle of the room there is a massive entertainment centre that Jon has shipped in, with a TV and a stereo. The room backs on a den-like study with loads of books about major statesman and various encyclopedias.
Jon is quick to admit that he's always wanted to hang out in London for a serious amount of time. Living in South London, he reckons, has been an eye-opening adventure.
"I've learnt much more about London," he nods, "Stephanie is in nursery school and we walk her there. Both in Rumson and in Malibu where we have houses, you can't walk anywhere. That's the biggest thing that I love about this. We go out of our door, we walk five minutes and we're at a pub or a restaurant. That's really exciting.
"Yesterday, we went to a premier of a cartoon for kids. We took two of the neighbour's kids too, and that's the first time I've done that. I've never worked out in a gym in my life, but there's a cool gym and I can go to where the people are great. I'm really enjoying living in London."
Jon's filming schedule has taken him to various less-than-salubrious neighbourhoods. He spent two weeks shooting in Woolwich Arsenal, a week in Stratford East, one week around town in general. It's taught Jon a few lessons about the regional differences around London.
"I've learnt about the prejudice of this town," he laughs, "I've gotten this sense that people in South London are really looked down upon. It's like, I have to apologise for renting a house south of the river."
Culturally he's noticed increasing similarities between the UK and the States.

Jon - The Smash Hits Interview
Lock up your Spice Girls as Smash Hits travels to 'the States' to talk to rock 'n' roll love god Jon Bon Jovi about movies, music and Mel B's boobs!
Jon Bon Jovi is strutting up a side-street off New Jersey's Rockaway Baech. It's bikini-hot, the suns shining and Jon is looking super cool in a snug-fitting t-shirt, equally snug trousers, pointy boots and rock-star shades. Every inch the King of Rock. Except... he's not. Not today anyway - today he's a movie star, in the middle of shooting his new film, Long Time, Nothing New, in which he stars opposite Jim Carrey's gorgeous wife Lauren Holly. It's his fourth movie, he knows the score and what's more he's loving every minute of it.
"This is my trailer," he says motioning towards the cosy looking mobilette where he relaxes during breaks in filming. He opens the door and steps inside. "Please," he says beckoning us. "Come in." Of course its all go for Jon Bon Jovi these days, but surely no-one can ever be too busy for The Smash Hits Interview? Particularly when Mr Jon Bon has so much to talk about: movies, music, the Spice Girls and nude fashion shoots! Put the kettle on Jon, we want to know everything!
You're on of the most famous geezers on the planet. Can you still enjoy a normal life?
Very much so. People have this misconception that if I go out , theres's gonna be 50 paparazzi guys following me. But Bon Jovi has always just been this neighbourhood band that got lucky and wrote some songs that people liked. That's why we understand our fans. We're like the band next door in the garage so when people see me on the street they think they've known me forever, they're like 'Hey, what's up?'.
Are you the King of Rock or the new Brad Pitt?
I love movies so I'm pursuing my acting career with a real passion, but I'm not giving up on music. No way would I do that.
What do you get up to when you're in New Jersey?
All the usual stuff that people do. This Saturday night I'm going to an ice hockey game with an old friend of mine from childhood. And we have this thing in America called taligating, where you sit out in the parking lot, drink a bottle of wine and eat a load of crappy junk food. It's great!
How come you look so trim these days?
I got up this morning and ran five miles. I try not to eat too much either. In fact, I'd rather drink coffee! I just sort of look at food.
How did you end up being a fashion model in a Versace jeans ad?
To tell the truth, it was an accident. We invited Bruce Weber (famous fashion snapper) to a show in Argentina and then he invited me to one of his fashion shoots. It was pretty foreign to me, all these guys hanging around doing push-ups all day. It's very weird. I thought if I did it, I'd wanna do something wild, play poker with a dog like Madonna did. Bruce said no, you're wearing black t-shirt and black jeans - have a nice day. I went 'Oh, okay'.
And the other Versace photos? The, er, nude ones?
Weelllll (laughs), they said they wanted to do it again, but I challenged the photographer to do something nasty... and we did. I had no clothes on, with just a sheet around me. But we stopped all those photos from going in all the magazines, 'cos it was a little too weird. Okay, I tried it, but I don't think you're ever gonna see me do anything like that again.
What is the worst thing that anyone has written about you?
Oh, man! Where do you wanna start? I read something from the Daily Telegraph on the plane last Saturday. It was an awful article, unnecessarily cruel. The guy said that he'd come to take the micky out of me, but found he couldn't. But the whole article, all he did was take the micky out of me. What the hell? Where did that come from?
What do you dream of doing in the future?
I don't know. Then years ago I had no idea that my life would lead me here. I didn't even think I would make a movie or solo records without the other guys. Who'd have dreamed it? I only wanted to be a rock 'n' roll singer. That was my goal so who knows where I'll be ten years from now? Right now, it's a good time for me. I feel like I'm accomplishing things and certainly not for the money of it, but just for the thrill of it.
If you've got so much money, why do you still work so hard?
I'm not a fame junkie. I'm not an applause junkie. When I'm off the road, I don't even think about being on the road, being on a big stage or anything like that. The only thing that drives me is the thrill of the chase. It's the thrill of showing up on the movie set and knowing nothing about it. Accepting the challenge. Success is no where near as rewarding and fun as the thrill of getting to it.
How will your movie career and your solo album affect the future of the band?
Who can say what will happen in the future? It's certainly too early for me to make any predictions. If anything, I think that the next time the band Bon Jovi get together, we'll all bring something new to the party. But who knows?
And finally Jon, everyone's got their own fave, but who is your favourite Spice Girl?
I've only seen one video to date, Wannabe, so I don't know one girls name from another yet! I do know that they've sold millions and millions of albums though. But yeah, I really like that black girl. Her name's Mel B isn't it? Okay. I like her because theres something about the way she shook her, erm, boobs in that video that really turned me on!

"Private Parts" Jon Bon Jovi interviewKerrang Magazine August 1997
He hasn't washed for two days. He has coffee and fags for breakfast. He's former auto body shop assistant JON BON JOVI, and he's about to tell us about pig racing... Everyone wants a piece of a superstar - and, when it comes to Kerrang!-approved rock stars, they don't come much bigger than 35-year-old singer/songwriter/actor Jon Bon Jovi. With mothership Bon Jovi, the man has sold more than 70 million records. Needless to say, Jon's had his face plastered on thousands of magazine covers the world over - not to mention a good few bedrooms. Love him or hate him, he's a household name in every sense of the word. If Jon has managed to retain his position among rock's elite for close to 15 years, it's largely due to his ability to move with the times and reinvent himself, both musically and image-wise. From an infamously poodle-permed, fresh-faced rock star, he's become the cooler, more worldly-wise individual we see today.   Despite his recent air of sophistication, he's never lost touch with the people who buy his records. And there are times when you can bet that Jon still dreams of being the modern day cowboy he's depicted himself as being in Bon Jovi classics like 'Wanted: Dead Or Alive'. On a steel horse he rides. Or something...   Away from the glitz and glamour that surrounds a multi-million-selling artist, how does JBJ cope with reality? When he's not playing the biggest arenas on the planet, what does he get up to? When he's not hob-nobbing with the likes of Bruce Willis and Demi Moore, who does he hang out with? Kerrang! tracked Jon down to his New Jersey home, where we found him in regular-guy mode, relaxing inbetween a gruelling schedule promoting his recently released solo album 'Destination Anywhere', filming a trailer for VH-1 America and preparing to hit the road again. Away from all things musical, we peer into the private life of a superstar...
Had you not pursued a career in music, what do you think you'd be doing now? Well, I know I'd still be here in New Jersey, working at something locally here in Sayreville.                     What held your interest as a kid, then? Not too much. Music was pretty much all I wanted to do from an early age. I mean, I did do odd jobs. I worked in an auto body shop one summer and took a lot of pleasure in it. Perhaps I'd be doing something like that now if things hadn't worked out, learning a craft and feeling good about it. I know that I couldn't be the Assistant Manager of Kinney's Shoe Store!
Were you into sports? I realised that I would never be good enough to play sports, so it was something I never pursued. But I did follow (American Football Team) the New York Giants. Still do, in fact!            Did you ever envisage yourself as being married and the father of two children by the time you were 35? Yeah, it was the normal life for a guy from where I come from. But it's a lot of work! I mean, I've been home 10 days and I already want to go back to work! No, seriously, I enjoy spending time with my wife and children. I love taking my kids places and putting them to bed, y'know? I spent last night at the State Fair with my daughter, watching the pig races! She really enjoyed it and that makes it all worthwhile. And this morning the local newspaper is full of those damn pig races!            Does it bother you that the family is an institution that isn't particularly held in as much high esteem by society in general these days? No, it's just all part of life. See, I've never said that I'm particularly good at being a perfect family man, but I'm trying.      Parents can often live their lives through their kids. Is there anything you wish or hope your children can achieve that has eluded you? I don't know. Man, this is pretty deep! I guess, in answer to the question, that - unlike me - I'd like them to quickly realise what a big world it is out there, to learn other languages, and for them to pay attention to the fact that there are other countries and cultures.           Would you want them to follow in your footsteps into the world of showbiz? Sure, I wouldn't mind at all! It's a good living. A great life!          How do you get away from the pressures of work? I go to the movies, ride my motorcycle, the usual stuff. I like to go out for a run in the morning, too.       What movies have you seen lately? I haven't seen one in a while, to tell you the truth.   We haven't had the chance to see 'The Leading Man' over the UK. A lot of people have written to Kerrang! saying they'd love to see it. So would I! It's a very intelligent movie, it's just taken a while to get out. It'snow showing in a few places around the world, but I've heard that it'll finally be out in Europe in September. [Sept 12th in the UK!!!!!]        What about records? What was the last CD you bought? Probably Del Amitri's new album ('Some Other Sucker's Parade'). Actually, I went to the record store the other day and there was nothing there that I wanted! I couldn't find anything! Not a single f**king record! I tell you, the American music scene is just very strange right now.       Have you seen any gigs recently? I've seen The Wallflowers again since I saw them in London with some friends when I was last over there. They were playing in New Jersey, but I didn't get up and play with them this time. I also saw Lyle Lovett (country star, once married to actress Julia Roberts) recently, sitting out there in the audience!
So, do you have any expensive hobbies? What do you spend your dough on? Y'know, I'm not a high maintenance guy. I'm long over the period of buying cars and jewellery. I think most of the money I spend now goes on my house. Besides that, I'm just happy going to the movies.    But have you ever got the drinks in?! Believe me, I've bought more than a few rounds in my time! I'm the guy who always ends up with the bill!        Who do you hang out with socially these days? I've been hanging out with Snake (Skid Row guitarist Dave 'Snake' Sabo, who Jon has been pals with since school days) a lot lately. I went over his house the other day and he played me his new stuff. I don't know whether it'll be Skid Row or something else. I don't know if Skid Row is over or whether Sebastian is still in the band, but this stuff is more like the last Manic Street Preachers album - very contemporary, with the energy of Cheap Trick. As for other people, well, Tico (Torres, Bon Jovi drummer) came over the other day, and I went out with Bruce Springsteen, but he's not doing anything at the moment.   Is this business easy to make or keep friends in? Or is it just an acquaintance thing? Oh, it's very much an acquaintance thing. Usually, you just run into someone if they happen to be in town at the same time. You get to hang out and that's cool; but as for staying in touch, it's something I just don't seem to do any more.           You appear to be now a great deal more accessible, especially to your fans. Do you feel comfortable with the adulation, or are you just at peace with yourself? I think I'm more at peace with myself. I'm not going out there with blinkers on like I used to, where there was always too much information to process. See, it's kind of strange to discover that people thought of you in a different light, when all you're doing is just being you. You just don't think adulation is necessary purely because an album was a hit. So, when I sit around with fans I've gotten to know, or people like you and Phil Alexander [K! Editor], then I feel comfortable because I know everybody. Doesn't it get a little too much, every time you want to go anywhere, to be confronted by a horde of fans demanding an autograph or photo? No, because I can usually tell if someone is a real fan, as opposed to a professional autograph hunter who will employ their family to get you to sign autographs with the sole intention of selling them to real fans. That bugs me, and it's mean. Have you ever lost your temper in such a situation? No, you just keep walking.     Have you ever been starstruck? Oh, absolutely. I got autographs from people like the Rolling Stones. Everyone is a little starstruck at some time in their lives.      How do you feel about Jon Bon Jovi, the sex symbol? I don't pay much attention to it. I mean, like I'm sitting here in my office and I haven't had a shower in two days - and my daughter holds her nose coming into the room with me and the smell of stale cigarettes.      In other words, you're a bit 'ripe', as Whoopi Goldberg told you in the 'Destination Anywhere' movie!   Yeah, and my wife wouldn't even give it to me, y'know?!                    But I'm sure, ripe or not, there are still a lot of girls out there who'd like to know what Jon Bon Jovi has for breakfast!' Coffee! Coffee and cigarettes. That should be an album title!    With acting as your latest career move, are you aware that it could conflict with your 'day job' of being in a band and making music? Oh yeah, but I'm able to dictate when I want to record or tour. I really wanted to spend the rest of this year touring, because I've done the 10 shoes and they went really well. So, I'm thinking about going out again - but if a great movie comes up, I'll be able to do it.             What role would you most like to play? Nothing that good makes me want to go 'Oh man!'. There *is* a great 'ensemble' picture happening in Australia - a World War II movie, I think - with Sean Penn, Gary Oldman and John Travolta, but I'm a little late. I'd only wanted to do it because of the people involved. I would love to be able to work with those guys.       Bearing in mind that it's the anniversary of his death this weekend (August 16), would you ever play Elvis Presley? No, it's been done. But it would be pretty outrageous. So, what's the most ludicrous thing you've ever done? "I don't know anything that I've done that was quite ludicrous. I've had extravagances, and I had the nerve to open for ZZ Top with the band when we didn't yet have a record out back in 1984, but I've yet to put on a dress and walk down Kensington High Street!             You've been arrested twice, though, right? Yeah, I got arrested when I was a kid for selling bootleg posters outside Madison Square Garden in New York, trying to get enough money for a ticket to see Bruce Springsteen. And then there was an incident in the '80s when I broke into a skating rink in Central Park...
Drink was involved then, wasn't it? Certainly was. Too much. I lost count!    What's your favourite tipple? A good bottle of wine. It's the drink of choice!    And your choice is, Jon? Anything with a cork!         Lastly, if there was ever a piece of advice that you've been given that you could pass on to the readers of Kerrang!, what would it be? Definitely just to be yourself and not jump on anyone else's bandwagon. Even if something is fashionably hip, it's best to just go with what you know.
Smash Hits, June 7-20, 1995 issue.
"Don't ask me that goofy stuff!"
Sausages, wearing girlie make-up, and being beaten up by his wife... is there a subject Jon Bon Jovi won't talk about? Well, yes, actually, as Gill Whyte finds out...
So, Jon, how are you feeling?
"Right now, I feel really shit."
Oh, grrreat!
"It's really weird I feel like I'm gonna pass out. (Looking wobbly) Man, I'm dripping with sweat."
Still, it'll make great copy if you puke out the window!
"Yeah, cool, so he dies during his last interview. Yeah, man, 'He died eating a Snickers bar!' You could get rich from this!"
So, here we are, me and the King of Rock (tm) in the back of this flash Mercedes limo-thing, cruising down the German autobahn, from Hamburg to Jon's swank hotel in Bremen, where he's due to play the 12th night of his 12-month world tour to promote These Days, Bon Jovi's seventh album.
He's feeling sick, tired, hay-feverish, he's got dark glasses on to hide his runny eyes and he's stuffing chocolate into his mush in an attempt to cure his nausea. Nonetheless, he's still gorgeous and when he opens that chocolaty mouth and out oozes that New Joisey, laid-back drawl... well, I feel a little flush myself.
And not surprisingly really. You see, over the years, Smash Hits has interviewed Sir Jon a number of times, and has managed to upset and outrage the fella with out "intrepid" journalism every single time. Still, here I am: my task to be diplomatic, while asking him some questions about the color of his pants. Gulp. Here goes!
All this touring must be a bit of a pain in the pants, huh?
The traveling and the other 22 hours of the day, in general, really stink. Well, with one exception -- I have friends in different countries, that's the good thing. And I have a car here! My '58 Corvette!
So do you get bored performing and start thinking, about, say, what you're having for your tea?
Oh yeah, oh yeah! It's not that you're bored exactly, but it's so funny sometimes that you can switch channels and look out at the beer stand and think, "Jeesh I wonder if they do good bratwurst?" and still never miss a note.
So, on stage, you often think "Hm, sausages!"?
Yeah, man, it's like you've got a split personality, like, "I'm hungry"!
Have you ever been sick in your snakeskin boots, or maybe taken some "bad medicine"?
We've done all those stupid clich? things, we've been thrown out of hotels, and all that goofy shit, y'know, got drunk everywhere...
Thrown a TV out of the window?
No, I don't think we've ever gone that Spinal Tap (the comedy film about a "typical" metal band). But I think every rock band should experience those moments of reckless abandon. But we do other things now, I mean how many times would you want to throw the TV out of the window?
Your life's not on big rock opera, then?
It can be, it's what you make it. I mean, it really is living a fantasy life, there's no doubt about it. Shit, I recommend this job to anybody!
Have you ever done a song where you've thought, oh lordy, "did I do THAT!"?
I think that there're songs that don't come across as good as others...
Well, what about R2D2 -- I Wish You A Merry Christmas, that you recorded for the Star Wars Christmas Album?
Hey, I'm not embarrassed by that!
You know no shame, then?
I got paid $180, that was a big deal in 1980. I knew what it was to go hungry and I was trying to get my demo heard at the time.
Have you ever contemplated a change of image, y'know, may I'll try some really tight trousers?
I think it was the first record where we just looked like what we are and it wasn't working so we thought, "Oh man, we've gotta be like those LA bands and dress like your little sister dresses," so we did, and then thought, "Oh, man, this is weird, if we went back to a bar in New Jersey we'd get our arses kicked in." So we got rid of that shit.
OK, so what was your most embarrassing garb?
There's pictures...they still haunt me.
Tight pants?
Y'know, girlie make-up, lipstick, hairspray and stuff like that. Occasionally I'll see an old picture around and just wanna throw up.
(Casually) Um, I heard a rumor recently that your hair had caught on fire at Bruce Springsteen's BBQ...
OH, MAN! You guys in the English press... are full of the biggest BULLSHIT that ever was and she (indicating PR woman who set up the interview) makes me talk to Smash Hits! (Pummels back of seat)
PR lady: Sorry, I'll won't do it again!
(impersonating PR woman) "Na na na... you have to talk to Smash Hits..." OH MAN!
(Cowardly) I apologize for my very existence...
Don't ask me that goofy DUMB English press stuff, that's NOT true.
Still, it's not as dumb as...
THE NEXT QUESTION!
Hahahahaaa! (Nervously) Alright them, what's the daftest rumor you've heard about yourself? Er, it probably all generates from the dumb English press...
(Chortling) True, true, true. The hair burning off at the BBQ... Cindy left Richard Gere for me... all that kind of shit, I've heard it all. I don't make a big deal of it, there's worst rumors said about other people... poor Richard Gere (there were folks who claimed Mr Gere put furry animals up his bum by way of a hobby), and there was some other guy, right up there with the Gere thing... who was it, recently (thinks)...? Oh, I can't remember. See! It just goes to show how much I care about that stuff!
I heard you lark about doing Italian mafia-style impressions, like in Mean Streets...
Nah, bullshit.
You can't do one?
(Sulkily) No.
Go on.
(Silence)
Weren't you worried your wife would beat you up after snogging Cindy C on that video?
(Still sulking) No, not at all.
'Cos she's a karate expert...
She is. (Stares out of window)
So, she's never thrown you about the living room?
No, she hasn't. Thank goodness.
Whaddya think of Take That?
I've only just found out who they are -- kind of sound like NKOTB, eh?
Well there's five of them, good-looking...
The Jackson Five, right?!
Mmm, kind of.
Ah well, he may never heard of Take That but the King Of Rock (tm) , doesn't care. He's playing to millions of people this year -- 56,000 of them are waiting for him now. Time for just one more question:
About Bruce's BBQ again, Jon... Mr Jovi... King Of Rock, Sir...? Oh, he appears to have gone!

"The Last Word" JON BON JOVI
The ultimate questions on life, sex and death. This week a festive Jon Bon Jovi is lightly grilled by Jason Arnopp....
Last time you threw up?
"Good old drunken puking? In London on this tour. I think it must've been one of those Sheffield or Birmingham shows. I drank my face off!"
Last time you gave blood?
"A couple of years ago. I did'nt give my blood up voluntarily, though I was asked by vampires."
Last time new music thrilled you?
"Mmmm... the Alanis Morisette album ('Jagged Little Pill') definitely moved me. I thought it was very good."
Last time you sang badly?
"Tonight! I've had a number of those. The last time was recently, in the last month or so. I must admit that I torture myself when that happens. I absolutely hate myself, but it all passes the next time I do it right."
Last time you changed a light bulb?
"Ha! Just a couple of days ago. Whoa I got excited there, I changed several of them, as a matter of fact. Yes, I certainly f**king did! No scratches or bruises either - I was proud of myself..."
Last time you accidentally damaged yourself?
"I stubbed my toe one morning, the last time I was home. I was carrying a picnic table back inside my house. Quite painful. I was hoppin' around all over the place."
Last time you were envious of someone?
"I'm really not a very envious guy. I wish well for everybody's success because I've been fortunate myself. God bless 'em!"
Last time you got drunk and danced to techno?
"Ha! That's never happened. I don't dance. Yeah, I mean I can't dance onstage, but... I don't know. It's pretty strange. I can't seem to be able to dance anywhere else!"
Last time you argued with someone else in Bon Jovi?
"Today. Before the show and after. We were arguing about the video for 'Lie To Me' that we just made. None of us particularly like it, but the guys really brought up a lot of things they didn't like about it! I just claimed I don't know anything about making videos. It was like pleading insanity!"
Last time you saw something that disgusted you?
"Oh, man. Read the paper. The OJ Simpson verdict comes to mind, and so do the Paris subway bombings. Then theres the French doing nuclear testing in Tahiti. Very disgusting indeed."
Last time you fell over?
"Actually, I almost fell over tonight onstage, doing my 'white man' dance. I know that only counts as an 'almost', but off the top of my head I remember doing it maybe a year ago. I fell down and scuffed the tips of my my new boots. It was definitely time to go home..."
Last time you saw a horror film?
"Oh man, I don't know. I don't like 'Friday 13th' and all that stuff."
Last time you almost died laughing?
"I was laughing my face off a lot on that week I had at home. We had a lot of good laughs. It was great, just being home for a week with friends, family and the kids. A good, relaxing time."
Last time you had a fist - fight?
"At least a couple of years ago. They're definitely few and far between. We'll draw a veil over who it was with though..."
Last time you 'read' a porn mag?
"Oh f**k. Today! Don't be silly! It was Penthouse. I'm not shy about that, f**k no..."
Last time you juggled oranges whilst singing the National Anthem?
"Just on the way down here tonight, actually! But I can't juggle. I would'nt know how, because it's a real artform. I could sing the National Anthem if I had to, but it's not particularly easy. We also ripped it off from you guys!
"The Last Word"
DAVE BRYAN
The ultimate questions of life, sex and sick jokes. This week, Bon Jovi's David Bryan talks to Paul Elliot.
Last time you were so hung over you swore you'd never drink again?
"Not in a long time. Years. I'm a moderate kind of person. It pays to be if you're over 30. All through my twenties, I probably said I'd give up drinking a million times."
Last time you saw a movie and thought 'this is utterly shit'?
"About a year ago. I hated that Cindy Crawford Movie, 'Fair Game'. But Cindy did look good in it."
Last time you won money?
"Las Vegas, last time we were there. I was playing blackjack and I had the luckiest time of my life. I started out with 50 bucks, and I won $8,500. I just could'nt loose - it was the luckiest day of my life. After the blackjack, I won tow grand on craps and said, 'I quit - I got a horse shoe jammed in my ass, I'm stopping!'."
Last good joke you heard?
"I'm a jokester, a joke - teller. It's very important to have a proper joke. You know Valujet, the company whose plane crashed in the Florida Everglade swamps a few months back? I got a couple of good ones about that. Did you hear about the guy who called up the Valujet desk to get a reservation? They could'nt take his call, they were swamped. What's the temperature in the Everglades? 110 under. What did one alligator say to the other alligator? You know this airline food is'nt that bad. What's the difference between Valujet and a high - price hooker? One costs you a lot more money to go that quick. All original and written by me. Disaster breeds jokes."
Last time you made a fool of yourself?
"I try to forget. Once a week I tend to make a fool of myself."
Last time you felt ripped off?
"It would've been at that 'Fair Game movie'. But I felt I saw enough of Cindy Crawford to get my seven bucks' worth."
Last Time you were shaking with fear?
"I guess if I had a Valujet flight this afternoon, I might be shaking abit. But no, I can't remember being frightened in a long time."
Last time you met one of your heroes?
"At the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame - Jerry Lee Lewis (legendary piano trashing '50s rock a roller best known for the classic 'Great Balls Of Fire'). Got a picture next to him, and I finally got to see what the f**k his left hand is doing, which I've been trying to figure out for years."
Last great song you heard?
"One that I wish I could've written would be Joan Osbourne's 'One Of Us'. Eric Brazilian (Erics guitarist and writer of 'One Of Us') f**king blew me away."
Last time you wanted to beat the shit out of somebody?
"Just before I came here, actually. My sister-in-law's going through a divorce and her husband's a dickhead, and I wanted to punch him in the f**king face. But one can't do that. It sucks, but you have to be a little more than animalistic. You do it the fair way, with lawyers. The adult way."
Last time you saw a photograph of yourself and were horrified?
"Daily!"
Last time you were rude to somebody?
"I have a good way of getting rid of people who are soliciting, trying to sell you stuff. The best thing to do is hang up while you're talking because nobody would ever think you'd hang up on yourself. You just go 'Yeah, well I..." and just hang up. Much better than getting into an argument."
Last time you got thrown out of somewhere?
"Many years ago, when we were rooming with Motley Crue, the security people threw us out of a hotel. Then we got thrown out of a bar, then out of many clubs. It lasted three days. We were getting thrown out of everywhere."
How long can you last?
"Until my heart stops beating."

AOLiveMC9:    Welcome, Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora!
Jon Bon Jovi:    Hello, Tokyo!
Richie Sambora:    Hello, all you AOL surfers!
Question:    Who has been a part of the writing process for the new record?
Jon Bon Jovi:    Basically it has been the two of us.
Question:    What things inspire you to write?
Richie Sambora:    Everything! Life experiences, of course, inspire us to write. Also, as musicians and people, what we experience -- family life, being on the road, etc.
Jon Bon Jovi:    Also books and movies.
Question:    How did you come up with the title "Slippery When Wet" for your third album?
Jon Bon Jovi:    We were frequenting a gentleman's club (a strip joint, for those who don't know) which featured a shower onstage with young, vivacious ladies... who were very clean. They took showers onstage, during the shows. That's how we got the title.
Question:    What can you see Bon Jovi doing in 20 years� time from now?
Jon Bon Jovi:    Interviews in cyberspace!
Richie Sambora:    We'll still be a band; we'll be stunt Jovis.
Jon Bon Jovi:    Twenty years from now, we'll be like a play, sending groups of stunt Jovis in our place.
Question:    Will you continue doing webcasts with future albums?
Richie Sambora:    I think that it is a great way to let people into the musical process.
Jon Bon Jovi:    I hope the fans have enjoyed seeing us do this. I would have certainly enjoyed seeing my favorite band do something like this.
Question:    Are tour dates already being scheduled?
Richie Sambora:    In pencil.... We are just discussing a tour and tour dates. It looks like we'll go out from June through December.
Question:    So what's the title for your seventh album, "One Wild Night," all about?
Jon Bon Jovi:    It's a very upbeat, rocking record, reminiscent of "Slippery." "One Wild Night" really does explain the general feeling of the album.
Question:    I was just wondering if you've ever thought about being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and if you think you have a good shot at being inducted?
Jon Bon Jovi:    I don't think we have a good shot. We really don't pay much attention to it. We'll probably be the first band that sold a hundred million albums that doesn't get in.
Question:    Have the albums "Destination Anywhere" and "Undiscovered Soul" influenced the writing for the new album at all? I mean, are there any similarities in the style of music?
Richie Sambora:    I don't think so. I think we, individually, grow every time we do our own records. We have our own style together.
Question:    Jon, have you ever regretted becoming a musician, and why?
Jon Bon Jovi:    No, never. It's all I ever wanted to be since I was a young kid. It's great work if you can get it!
Question:    Hey guys, how is it working on an album today with all the different styles of music, compared to your first one?
Richie Sambora:    All we can do is make the best record we can make, not consider what is a fad or fashion. We didn't do that in the beginning and won't start doing it now.
Question:    When will the CD be released, and when will you begin touring in the USA?
Richie Sambora:    The CD will be released in May, and the tour in the US will begin in August or September.
Question:    What has been the toughest song to write or fully complete?
Jon Bon Jovi:    I can't think of one off the top of my head, but some songs like "Wanted Dead or Alive" came so easily, but there were others that had to be written, rewritten and rewritten.
Question:    When was your first real Valentine's card?
Richie Sambora:    I don't remember, I guess the third grade. Jon was a hound dog when he was around three. LOL.
Question:    Jon, did you feel uncomfortable during the Versace shoot, or is nudity not an issue?
Jon Bon Jovi:    I don't care... it's work. I don't have a problem with that.
Question:    You say the new album is reminiscent of SWW. Was that on purpose, or do you all just prefer that style to the newer '90s stuff?
Jon Bon Jovi:    I just think it's exciting to be making a record. We are very happy. We've gone through writing socially conscious songs, and we got a little darker. With this record, it fell into place, and it's an upbeat and fun record.
Question:    With each member's side projects, was it hard to get back into the swing of recording as a single unit again?
Jon Bon Jovi:    There's a real magic to our band. Even though we have played with solo bands who perform Bon Jovi songs, there's nothing like the band performing together.
Question:    Do you mind having every minute of studio time live? Do you feel invaded, or was it the band's idea?
Richie Sambora:    It wasn't our idea, but a friend of ours. I don't think it has been intrusive at all. We've been having fun with it.
Question:    Jon, are your brothers involved in the making of this album, as they have been in the past?
Jon Bon Jovi:    My brothers? My brother, Anthony, is directing the webcast. He's the one who put it all together.
Question:    Can you compare the emotion of being onstage to something else? Do you think you would be happy living without this feeling?
Richie Sambora:    It's something that's very addictive; when you make people happy, there's a great feeling of love that comes back at you. It's a great feeling.
Question:    Richie, do you ever get time to surf the Internet?
Richie Sambora:    I really don't do it much, but I have an assistant who is always on it, so I watch her. I just don't have time... but that, too, will change.
Question:    With each 20 years, style and music seems to come back. Heading into the '00s, is that the push for a "Slippery"-esque album?
Jon Bon Jovi:    It's not a conscious effort on our part to write anything. We just wrote a bunch of songs that we were happy with.
Question:    Jon, what was the movie you acted in you liked best?
Jon Bon Jovi:    I had the most fun on a film called "Little Cities" and "U-571."
Question:    What procedures will you take to promote the upcoming album?
Jon Bon Jovi:    We are starting with this webcast, then we'll do a web concert on February 10 from the studio; also, promotions all over the world and then the tour.
Question:    The Christmas concerts have Richie, Tico and Dave's performances, and all the fans simply love it. And on "These Days" tour, some concerts in Europe had them singing, too. Did you never think of doing that at all tour concerts as standard performances?
Jon Bon Jovi:    Yeah! At times all the guys have sung a song, during a regular concert.
Question:    Richie, how do you like being a dad?
Richie Sambora:    It's the greatest thing in the world! I simply love it!
Question:    Have you guys had any outside help writing the new album (other than the four of you and Hugh)?
Jon Bon Jovi:    Desmond Child, Mark Hudson and David Falcon all collaborated on a song each.
Question:    Jon said in a TV program that the next tour will have less concerts than other tours. What will be the criteria for choosing the countries? The band interfere on that, or is it a record company decision?
Jon Bon Jovi:    What our plan is, is to play to as many people, but play less shows. Use a bigger stage.
Question:    What are your dreams now?
Richie Sambora:    We hope everyone receives this record really well. Also being better artists, better people, evolving as people.
Jon Bon Jovi:    I don't have time to dream.
AOLiveMC9:    Thank you for your time. Any last words for our audience?
Richie Sambora:    Get ready for "One Wild Night"... we are!
AOLiveMC9:    Thank you again to Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora, and to the audience for their great questions. Good night and aloha.
Portions of this transcript may be edited by AOL to correct spelling, punctuation and/or remove any material that violates AOL's Terms of Service.
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