Thursday, December 27, 2012

Bon Jovi's New Album Will Include 'Some Different Elements': Sambora

According to Richie Sambora and Billboard.com:
Bon Jovi's upcoming "What About Now?" will mark a musical "evolution" for the band, but not to the point that might be off-putting to group's worldwide legion of fans.

Guitarist Richie Sambora tells Billboard that "Jon (Bon Jovi) and I, when we get together it sounds like Bon Jovi. It sounds like us. That's basically the way it is and what comes out comes out." But for "What About Now?," due out this spring, he says the band and co-producer John Shanks focused on dynamics, and "just basically pushing the production a bit more or lessening the production so you're a bit more naked. It goes both ways on this particular record. We've stripped it down, taken some away and added some different elements."

Meanwhile, Sambora says the album's first single, "Because We Can," which drops January 7, is indicative of the album's upbeat tone to the album. "The lyrics are very positive -- obviously 'Because We Can,' 'What About Now?,' it's all empowering and that's what we were trying to get to. We were trying to get some positive lyrics. That's kind of where we landed."
Check out the full article here.

Are you looking forward to the new single or do you think it sounds a bit "same old"?

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Saturday, December 22, 2012

Jon Bon Jovi on Letterman

JBJ was a guest on the Late Show with David Letterman on December 20, 2012 to promote the Stand Up Guys soundtrack.

Check out his interview:


And his beautiful performance of the Golden Globe-nominated Not Running Anymore:

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Jon Bon Jovi - Stand Up Guys interview + Not Running Anymore lyrics


Jon Bon Jovi talks about his contribution to Stand Up Guys in this Roadside Attractions featurette. Check it out (via The Hollywood Reporter).
Jon's song Not Running Anymore has been nominated for Best Original Song at the Golden Globes. I never posted lyrics for it so I thought I'd give it a crack now (Corrections welcome):

Bless me, Father, I have sinned
I'm not sure where to begin
I won't name names or where I've been
But I've been there and back again

No Hail Marys will save me
You learn to live with memories
Here, slip this C-note up your sleeve
Just stay inside until I leave

I've been running
Always running
Never had both feet on the floor
But I've been running
Always running
Now I ain't running anymore

The hands of time may tick no more
Let darkness fall upon this door
No waves to wash up on this shore
I won the fight but lost the war

I've been running
Always running
Never had both feet on the floor
I've been running
Always running
Now I ain't running anymore

Yeah, there were those who I have loved
Who'd given all and given up
I pushed your patience and my luck
It wasn't love I didn't trust
It wasn't you or me or us
You've shouldered ifs and ands and buts
It's not that way, okay, I've said too much

But I've been running
Always running
Never had both feet on the floor
But I've been running
Always running
Now I ain't running anymore

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Bon Jovi 12.12.12 Concert recap

As most of you probably know, Bon Jovi was one of the many acts that came together for six-hour extravaganza that was 121212: The Concert for Sandy Relief at New York's Madison Square Garden on December 12, 2012. It was simulcast on about 60 or so television networks internationally and streamed live on about 30 websites, not to mention covered extensively across social media as it unfolded (which is how I had to follow it from work on the other side of the planet!).

Jon channeled his 13-year-old self, joining Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band on Born to Run, before returning to the stage later with Bon Jovi and playing the following set:

  • It's My Life
  • Wanted Dead or Alive
  • Who Says You Can't Go Home - feat. Bruce Springsteen
  • Livin' on a Prayer

The full set list for all the artists is at Noise11 among other sites. But of course, this is a Bon Jovi blog so here is the video of Bon Jovi's set:


And here's JBJ helping Bruce close his set with Born to Run:

Jon can't wipe the grin off his face. Neither can I. He's living a 70s kid's teenage dream. Hell, he's living one of MY teenage dreams, and I grew up in the 90s. I'd say he probably got the better deal too; I'm not that much of a Who Says basher but really, Jon gets to sing Born to Run while the Boss gets Who Says You Can't Go Home? :P

Did you watch the whole concert? What did you think?

Anyway, you can revisit all the #121212concert social media highlights at 121212.mahaya.co as well as download the benefit album on iTunes. Proceeds from the album are being donated to the Robin Hood Relief Fund. Here's the track list:

  1. Land of Hope and Dreams (Live) - Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band
  2. Wrecking Ball (Live) - Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band
  3. Another Brick In the Atlantic Wall (Live) - Roger Waters
  4. Us and Them (Live) - Roger Waters
  5. Comfortably Numb (feat. Eddie Vedder) [Live] - Roger Waters
  6. Hallelujah (Sandy Relief Version) [Live] - Adam Sandler & Paul Shaffer
  7. It's My Life (Live) - Bon Jovi
  8. Wanted Dead Or Alive (Live) - Bon Jovi
  9. Got To Be Better In a Little While (Live) - Eric Clapton
  10. Crossroads (Live) - Eric Clapton
  11. You Got Me Rocking (Live) - The Rolling Stones
  12. Jumpin Jack Flash (Live) - The Rolling Stones
  13. No One (Live) - Alicia Keys
  14. Who Are You (Live) - The Who
  15. Baba O'Riley (Live) - The Who
  16. Love Reign O'er Me (Live) - The Who
  17. Miami 2017 (Seen the Lights Go Out On Broadway) [Live] - Billy Joel
  18. Moving Out (Anthony's Song) [Live] - Billy Joel
  19. You May Be Right (Live) - Billy Joel
  20. Viva La Vida (Live) - Chris Martin
  21. Losing My Religion (feat. Michael Stipe) [Live] - Chris Martin
  22. Us Against the World (Live) - Chris Martin
  23. Helter Skelter (Live) - Paul McCartney
  24. Empire State of Mind (Live) - Alicia Keys

Sunday, December 16, 2012

Because We Can out Jan 7; What About Now buzz

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Because We Can, the lead single from Bon Jovi's upcoming album What About Now will be released on iTunes on January 7, 2013. The song was co-written by Billy Falcon.

Jon was on VH1's Big Morning Buzz Live a couple of days after the 12.12.12 Concert for Sandy Relief to talk about Hurricane Sandy and the benefit gig, as well as the new album. In terms of the content (Anthemic but socially conscious) it's all interview soundbites we've heard before. But the band seems to be experimenting with augmented reality on the album cover and I can't wait to see how it turns out!

After the interview, Jon also performed Not Running Anymore with Bobby Bandiera and Lorenza Ponce.

You can download the Bon Jovi smartphone app (for iOS and Android) from Mobile Roadie.




Golden Globe nomination: Jon Bon Jovi - Not Running Anymore

The Golden Globe nominees were announced last week and Jon Bon Jovi is up for Best Original Song for Not Running Anymore -- one of two songs he wrote for Stand Up Guys starring Al Pacino and Christopher Walken. Congratulations, JBJ!

Also released last week was the music video for Not Running Anymore.


What do you think of the song/video?

The Stand Up Guys soundtrack is now available on the US iTunes Store, with the movie's official release due in early January along with the CD soundtrack. The Golden Globe Awards will air on January 13, 2013.

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Richie Sambora on Craig Ferguson (#samboraonferguson)

Richie Sambora (along with Luke Ebbin, Aaron Sterling, Curt Schneider, Matt Rollings and David R. Harris) just wrapped up their week as the house band on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson. It was an enjoyable stint all around but I picked out a couple of musical highlights.

Seven Years Gone - So pumped that he played this after largely neglecting it on the aborted Aftermath of the Lowdown tour. It's a great track.


Sugar Daddy - Craig Ferguson took lead vocals in this and maybe it's just the novelty of his zaniness but this is probably my favourite rendition of Sugar Daddy so far. :P


You can also watch the episodes in full:

Saturday, December 8, 2012

Bon Jovi & #121212Concert for Sandy Relief

Bon Jovi will be one of the slew of big acts performing at the upcoming 12.12.12 Concert for Sandy Relief which will be streamed online.

In this video Jon talks about the effects of Hurricane Sandy on his local community:


He also did an interview recently with the Associated Press which you can check out at this link.

Saturday, December 1, 2012

Stand Up Guys soundtrack feat Jon Bon Jovi

We first heard about Jon Bon Jovi's involvement in the Stand Up Guys soundtrack at a fan club gig back in August, when he debuted two original songs he wrote for the movie.

The Stand Up Guys soundtrack comes out on Lakeshore Records on December 4, 2012 and if you have access to the US iTunes Store, you can pre-order it now.

You can also listen to Not Running Anymore in full:


I don't know about anyone else but hearing the studio version suddenly made me think of Blood Money from the Young Guns II soundtrack (which I love and wish Bon Jovi would play more often but that's another thread).

Here's the official Stand Up Guys track list:
  1. Hard Times - Baby Huey & The Baby Sitters
  2. Old Habits Die Hard - Jon Bon Jovi
  3. Bright Lights - Gary Clark Jr.
  4. Not Running Anymore - Jon Bon Jovi
  5. Get Down With It - Wayne Cochran
  6. How Long - Charles Bradley featuring Menahan Street Band
  7. Fooled Around and Fell In Love - Elvin Bishop
  8. Stand Up Guys – Lyle Workman
  9. Give It Back - Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
  10. (I’m Your) Hoochie Coochie Man - Muddy Waters
  11. When Something Is Wrong With My Baby - Sam and Dave
  12. I Was Painting You – Lyle Workman
  13. Love From Above - Leroy Reynolds
  14. Sock It To ‘Em JB (Pt. 1) - Rex Garvin and The Mighty Cravers
  15. Chew Gum Or Kick Ass – Lyle Workman

And a soundtrack sampler/preview:

Richie Sambora & Alicia Keys: I'll Always Walk Beside You



Richie Sambora has released a special edition of his song I'll Always Walk Beside You featuring Alicia Keys on the piano.

You can purchase and download it from his website, with all proceeds being donated to the American Red Cross's Hurricane Sandy relief efforts.