No Bon Jovi in Rock Hall, White House council, Aussie VIP gig

Bon Jovi will not be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2011, which should come as a surprise to absolutely no one who's a realist. ;)

The votes are in and next year's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame class will include Neil Diamond, Alice Cooper, Tom Waits, Darlene Love and Dr. John. Leon Russell will be receive The Award For Musical Excellence (formerly the sideman category) and industry legends Jac Holzman and Art Rupe will both receive the Ahmet Ertegun Award. The ceremony will be held March 14 at New York's Waldorf Astoria Hotel and it will be broadcast live on Fuse.

Read the full article here.

Truth is, Bon Jovi most likely won't get into the Rock Hall anytime soon. Not to mention Dave Marsh is on the committee, and he hates Jon so I'm sure he'll be doing all he can until his final breath to stop our boys getting inducted. Diamond, Cooper and Waits have been eligible for much longer anyway (and until this year, I had thought Waits was already in there).

Meanwhile, Jon mentioned this in interviews he's done in Australia, but he has been appointed to President Obama's White House Council on Community Solutions:

President Barack Obama signed an Executive Order establishing the White House Council for Community Solutions. The Council will provide advice to the President on the best ways to mobilize citizens, nonprofits, businesses and government to work more effectively together to solve specific community needs.

But obviously Jon can't be at the White House right now because he's in Australia. ;) The band performed as part of a VIP concert at Star City's Lyric Theater for Oprah's touring party, and just released a photo of Jon with Russell Crowe via Facebook and Twitter.

JBJ at the Commander-in-Chief Ball

Jon Bon Jovi featuring Bobby Bandiera, Lorenza Ponce, Jeff Kazee and Everett Bradley.

LIVIN' ON A PRAYER


WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE


"Who Says You Can't Go Home" and "Here Comes the Sun" were also played.

Here's an interview of Jon with Katie Couric after the performance:


I wish President Obama all the best in these very trying times and hope he can bring unity and deliver what the world needs.

Bettye LaVette & Jon Bon Jovi

Performing Sam Cooke's "A Change Is Gonna Come" at the Obama inaugural celebration.

Politics

I've tried not to get overly political in this blog, preferring to focus on the music that I presume most Bon Jovi fans are here for. On the other hand, it's been no secret that politics plays a big part in the life of Jon Bon Jovi these days, and I think it would a bit narrow to ignore that entirely.

Last week, Jon highlighted his philanthropic credentials by donating $1 million towards the construction of some apartments in Newark, New Jersey for people with special needs. :)



Then it was onto the hosting of a campaign fundraiser for Democratic Presidential candidate Barack Obama, and I think this might have tickled a few feathers. Bon Jovi is a band that, despite never being particularly fashionable, appeals to a wide audience. So it's inevitable that such an audience is going to include some conservatives and Republicans. (If I'm not mistaken, former bassist Alec John Such is a conservative). Jon also attracts criticism from people who point out that he never used to be a political activist, or that he used to say things like "I'm normal, I'm Republican". Well, all I can say to that is that people's views change over time. My own political views have certainly evolved in the last few years as I grew up, encountered different people, and began to observe the world around me. So there's no reason why the same can't happen to Jon Bon Jovi. As for him supporting the Democrats (He also campaigned for John Kerry in 2004), he's entitled to hold and voice his political opinions like anyone else in a free country, and you are entitled to agree or disagree with them. No one is actually tying you up and forcing you to vote for Obama just because JBJ does... Hell, America doesn't even have compulsory voting. ;) I'm a bit of a so-called "loony lefty" myself but if I believe in democracy, then I must respect the rights of others to be right-wing, apathetic, or whatever they choose.

Jon also tends to keep his politics and music separate. I think this is partly because the rest of the band may not be as politically minded as he is, but mostly for fear of isolating large sections of his fans. "Have a Nice Day" is as close as Jon is likely to get to a protest song. As much as I love that song, it does sound a bit like "It's My Life Part 3" and I'd like him to write something a little ballsier. Be bold and angry! The downside to that would be the inevitable comparisons to Bruce Springsteen...

Too lightweight one minute, too political the next... but constantly criticised all the same... Bon Jovi must be used to it after 25 years! I've just voted in an election that resulted in a hung parliament, so there are plenty of thoughts running through my head, but these were just a few that related to Bon Jovi. I hope it was reasonably coherent and diplomatic. ;)

My next magic memory will be posted in the next couple of days... Stay tuned!

LH Magic Memory #14: Randers

Barack Obama formally accepted his party's nomination for the US Presidency at the Democratic National Convention overnight, which also happened to be the 45th anniversary of Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech. The times they are a-changin'... We'll find out in a little over two months just how much they've changed.

In Jovi Land, let's take a little trip back to June 19, 2008 when Bon Jovi played a very memorable show in Randers, Denmark...

UNDIVIDED - Jon endorses Obama before the band launches into the opening track from Bounce, which was played for the first time this tour. Given Jon's voice hadn't been all that great in the preceding five years, this could well be the best live vocal performance ever of this song.


THIS AIN'T A LOVE SONG - Played for the first time since 1996! Cool song from an excellent album... Jon might need to have the lyrics taped to the stage but he sounds great. Now if he'd thrown down the mic stand and crashed to his knees like in Wembley '95, it would have been perfect. :P


I'LL BE THERE FOR YOU - Richie Sambora on lead vocals, as he is for this song most nights, but I thought this was an incredible performance from Richie and the rest of the band.


ALWAYS - One of the best performances of "Always" on the Lost Highway tour. Just compare it to Des Moines... Jon seems so confident singing it now, and Richie's solos take your breath away.


FEVER - Jon had to teach Hugh McDonald the song right there on stage, but he learned pretty quickly. After two decades, surely he deserves to be considered an actual part of the band...


On top of all that, "Back in the USSR" was sung for the first time since the New Jersey tour!

Randers, Denmark - Messepladsen v/ Gl. Estrup (19/6/08)
LOST HIGHWAY
BORN TO BE MY BABY
YOU GIVE LOVE A BAD NAME
CAPTAIN CRASH & THE BEAUTY QUEEN FROM MARKS
RUNAWAY
I'LL SLEEP WHEN I'M DEAD w/ Jumpin' Jack Flash, Start Me Up, Back In The USSR
BLAZE OF GLORY
WHOLE LOT OF LEAVIN'
THIS AIN'T A LOVE SONG
IN THESE ARMS
WE GOT IT GOIN' ON
IT'S MY LIFE
KEEP THE FAITH
I'LL BE THERE FOR YOU (Richie)
UNDIVIDED
HAVE A NICE DAY
WHO SAYS YOU CAN'T GO HOME
LIVIN' ON A PRAYER

ENCORE:
ALWAYS
BLOOD ON BLOOD
FEVER (Peggy Lee cover)
WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE
BAD MEDICINE w/ Shout