Legendary rocker Jon Bon Jovi is a survivor, be it in terms of music or his personal life. The 62-year-old is taking a victory lap with the release of Forever, his group Bon Jovi’s latest album. But it hasn’t been the easiest of roads. After years of experiencing vocal issues, singer Jon Bon Jovi underwent surgery on his vocal cords in 2022 and the results have turned out fine.
The singer’s problems began around 2014. The group had a number one world tour during which Jon rocked 100-plus shows. But in 2017 (and after) he did some recordings and shows that proved challenging because his range appeared to have narrowed and he found it difficult to sing consistently. It was only in March 2022, a doctor in Philadelphia explained that one of his vocal cords was atrophying. Steps had to be taken.
“Look, I’ve been honest about this whole process. It has sucked. There’s not a lot of people that have had this surgery,” Jon Bon Jovi told Zane Lowe of Apple Music 1.
An implant had to be put inside the cartilage of his larynx to bring his vocal folds together. For the first six weeks, there was no singing at all. “It’s an enhanced implant. It’s a plastic implant outside of the vocal cords on what’s called the vocal folds, which are the muscles that move your cords together. Wild. I am the Bionic Man. But I went to see the surgeon and he said: ‘Look, you’re still getting better all the time. You got to be patient.’ Shania Twain went through this same thing and she said: ‘You just got to be patient.’ And, she’s having the best time of her life right now. Same doctor, same everything, just her and I,” Jon told the much-loved voice and face from Apple Music 1. Lowe is known for his compelling interviews with musicians.
Singer Jon Bon Jovi underwent surgery on his vocal cords in 2022. Picture: Apple
Thoughts on Richie Sambora
The album is slick, complete with all the elements that make a successful Bon Jovi effort. Callbacks to Bon Jovi’s ‘80s and early-’90s glory days are apparent in songs like Living Proof and We Made It Look Easy. At the same time, there are tracks that will become part of wedding receptions, like Kiss the Bride, which is an ode to his daughter Stephanie Rose Bongiovi, who will tie the knot this year.
“This is your baby. This is the baby that came first in our family, into the band. And then, I worte, I Got The Girl about her when she’s five and now she’s 30, and you’re writing this song to walk her down the aisle. I’m crying writing it, and I’m crying (while) singing it in the studio. She was the last person in America to hear the song. I just gave it to her last week. She saw me on Good Morning America and said: ‘Okay, I’m ready to hear it’,” the New Jersey man told Apple Music 1.
Not on the album is Richie Sambora, who left the band in 2013 to spend more time with his daughter and family. So when you hear the opening track, Legendary, you will wonder what the former lead guitarist of the band is thinking about the album and the phase the group is in.
“He was there for three quarters of the dream. But, like I’ve said thousand times now, being in a rock band is not a life sentence. He had issues, substance abuse issues, emotional issues. He wanted to be a parent that stayed home. We love him regardless. And then, he quit. Why would Tico, or David, or Hugh, or myself ever want to be unemployed? No. So, he was unable to go the next step with us. I love you, but I got a show tonight. I got a record to make,” Jon told Apple Music 1.
Richie Sambora’s perspective has been presented on the Bon Jovi documentary Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story, directed by Gotham Chopra.
“One of the beautiful things that Gotham Chopra did with this film was he captured everyone’s truth. I’m not the producer of the film. I didn’t cut the final cut of this film. I didn’t want a vanity piece. I didn’t want a puff piece. He did two things. I said: ‘Hey, man, I got a great idea. We should all get in the room together and talk.’ And he yes-ed me to death until it was finished.
“Although there will be things in this film that I don’t necessarily agree with, I’m not going to sit here and rebut them, because that’s your truth. And not just Rich, but David, or Tico, or Hugh, or Phil X, or Shanks, or anyone else that was involved in the film, including me. It’s not my perspective. It’s our perspective. It’s our story. Richie had more than one sit-down interview. He had months to submit his thoughts with Gotham and the editing team, and I know that for a fact because they told me. So, there’s no ill will. And I just say: ‘Cool, if you think 40 years later that Runaway wasn’t such a good song, that’s cool. You joined my band. It’s cool. I’m not even offended by it.’ It’s all good.” Tune in to Apple Music 1 to hear more from Jon on the subject.
His first guitar
Besides the album, Jon can’t stop talking about another recent incident — he has been reunited with his first guitar, 45 years after he sold it.
“It is a cute story. I had sold my very first guitar, it was a Univox, Sunburst, Strat-looking guitar, $100 Japanese guitar. And I loved the guitar when I was a kid, but you aspire to have a Gibson or a Fender. I’d sold it to a neighbourhood kid for $100, because a Telecaster cost $389. And, 45 years later, I am at the Soul Kitchen, and one of the volunteers said: ‘I know the guy you sold it to.’ Now I do remember the kid I sold it to, because he was a neighbourhood kid, and he had grown up in the neighbourhood, stayed in the neighbourhood, became a policeman in the neighbourhood, and was now moving away. And she said: ‘He would be willing to get it back to you.’ And I said: ‘I’d be willing to pay for it. I’d love to buy it back.’ Very simple agreement, very simple arrangement. I put it in the car, and I took it home that day, and I was so excited. I pulled it out and laid it on my lap, and I just started playing, just with the five strings.”