The boys from New Jersey are back with a reflective new album that takes stock of their 40-year odyssey of rock ‘n’ roll idolatry
JON BON JOVI’S teeth are blindingly white, his voice has a slight affectation on the protracted vowel sounds and his bandmates often refer to him as “Bones” — but there is a mischievous spark that lingers in his smile. The 71-year-old is serious about his philanthropic efforts, which include funding a medical clinic and housing for poor families in Philadelphia. He’s equally dedicated to his work with the band he formed in 1983, Bon Jovi.
He’s also serious about his band’s new 16th studio album, Forever. The soaring anthems on the project are meant to showcase Bon Jovi’s best qualities, from their signature power ballads underscored by soaring guitar riffs to lyrics that address life’s most challenging questions.
Bon Jovi released the album just weeks after the death of longtime friend and former bandmate Tony Bennett, who died of Alzheimer’s disease at 96. It’s a poignant reminder that this is not just any normal concert tour, but an ode to the past and a pledge for the future.
While Bon Jovi’s popularity never waned, the band’s members have changed over the years, with founding bassist Alec John Such departing in 1994 and original guitarist Richie Sambora leaving the following year. The remaining members, singer Jon Bon Jovi, drummer Tico Torres, percussionist Everett Bradley and songwriters Jon Shanks and Phil X, continue to tour extensively.
The band has sold more than 130 million albums worldwide and remains one of the most popular live acts in music today. The group’s latest release, Forever, features two acoustic tracks and 13 full-length songs.
Forever was recorded in the studio with producer John Shanks, who reunited with Bon Jovi for their last two releases after having worked on their first five albums. The result is an album that combines the band’s trademark rock sound with elements of pop and country.
The acclaimed Hulu four-part documentary Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story shines a spotlight on the band’s 40-year odyssey with help from director Gotham Chopra (who has made films about American sporting icons Serena Williams, Kobe Bryant and Tom Brady). It’s part biopic, part rock history and part personal essay on aging and family.
While Bon Jovi continues to tour and record, he’s also been working on his first movie since 1995’s This House Is Not For Sale. It’s expected to be out in 2024. The film will star Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones. It’s still early days, but the project has already garnered positive buzz and a spot in Hollywood’s awards season race. Chopra says he’s in talks to write and direct the film, which will be produced by Michael Stern and Mark Wahlberg’s Plan B Entertainment. The film would mark the fourth time that Bon Jovi and their record label have partnered with Plan B. The other movies are an untitled drama and an adaptation of the best-selling book The Boogeyman, which was written by Stephen King.