Bands Seen

  Bon Jovi

  Ratt

Date:

Sunday, August 11, 1985

Venue:

Barton Coliseum

Location:

Little Rock, Arkansas, United States

Notes:

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Friday, August 09, 1985
BON JOVI Bon Jovi an opener, but more
KELLEY BASS
FEATURES Night Life
Ratt and Bon Jovi will perform in concert at 7:30 p.
$13.50, general admission _ are on sale at usual outlets in the Central Arkansas area.

At age 23, Jon Bon Jovi is not too far removed from the predominantly teen-aged audience that comes to hear his band's brand of hard-edged American rock 'n' roll. Ratt and Bon Jovi will perform in concert at 7:30 p.m. Sunday at Barton Coliseum. Tickets _ $ 13.50, general admission _ are on sale at usual outlets in the Central Arkansas area. At age 23, Jon Bon Jovi is not too far removed from the predominantly teen-aged audience that comes to hear his band's brand of hard-edged American rock 'n' roll. It wasn't many years ago that Bon Jovi was right there with them in the crowd, cheering on Aerosmith, Thin Lizzy and the other rock bands he enjoyed while growing up in New Jersey. So Bon Jovi, now that his compositions are staples on FM rock radio and MTV, makes a point of addressing the youth of the world, identifying with them in song whenever popular. And though his music has been termed "heavy metal,' Bon Jovi is quick to point out that his is of the upbeat, non-Satanic variety _ no bat-biting here. Back in the United States for a summer tour after playing April and May dates from Europe to Japan, Bon Jovi recently addressed these and other issues by telephone from Los Angeles on a rare day off. " My travels have helped me learn a lot about life in other countries and inspired some of the songs on "7800 Fahrenheit,' ' the group's latest album. " " King of the Mountain' $(a song on " Fahrenheit'$) was inspired by kids in England and their situation. Their economy is really in a bad way, and if kids can get a job there at all it's whatever they can get.There's too many people putting them down. The kids are going, " I want to be a doctor,' but their parents are saying, " No, you've got to go to work in the mines.' I can't really speak on political issues like I'm Bono of U2, but I do know what it's like to be a kid. I mean I've got an expert's view on that.' Bon Jovi, in fact, was a kid of 15 when he first began singing pop material in cover bands in local bars, catering to the tourist trade." I knew I wanted to be a professional musician the first time I got on stage,' the dynamic singer said. He quickly moved to groups that allowed him to sing his original material, and that much-awaited "big break' came when his friend (Southside) Johnny Lyons asked him to open his show at the Ritz in Manhattan. Then, as quickly as the door opened, it slammed shut on him.Bon Jovi's bassist and drummer quit the band just days before the gig, and the replacements didn't mesh quickly enough to salvage the disastrous sets at the Ritz. " That was a real low point,' Bon Jovi remembered. " I began to wonder whether I should consider a day job. I said, " Man, I'm really in trouble here.' So for a year I wasn't playing live; I was just writing and learning studio techniques.' His next moment in the spotlight came when his newly formed band was asked to open for ZZ Top in Madison Square Garden. This show was a success (both with critics and the fans in attendance), and Bon Jovi to this day hasn't paused long enough to let the ball to quit rolling. " I can't lie and say I've been successful because I'm just so talented. You've got to be real lucky. You've got to want it 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You've got to be willing to make no money.You've got to be willing to sacrifice. " Actually, I get off on the idea of working,' Bon Jovi said. " Days off drive me crazy. I don't know what it's like to lay on the beach. And I certainly don't walk around playing rock star. I wear cutoffs, jeans and sneakers when I'm not onstage _ things like that.' Not that he doesn't like to hang around in rock 'n' roll circles.Bon Jovi and his girl friend recently had the chance to spend some time with Eddie Van Halen, perhaps the most revered of America's hard rockers. " He's a super nice guy,' Bon Jovi said of the experience. " He can't play pool worth a * * * *, but he's a nice guy,' he added with a laugh. Bon Jovi, after a headlining tour in Japan and some top-of-the-bill dates at smaller halls in this country, is back in the role of "warm-up' band _ a spot he used to relish, but not anymore. " If you'd asked me three or four months ago, I would have said I would rather open the shows. But after headlining around the world, getting to do two hours with nobody telling me what to do, I'm spoiled.Of course, with Ratt, we really get along, plus it makes the ticket worth more $(with two acts of headlining caliber.$) It's like a double bill.' Bon Jovi was particularly pleased with his band's performances in Japan and the crowds' reactions there. " The Japanese fans are really into us; we've gone double platinum there. We were playing there the same night as Springsteen and Phil Collins and our show was completely sold out. We really turned a lot of heads. A lot of people might have been saying " Who?,' but it really worked. Whoever said the audiences were reserved was wrong; they're definitely not.' The band has released two albums on the Mercury/Poly Gram label in the last 19 months _ and both " Bon Jovi' and "7800 Fahrenheit' have done well on the charts. Both were produced by Bon Jovi's long-time mentor, Lance Quinn. This has allowed Bon Jovi to have "tons of freedom; we've worked together forever. It's really great. If I was working with an unknown producer and was having a bad day, he might not understand or just not like the band. But with Lance I can say " I'm not having a good day' and he'll say, " Yeah, I know; I can tell.' I have absolute freedom working with Lance; it's great.'

Seen By:

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