What About Now?
Bon Jovi going strong three decades later
Jon Bon Jovi and his eponymous band scored their first hit, “Runaway,” 30 years ago. Now, shortly before his umpteeth visit to Chicago, where he’ll once again perform July 12 at Soldier Field (The J. Geils Band opens the show at 7:30 p.m.), the New Jersey- born rocker called from a tour stop in Manchester, England, to talk about music, running, the status of his daughter Stephanie Rose (she overdosed on heroin last November and was subsequently arrested) and more. Bon Jovi’s new album, “What About Now?,” was released in March.
Question: Where’s the farthest-flung place you’ve played?
Jon Bon Jovi: I’ve gone so far away from home that I’m already on my way back. As far as one can go. From Africa to New Zealand. The furthest northeastern ports of Canada out in St. John. I think the only place that I’ve not been, that I can think of, is Israel. I just haven’t had the chance.
Q. How does traveling affect your workout regimen?
JBJ: Hotel gyms. Or you’re out on the street — if you’re lucky enough to get a run outside. And I’ve run plenty. I’ve run many a mile in a lot of exotic locales, from the wilds of South Africa to the streets of Tokyo, and all over Australia
to Manhattan. I’ve run Lake Michigan so many miles, so many times — summer, winter. You go from the hotel down to the waterfront and just go.
Q. What’s the dynamic between you and Richie Sambora now? There’s been a lot of smack talk between you two in the media.
JBJ: I have to give the same answer, because it’s a personal issue he’s working through. There was no fight. It certainly isn’t about a fight or money or anything to do with that. And his place on the plane is waiting for him when he’s worked through these issues. The dynamic certainly hasn’t changed [with him] from the perspective of me, [ drummer] Tico [Torres] or [keyboard player] David [Bryan]. So once he works his way through this stuff, he’s welcome back. In the meantime, we couldn’t not go to work because of it. It’s not fair to me, it’s not fair to the band [and] it’s not fair to the crew or to the fans.
Q. Are any of your four kids going into the rock business?
JBJ: You find it in your own time. I would certainly encourage it, but I wasn’t going to force it upon any of them. My daughter [Stephanie] likes to do art and things, but she’s not pursuing the arts. And now my eldest son [Jesse] is
going away to college this fall, but it’ll be for the opposite of [music]. He’s going to Notre Dame.
Q. Your daughter is doing OK?
JBJ: She’s great. She’s incredibly fantastic, wonderful, thank God. She’s whole and she’s healthy. You know, these things happen, and they happen to a lot of people, and I was surprised. But she’s great.
Q. Your voice sounds in good shape. You haven’t developed nodes or anything?
JBJ: No! No, no, no, no, no. Please, don’t curse me. I’m not a bad guy. Ooh, Jesus, no. No,
man. Thank the Lord, the chords — knock on wood — have been fantastic. Great shape.
Q. You must know how to take care of them after all these years. JBJ: I’m pretty neurotic. Q. What’s your regimen?
JBJ: Like an athlete, you have to warm up and warm down. That’s very important. And you’ve got to stay hydrated. I tell my doctor that I should get the lab coat. I’m an associate doctor at this point.