Jon Bon Jovi interview with The Project

Jon Bon Jovi recently spoke with Peter Helliar from The Project. The segment -- which included bits from a February interview that didn't go to air, as well as this more recent interview from about a week ago -- was broadcast tonight in Australia:

Pete is a Bon Jovi fan and reckons 2020 could be their best album ever, which is a huge call. He might just be getting caught up in the moment. But I am getting pretty excited about it myself, so fingers crossed for something awesome.

Here's the full interview Pete alluded to. Among other things, Jon talks about the new album (obviously), the current sociopolitical state of the world, and his attitudes towards touring:

And let me just say, if Bon Jovi were to do an acoustic show at the Sydney Opera House I would lose my mind in the best possible way.

Are you looking forward to the 2020 album?

I guess, from my perspective at least, it's been such a crazy year and Bon Jovi music has often been like a warm hug. Obviously the music has changed over the years. But that's okay. My attachment to Bon Jovi has largely been about them having the right songs at the right time for me, regardless of whether they're the greatest songs ever. And this album might be one I kind of need. I have high hopes anyway, so hopefully my next blog post won't be about how disappointed I am. 😜

You can now preview all the tracks on iTunes ahead of the album's release this week.

Edit: I wasn't disappointed! Read my early impressions of 2020. Meanwhile, Pete Helliar's earlier interview with Jon (conducted back in February, which never went to air) has now been uploaded to The Project's YouTube channel:

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Jon Bon Jovi interview on The Project + Tico Torres' Modern Drummer interview

Lisa Wilkinson & Jon Bon Jovi.
(Photo: lisa_wilkinson/Instagram.)

Ahead of Bon Jovi's upcoming Australian tour, Jon sat down for an interview with The Project's Lisa Wilkinson. Among other things, Jon discussed Richie Sambora, the band's Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction, marriage, and the cult of celebrity.

Watch the full JBJ interview on Ten Daily.

If that video doesn't work for you, the interview is also on YouTube:

Bon Jovi will be back on the road very soon, with two late November dates in Japan, followed by four stadium shows in Australia in December. Unfortunately, they're not visiting my hometown of Perth, so I'll be heading over to Sydney to see them. That'll be the last show of the Aussie tour so I'm hoping it's a good one. 😉

And because I haven't blogged since the end of the last leg of the tour 😳 ... Tico Torres did an interview with Modern Drummer not too long ago:

MD: What’s your typical day on the road like?

Tico: We usually fly after the show to the next city. Most days I go to the gym to run and stretch to keep my muscles in shape. For indoor shows we go to the venue at 5 p.m. to do soundcheck, and then we have dinner. And then we do a session with our sports guy to stretch and get our heads on track. The set changes every day, so it keeps it moving and fresh. I keep a small pad in my road case, and I run through patterns to warm up my arms and hands before the show.

MD: What kind of warm-ups do you do?

Tico: First I use a portable massager called the Thumper; it loosens up the fascia [connective muscular tissue] from the night before. Then, on a practice pad, I start out with very slow and deliberate motions to stretch the wrists and forearms, the slower the better, until I feel I have full motion and I’m warmed up enough to do singles, paradiddles, triplets, press rolls, etc. If there’s no pad, I like to use a cushion to do slow single-stroke rolls—again, very calculated.

Read Tico's full interview on the Modern Drummer website.

Are you going to any of the shows in Japan or Australia?

Jon Bon Jovi and Kid Rock on The Project

Jon Bon Jovi was interviewed by Anthony "Lehmo" Lehmann for last night's episode of The Project. Jon talked about fans sticking by them despite Richie Sambora's absence, the legend that is Livin' on a Prayer, and his much-publicised role in Australian bride Branka's special day.

Check out the Jon Bon Jovi interview here.

Kid Rock is supporting Bon Jovi for the stadium shows and joined Charlie Pickering, Carrie Bickmore, Lehmo, and Waleed Aly live on The Project panel. He talked about touring Australia for the first time, getting Jon into trouble, stage names, the Kid Rock cruise ship, and celebrities going off the rails.

Check out the Kid Rock interview here.