I've been known to enjoy a bit of The Masked Singer. Obviously the show is demonstrably bonkers. But I do tend to watch the Australian version of it when I'm not busy, and have caught the occasional snippet from the US series.
I've never seen the British series though. But I'd seen enough "Richie is Jacket Potato!!" comments online in the last few weeks to know that there was a good chance I'd be watching at least some of it soon.
And so it was that old mate Richie Sambora was indeed revealed to be the person in the Jacket Potato costume on yesterday's episode of The Masked Singer UK.
It was Sunday in the US (and Monday in my native Australia) when the news came through that Alec John Such had died at the age of 70.
Alec left Bon Jovi in 1994, before I became a diehard fan (or really knew any music that wasn't on Play School or Sesame Street). So I never saw him live in person. But as the original bass player, there's no disputing Alec's importance to the history of what would go on to become my favourite band -- through thick and thin, for better or worse. And I guess it's a sobering reminder of the mortality of our heroes.
"We are heartbroken to hear the news of the passing of our dear friend Alec John Such. He was an original. As a founding member of Bon Jovi, Alec was integral to the formation of the band. To be honest, we found our way to each other thru him - He was a childhood friend of Tico and brought Richie to see us perform. Alec was always wild and full of life. Today those special memories bring a smile to my face and a tear to my eye. We'll miss him dearly."
I'm so, so glad Alec got to be part of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in 2018. All those speeches were emotional for me at the time and they'll be even more so whenever I revisit them now.
Bon Jovi's current bass player, Hugh McDonald, posted a sweet picture of himself with Alec on Instagram, and described reconnecting with Alec as one of the high points of the band's induction into the Rock Hall.
Here's Alec rejoining his former bandmates for "Wanted Dead or Alive" at Giants Stadium in 2001:
And things like this epic performance of "Blood on Blood" from the Moscow Music Peace Festival in 1989 hit a little harder today -- brothers 'til the day that we die:
Edit: JBJ paid tribute to Alec on Sirius XM's Bon Jovi Radio. Listen to his words below:
I feel a bit crappy saying this, but it's been a few days since Bon Jovi's 2022 Tour ended (assuming no further dates are announced) and... thank Yoda that's over.
I mean, I love Bon Jovi. Obviously the classic lineup is unlikely to ever be together again unless they do some sort of reunion special for the 40th anniversary coming up. But even the current lineup is okay with me. Besides, I met Phil X a few years ago and he's just a really cool dude. And Jon is someone I've idolised for a huge chunk of my life. But I don't think he did himself, the band or their great legacy any favours going out there and sounding like he did last month.
If the speculation is true that this tour was just a contractual obligation to Live Nation after cancelling the 2020 dates instead of postponing... well, that's a whole other shit-show. And a pretty sad way to go out if this ends up being the end. 😢
Anyway, the last show of -- the tour? This leg? -- was in Nashville and here's what was played.
Nashville, Tennessee, USA - April 30, 2022
Bridgestone Arena
Livin' on a Prayer
You Give Love a Bad Name
The Radio Saved My Life
We Weren't Born to Follow
It's My Life
Beautiful Drug
Born to Be My Baby
This House Is Not For Sale
Just Older
Let it Rain
Keep the Faith
American Reckoning
Whole Lot of Leavin'
Do What You Can
I'll Sleep When I'm Dead
Lost Highway
Roller Coaster
Who Says You Can't Go Home
encore #1:
Wanted Dead or Alive
Bad Medicine
encore #2:
I'll Be There For You
Selected videos from Nashville
"Livin' on a Prayer". "Limitless" was dropped for the first time this tour so they could open with "Prayer". Jon performed it from the back of the arena while mingling with the fans and it's probably the most fun a live "Prayer" has been in years. And he's definitely singing the bits he doesn't throw to the crowd:
"I'll Be There For You". If that does end up being the last thing they ever play on tour, it's a good song to remember:
Where to now?
I know there are plenty of fans who are totally cool with the current state of affairs and would happily continue to pay big bucks to see Jon multiple times a tour in his current state.
I also think the dudebros trying to build their platforms with "What is wrong with Jon Bon Jovi's voice?!" videos are pretty scummy.
But that doesn't change the fact that he just doesn't sound good. There are moments where he sounds okay... but it's not good... and once upon a time, he was great. If certain fans want to tell the rest of us that we're horrible humans for having functional ears, then that's okay. Because I know myself, and I'm not trying to take potshots at Jon -- I'm legitimately heartbroken.
He had vocal coach Katie Agresta with him in 2008, and he sounded brilliant -- better than he had in a long time. And then things started falling off the cliff around 2013, which I'm sure he was aware of since he started requesting a vocal coach as part of his rider during the Because We Can Tour. Mary Jo Duprey started working with him, as well as Everett Bradley, on the This House Is Not For Sale Tour in 2018, but it hasn't yielded the results we all want. (I'm in no way suggesting that's Mary Jo's fault -- she uses the same methods as Katie, after all. But Everett's probably a much better advertisement for her than Jon is.)
Is it a physical issue that's beyond repair? I've read people suggesting that Jon has a voice disorder like spasmodic dysphonia but I wouldn't have a clue about that. I just know that I don't want my idol going out there in front of the whole world (and thanks to the internet, it really is the whole world) sounding like... well, a professional singer who can't sing for toffee.
The acoustic set they were doing earlier on this tour had a lot of promise, and I think that could potentially be a way forward if Bon Jovi keeps touring after this. I know Jon wants to sell out the desert but an intimate acoustic tour would be pretty cool.
Anyway, while Jon takes an indefinite break and hopefully finds a way through this, Phil X is currently on the road with Kurt Deimer, supporting Yngwie Malmsteen.
I put off posting anything about these shows because... well, I didn't really want to watch any of the videos. I mean, Jon has sounded pretty painful for several years now unfortunately -- but it was Houston that triggered a string of "Last Man Standing" quotes (specifically "That boy don't lip sync").
But let's back it up a bit. Here were the set lists.
Houston, Texas, USA - April 26, 2022
Toyota Center
Limitless
The Radio Saved My Life Tonight
You Give Love a Bad Name
We Weren't Born to Follow
It's My Life
Beautiful Drug
Born to Be My Baby
This House Is Not For Sale
Just Older
Let it Rain
Keep the Faith
American Reckoning
Whole Lot of Leavin'
Do What You Can
I'll Sleep When I'm Dead
Lost Highway
Roller Coaster
Have a Nice Day
Livin' on a Prayer
encore:
Wanted Dead or Alive
No "Bad Medicine" or "Who Says You Can't Go Home", making it the shortest show of the tour with only a couple more left (presumably). Jon reportedly got a pre-gig IV drip and had the bandage on his arm during the show.
Scroll down for videos/dissection.
Dallas, Texas, USA - April 28, 2022
American Airlines Center
Limitless
The Radio Saved My Life Tonight
You Give Love a Bad Name
We Weren't Born to Follow
It's My Life
Beautiful Drug
Born to Be My Baby
This House Is Not For Sale
Just Older
Let It Rain
Keep the Faith
American Reckoning
Whole Lot of Leavin'
Do What You Can
I'll Sleep When I'm Dead
Lost Highway
Roller Coaster
Who Says You Can't Go Home
Livin' on a Prayer
encore:
Wanted Dead or Alive
Bad Medicine
"Have a Nice Day" was dumped after whatever happened at the previous show.
Videos from Houston
"Have a Nice Day". This was the song immediately before "Prayer" -- Jon pulls out of the end of the first line, turns around and makes an explosion gesture at his throat, which foreshadowed what came afterwards:
"Livin' on a Prayer". Jon's always been pretty awkward at miming when it's called upon for TV appearances -- but he does try to make a decent fist of not singing down to the front rows so it may not have been too obvious on the night, I dunno:
To be fair, I don't think "Prayer" has ever been 100% live -- they've played to a click track and sung over some playback since the 80s. But it really saddens me to see Jon struggling as much as he is.
Jon did come out after that "Prayer" debacle and sing "Wanted Dead or Alive" (i.e. not on playback), but the crowd took the whole first verse and Phil X's harmonies are turned up loud enough to drown out the lead vocal:
Videos from Dallas
"Livin' on a Prayer". He is singing it this time:
"Keep the Faith". Just a great song and a great showcase for the band. Despite not being the classic Bon Jovi lineup, this is still a good group of musicians and I think that has been forgotten amidst all the voice dramas:
One more show left for the 2022 Tour, unless they announce new dates...
First of three shows in Texas as we hit the home straight of the Bon Jovi 2022 Tour. Here's what folks in Austin got.
Austin, Texas, USA - April 23, 2022
Moody Center
Limitless
The Radio Saved My Life Tonight
You Give Love a Bad Name
We Weren't Born to Follow
It's My Life
Born to Be My Baby
This House Is Not For Sale
Beautiful Drug
Just Older
Let it Rain
Keep the Faith
American Reckoning
Whole Lot of Leavin'
Do What You Can
I'll Sleep When I'm Dead
Lost Highway
Roller Coaster
Have a Nice Day
Livin' on a Prayer
encore #1:
Wanted Dead or Alive
Who Says You Can't Go Home
Bad Medicine
encore #2:
I'll Be There For You
Selected videos from Austin
"Keep the Faith". Great energy. The band isn't what it was but that doesn't mean they're not good players:
"I'll Be There For You". Same exit as St. Louis, where Jon kind of just waves to the crowd and leaves, except that this time the rest of the band wasn't caught off guard:
We're nearing the end of Bon Jovi's 2022 Tour. In years gone by, I would've said "end of the first leg" but I really have no clue what the future holds at this point. Anyway, here's what was played in St. Louis.
St. Louis, Missouri, USA - April 21, 2022
Enterprise Center
Limitless
The Radio Saved My Life Tonight
You Give Love a Bad Name
We Weren't Born to Follow
It's My Life
Beautiful Drug
Born To Be My Baby
This House Is Not For Sale
Just Older
Let It Rain
Keep the Faith
American Reckoning
Whole Lot of Leavin'
Do What You Can
I'll Sleep When I'm Dead
Lost Highway
Roller Coaster
Have a Nice Day
Livin' on a Prayer
encore #1:
Wanted Dead or Alive
Who Says You Can't Go Home
Bad Medicine
encore #2:
I'll Be There For You
Selected videos from St. Louis
"I'll Be There For You". Jon seemed emotional here, taking it all in. He used similar "Drive All Night" ad libs to the ones on the Live from London performance of "Always" in 1995. And then he just... left the stage, leaving David Bryan looking a bit confuzzled:
After two days off, Bon Jovi made it to Indianapolis. Everett Bradley, an Indiana University alum, was back from his recent bout of COVID. This is what the band played.
Indianapolis, Indiana, USA - April 19, 2022
Gainbridge Fieldhouse
Limitless
The Radio Saved My Life Tonight
You Give Love a Bad Name
We Weren't Born to Follow
It's My Life
Beautiful Drug
Born to Be My Baby
This House is Not For Sale
Just Older
Let it Rain
Keep the Faith
American Reckoning
Whole Lot of Leavin'
Do What You Can
I'll Sleep When I'm Dead
Lost Highway
Have a Nice Day
Livin' on a Prayer
encore:
Wanted Dead or Alive
Who Says You Can't Go Home
Bad Medicine
I mean, after two whole days to think about it, you probably could've chucked "Love's the Only Rule" or something back in, but whatever. 😜
Selected videos from Indianapolis
"You Give Love a Bad Name" with the 'get up off your seats' spiel:
