Bon Jovi Does Acoustic

Bon Jovi Unplugged full concert

I wouldn’t exactly call this virtuosic acoustic guitar playing but, in it’s simplicity and because it’s acoustic, I really enjoyed this Bon Jovi “Unplugged” full concert.

Technically it is not unplugged but, it is acoustic guitars with pickups. The problems that would be involved with trying to mic the acoustics with this full band would not be worth the trouble – a nightmare for sure for the sound engineer. Basically once you add drums, the acoustic with mics goes out the window.

Bon Jovi, whose right hand man is Richie Sambora, specializes in the pop acoustic guitar- just perfect for the Bon Jovi group. Richie has ventured out on his own at times but, I’m imagining that this gig is just too good to quit. Richie’s been with Bon Jovi a long time.

Timeline of songs (in case you want to skip around: ” Living on a prayer 5:54 – Who says you can´t go home 10:16 – Lost Highway 14:57 – You give love a bad name 20:17 – My life 25:20 – Random hot woman 😉 26:30 – Hellelujah 32:50 – Till we ain´t strangers anymore 38:30 -“

I thought this was some cool info that you may not know.

“Jon Bon Jovi began playing piano and guitar in 1975, at the age of 13, with his first band ‘Raze’. At 16, Bon Jovi met David Bryan and formed a band called Atlantic City Expressway. Still in his teens, Bon Jovi played in the band “John Bongiovi and the Wild Ones,” playing local clubs like “The Fast Lane,” and opening for known acts in the area. By 1980, he formed another band, “The Rest”, and opened up for New Jersey acts such as Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes.

By mid-1982, out of school and working part-time at a women’s shoe store, Jon Bon Jovi took a job at the Power Station Studios, aManhattan recording facility where his cousin Tony Bongiovi was co-owner. Bon Jovi made several demos—including one produced by Billy Squier—and sent them to record companies, though failing to make an impact. His first professional recording was as lead vocals in “R2-D2 We Wish You a Merry Christmas,” which was part of theChristmas in the Stars album which his cousin co-produced.

Bon Jovi visited local radio station WAPP 103.5FM “The Apple” in Lake Success, New York. In 1983, a then-unknown Bon Jovi visited the station and wrote and sung the jingles for the station. He spoke with DJ Chip Hobart and to the promotion director, John Lassman, who suggested Bon Jovi let WAPP include the song “Runaway” on the station’s compilation album of local homegrown talent. Bon Jovi was reluctant, but eventually gave them the song, on which Bon Jovi had used studio musicians to play on the track “Runaway” (which was written in 1980). WAPP worked with WOR-TV (now WWOR-TV) in nearby Secaucus, NJ on a music video show, Rock 9 Videos, for a short time in 1984. The studio musicians who helped record “Runaway”—known as The All Star Review—were guitarist Tim Pierce, keyboardist Roy Bittan, drummer Frankie LaRocka, and bassist Hugh McDonald.“ see more

Just as an aside, Jon is related to the Bon Jovi Funeral Home here in Raritan New Jersey, just a drive down the road from my studio. I’m not looking forward however to attending that concert anytime soon.