Jon Bon Jovi tells Apple Music about his new album, recovering from vocal surgery, Richie Sambora, and more

Jon Bon Jovi sits down with Zane Lowe on Apple Music 1 ahead of the release of his new album ‘Forever’. They talk about his vocal cord surgery, the support he got from Shania Twain during his recovery, and how he would have been at peace if he didn’t get his voice back. He also shares how it felt to hear what Richie Sambora said in the new Bon Jovi documentary, “…there’s no ill will. And I just say, “Cool, if you think forty 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.”

He also talks about knowing that their new single ‘Legendary’ was a hit when they wrote it, and his daughter’s reaction – or lack thereof – to hearing the emotional song he wrote about her, ‘Kiss the Bride’. Then, he talks about his close friendship with Bruce Springsteen, being reunited with his first guitar forty-five years after selling it to a neighbourhood kid, and combatting homelessness through his JBJ Soul Foundation.

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Video | Bon Jovi: New album ‘Forever’, filming a documentary, and recovering from vocal surgery

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Jon Bon Jovi tells Apple Music how it felt hearing Richie Sambora’s perspective in the Bon Jovi documentary

Well, 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. When I’d asked, I said, “Hey, man, I got a great idea. We should all get in the room together and talk.” And he yessed me to death until it was finished. And I went, “Oh, I see why you didn’t do it.” Because, 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.” I was like, “Yeah, I know.” It’s all good. How many times did you hear John Lennon was dissing “Silly Love Songs” after the fact?

Jon Bon Jovi tells Apple Music whether or not he wishes Richie Sambora could be a part of the new album and hit song ‘Legendary’

Zane Lowe: When you write a song about ‘Legendary’, and this is a band effort, the band today, you’re in the studio, you’re figuring it out, I got to ask, there must be a little moment of you, as great as it is, and as much as you love it, that just wishes that Richie could have had that experience on this song, because-

Jon Bon Jovi: Oh, yeah, sure. I mean, he was there for three quarters of the dream. But, like I’ve said 1000 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 next step with us. I love you, but I got a show tonight. I got a record to make.

Jon Bon Jovi talks to Apple Music about his daughter’s reaction – or lack thereof – to the song he wrote about her, ‘Kiss the Bride’

Zane Lowe: ‘Kiss the Bride’, I think, this is one of the hardest songs, subject-wise, to be able to write for a lot of different reasons. As a lifelong fan of music, someone who studied it and talked thousands of people about it, about all kinds of subject matter, matters of the heart, pure, uninterrupted, right, unaffected, pure, clear water out the tap, super hard to write about.

Jon Bon Jovi: I agree. But when you have something that’s… It’s not just oh, one night, and then I fell in love with this girl. This is your baby. This is the baby that came first in our family, into the band. And then, I write, ‘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 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.” This is just a week ago, or two weeks ago now.

Zane Lowe: But I got to ask you, man, because it’s the first time I’ve ever spoken to anyone who’s written a song like this, and waited this long to play it to the person it’s about, an integral moment as a parent to a parent without betraying any trust, can you please try to describe in words that are appropriate, how it was when you played the song for your daughter?

Jon Bon Jovi: I’ll tell you the truth, I had to send it to her, because I was on the move and I have not heard a response. How about that? I have not gotten a response.

Zane Lowe: Wow. It’s deep. It’s deep for her.

Jon Bon Jovi: Yeah. And her two brothers are getting married before her, so she’s just in her own little world right now. So, it’s cuckoo. I have not gotten a response from Steph. Steph, call your daddy.

Jon Bon Jovi talks to Apple Music about receiving support from Shania Twain during his vocal cord surgery recovery

Jon Bon Jovi: The recording was hard work. But as I sit here today, which is now six, seven months ago when I was doing the vocals, I’m so happy. After Monday’s rehearsal, after Tuesday’s rehearsal, after getting on the plane, after waking up this morning and go, “Holy Christ, I absolutely can go hit the high notes tonight. No problem.” So, it’s starting to come into its own. Look, I’ve been honest about this whole process. It has sucked. There’s not a lot of people that have had this surgery.

Zane Lowe: And it’s a replacement surgery effectively.

Jon Bon Jovi: It’s an enhanced implant. What it is, 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.” And he didn’t give me any patience in the surgery. But 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 Bon Jovi tells Apple Music he would have been at peace with his career ending if his vocal cords didn’t recover

Jon Bon Jovi: And here’s the truth, because I’ve figured this all by now, I’ve gone through it. I haven’t had to mourn the loss, because I haven’t given up yet, and the procedure is successful, and it’s proceeding, and it’s getting better all the time. So, I didn’t have to get to that place, like an athlete who throws that last touchdown and he can never go and play in the Superbowl again because now he’s done, right? I don’t have to deal with that. But the family were very supportive. And I was really, I swear to God, and I stand by it still, if I couldn’t do it at the level that I’d grown accustomed, I am not identified by what I’ve done in my life. I’ve already done that. I’m good with that. I don’t need-

Zane Lowe: You would’ve been at peace with that.

Jon Bon Jovi: I’m totally at peace with that. If I still can’t tour, I’m good. I’m good. I’ve made 18 albums. I’ve conquered the mountain. I’m good. We’re not dying of cancer here. I’m an entertainer. I get to do this by the grace of God, and because people care enough to listen to it. But big picture I’m healthy.

Jon Bon Jovi talks to Apple Music about knowing ‘Legendary’ was a hit when they wrote it

Jon Bon Jovi: Yesterday, as we were rehearsing and we’re playing “Legendary” now, just banging it out every time we get together. I can’t help but smile halfway through calling out, I don’t know, twenty-some odd songs a day. And I jokingly looked at my own band. I go, “Okay, time for a hit.” And then, I just laugh and they’re all like, “You’re such an ass.” I go, “Yeah, I know.” Because it feels so good to know, “Holy Christ, we wrote another hit.”How do you like that? Because you don’t know. Every time you write a song, you think it’s the best thing you ever wrote. And then, you play it, and then it works. There’s been a lot that we’ve thought were those songs and that didn’t work. I can remember a record the last… There was a song called “Because We Can.” A wonderful song on the last record that Richie played on. And I said, “Man, that’s a smash. I know it’s a smash. It feels great. I can’t wait to play it.” Got in front of that stadium crowd and it didn’t quite work. And I was like, “I don’t know what was wrong because I love it, but it didn’t work.” With “Legendary,” you just know the minute you put it on, “Oh man, we wrote a smash.”

Jon Bon Jovi talks to Apple Music about being reunited with his first guitar after selling it to a neighbour 45 years ago

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 neighborhood kid for $100, because a Telecaster cost $389. And I thought, “Okay, I got a 100. I can save up and sold it to a local kid.” 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. He said, “Would you meet my kids?” I said, “Absolutely.” I said, “I’ll give you another guitar. Could I buy that back?” He was great and gracious. He brought it to me. I swear, this is my embellishment that the five strings that are left on it was the way I sold it to him. And I believe that those dots that I see on it are sweat from when I was playing in the bar. Because it came back looking like that. And I don’t think he ever touched it. In the cardboard case, he gave it to me. And 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.

Zane Lowe: How did it feel?

Jon Bon Jovi: Like magic? Because I couldn’t help but just saying, “I got my hands around her neck.” And writing a song. And saying, “I’m in love with my first guitar.” And it just took me back to being… Well before the expressway even, my very, very first band, singing Old Kiss Records in my folks’ backyard. I’m 17-years-old, I’m a rock and roll star. And, just reminiscing and writing that song. It’s magical. Yeah, it’s really cute. And a happy ending to a story.

Jon Bon Jovi talks to Apple Music about addressing homelessness through his JBJ Soul Foundation and the origins of Soul Kitchens

Jon Bon Jovi: But in 2008, when the economic downturn happened, Dorothea was watching the news one night and said, “I’ve got an idea for all the people who you’ve housed. We need to feed.” And she stream of consciousness came up with the Soul Kitchens. And, the conversation there is to empower people. You have them volunteer, but if you or I want to effect change directly, you come and you leave a suggested donation. And, that pays not only for your meal, but for someone else who are in need. And you would never know the difference between someone in need and someone who’s paying. It’s pay it forward. There’s no prices on the menu. You volunteer, you’re empowered, you come in-

Zane Lowe: Oh, it’s great. You know why? Because the feeling you get from helping, you’re giving to others. It’s-

Jon Bon Jovi: … Magical. And then, folks who want to but are fearful of the unknown… I want everybody that’s listening to close their eyes and imagine a cute bistro in your neighborhood, a beautiful bistro with silverware, and plates, and tablecloths. That’s what the Soul Kitchen looks like. But if you were to come there, and I told you the model, you wouldn’t believe how many people stayed away. And, would say to me, “Well, there’s no booze there.” No, it’s not about booze. It’s about feeding people who are hungry. “I don’t want to sit next to somebody who might be homeless.” “Oh, really? What are you going to get? Cooties?” Or people that would say, “I’ll write you a check. I’ll give you anything you want.” I said, “I don’t want your money.”

Zane Lowe: That fear isn’t about the cooties. That fear is about facing your own inability to recognise pain in others.

Jon Bon Jovi: Because we as a culture are so caught up in our own BS, how many times, and everyone’s guilty of this, you’ve walked by the homeless guy on the street because you didn’t take the time to ask him what he needed, or just a simple, “Hello.” There’s all this stuff that you learn with time and effort. But, the situation at the [Soul] Kitchens is that we’re feeding people one at a time, one soul at a time, as we always say. And, yesterday, for instance, Dorothea led a march with 500 local volunteers who were marching the streets of Red Bank to let the word be out there further that we’re alive and well. And, unfortunately, we’re not going out of business, as we always say. We’re not going out of business because the need is there. There are a lot of people whose hearts are in the right place that are stuck inside the building and not on the street. And affecting change directly takes being on the street. I’ll give you a great example. There are currently homeless issues all across America. We can agree on that. No matter what side of the aisle you’re on, you’re seeing it in the big cities in America. From what I’ve read recently, there are only approximately 600,000 people on the streets of America. We’re a country of 300 million. How hard is that to figure out the mental illness and the housing aspects of this? We can do this. We can do this. We can do this. It’s going to save your emergency rooms, and the ambulances, and the insurance companies. It’s very easy. Well, it’s not easy. It’s difficult to do. We can do it….. Yeah, maybe just realise, it’s not a pill. We don’t need a pill. We don’t need a scientist to find the cure. This one’s doable.

Jon Bon Jovi talks to Apple Music about his friendship with Bruce Springsteen and the support he got at MusiCares

Zane Lowe: What’s been the most important thing about that single friendship for you and all of this ride?

Jon Bon Jovi: Well, he was Mount Rushmore in New Jersey, first and foremost, right? He was writing stories about the people in our backyards. And, he made the impossible possible for all the next generation that followed. I just happened to be the lucky one that sold as many records, right? So, there’s 50 more of me in New Jersey that just didn’t get as successful, right? So, I get to be that little brother now. But the last thing that a man wants to do is try to be somebody else. You got to become your own man if you’re going to be around for this long. But lessons learned came with time. Lessons learned came with experience. So that now when he and I get together, the conversation’s a whole different level. It’s not about, “Oh, how did you get that kick drum sound?” No, no, no. We’re taking these long drives to talk about philosophical family, leaders of men conversations that only two old friends can have together. But, yeah, his coming out when… I had no idea, but his mom had passed and he was literally on the plane, because he wasn’t going to disappoint me, and not show up, and be there for me on the MusiCares event. And he and, of course, Sir Paul, I mean, I’m the luckiest human being in the world.

Zane Lowe: Yeah, I mean, you say you weren’t present enough at the time. And, why would anyone young enough have the presence of mind to realise you’re manifesting something. But, you got your hero down the street, and you got your hero across the ocean. And both of them together help you find your own voice. And then you get to be celebrated for that voice at a time when your voice is yours again. And they’re both there.

Jon Bon Jovi: It does not get better than that. It just doesn’t get better than that. It’s a humble grateful me that goes forth. Humble, grateful.

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