Jon Bon Jovi

I saw Jon Bon Jovi on Ellen several years back and he impressed the heck out of me. I wasn’t a fan, but remember him from the 80’s. It seems like he never went away. The band performed on Ellen and it’s the same band as from back in the 80’s. They’ve been able to stay together this whole time because, as Jon says, “We like each other”. Jon has also been able to remain married to his wife for 30 years. I think that says a lot about him.

Jon Bon Jovi was born John Francis Bongiovi, Jr. in New Jersey on March 2, 1962. I’m glad he changed his name. I guess one of the Bon Jovi band members thought “Bon Jovi” would be a good name for the group. It’s just Jon’s original last name spelled a bit differently. Groovy.

JBJ Beginnings

Jon wasn’t a great student in school. He was busy sweeping floors at his cousin’s recording studio and dreaming of becoming a musician. Jon’s cousin got Jon on his first recording in 1980. Jon was part of Meco’s Star Wars Christmas Album. So Jon Bon Jovi’s very first professional recording is a Christmas song about R2-D2. Awesome.

Four years later, Bon Jovi was releasing their debut album. The band became very popular, Jon became a teen idol, and I think some of the band members may have resented him. Oh well. Not everyone can be super sexy and foxy like Jon. Hey Richie Sambora, only the most gorgeous become the teen idols. I’m sure the group had their spats, but they’re still together after 35+ years. They’ve taken breaks here and there and done solo stuff, but they’re still putting out some good group stuff. Rumor is a new album will be out next year. [2020]

There’s a cool story about how Jon came up with the Blaze of Glory song. Kiefer Sutherland told the story in an interview for Uncut magazine. He said the Young Guns people were all out eating hamburgers in a diner and Jon was scribbling on a napkin. Jon scribbled for about six minutes and then declared he’d written Blaze of Glory. He later gave the napkin to Emilio Estevez. They were all munching on burgers while Jon was writing a hit song. I guess it made them feel stupid. Lol.

Jon Bon Jovi Trivia

• He dated Diane Lane in the 80’s.
• His mom was a playboy bunny.
• Jon married his high school sweetheart in Vegas in 1989.
• Jon and his wife of 30 years have four children.
• He was the founder and owner of the Philadelphia Soul football team.
• He has 98 acting credits and has appeared on such shows as Ally McBeal, The West Wing, and Sex and the City.
• Looks really yummy in tight jeans.
• He was one of the 21 artists singing on Everybody Hurts which was a charity single that benefitted the victims of the 2010 Haiti earthquake.
• My friend’s mom is a nurse and she got to give him a shot in the butt when he was performing here. Awesome!

Jon Bon Jovi Quote

If people have to tell you how successful they are, they really aren’t that successful. That’s something I learned sweeping floors at this recording studio called the Power Station. Mediocre stars were the biggest pricks, and the big stars were the ones who came in and said, “How’re those demos going? I love this. It’s so true. Kind of like the guys who have to show you how big their truck is……

Jon does a TON of charity work. He’s done work for the Special Olympics, American Red Cross, Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, and lots more. He donated $1 million to build homes in Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina. He donated another $1 million to the Angel Network foundation. I’m thinking he’s the type who donates a lot but doesn’t want anyone to know about it.

Jon has a restaurant in New Jersey that is run out of a food bank. The Soul Kitchen is a place where any family can go and have a sit down restaurant type experience. There are no prices on the menu. If you don’t have the money to pay, you volunteer either in the food pantry or in the kitchen. If you can pay, you put $20 in the envelope. His wife, daughter, and father all help out at The Soul Kitchen. He also helps out by washing dishes. How awesome is this program? Why aren’t there more like it? The restaurant gave out free meals in January 2019 to government workers and their families affected by the federal government shutdown. Kudos to JBJ for being so kind and giving.

The world would be a much better place if we had more Jon Bon Jovi’s. I hope he keeps on with his kind self. Check out my JBJ pinups in my eBay store.