Youth Listening Tours: White House Council

PR Newswire is reporting that members of White House Council for Community Solutions will hold youth listening tours across the country:

Jon Bon Jovi will host youth listening tours at various community-based organizations across the country. Bon Jovi, who will be joined by other members of the White House Council, will engage young Americans and community leaders in candid conversations to determine where efforts are most needed. Findings will be compiled in a final report to the Council in June in an effort to highlight solutions. The WHCCS listening tour adds to the White House's broader effort to engage young people nationwide through youth roundtables.

The first listening session will take place in New Orleans on Friday, April 29, 2011, where youth who have been served by local organizations Cafe Reconcile, Liberty's Kitchen, Youth Empowerment Project and Tulane Drop In Center will attend. Additional cities where similar visits are planned include Atlanta, Houston, and New York City.

You can read the rest of the press release here.

~ Hath

Opinions...

... are like assholes.  Everyone has one, and they always stink.

My father loves that saying, and it's very true.  That disclaimer being said, fair warning: this is an opinion piece.  Feel free to Febreze it away at any time.

By now, everyone has probably heard the latest from the Bon Jovi camp about Richie.

In response to questions about Richie Sambora and Bon Jovi's upcoming performance schedule, the band released the following statement today:

"Our support for Richie is absolute. He is, and will remain, a member of Bon Jovi. Although he will be absent from upcoming shows for the time being, we very much look forward to his healthy return. In the meantime, we will keep our commitment to our fans and continue our tour."

This announcement was met with mixed response from the fandom.  Everything from "be well Richie, we love you, come back soon" to "those greedy, money-grubbing bastards should cancel their shows and reschedule them".

People have either been unflinchingly supportive of Richie or are lambasting Jon for making the decision to continue with the tour -- there doesn't seem to be a happy middle.  (And come on, you know that Jon, the corporation's CEO, had the final say in whether or not the tour would continue, as he should).

I understand people are entitled to their own opinions -- that extends to me.  You're allowed to not like what I am about to say, and to click away at any time.

Stop being selfish, people.  You know who you are.  The ones who are whining:

"But I love RICHIE.  I never would have bought a ticket if I knew HE wasn't going to be there."  


"That's not fair. They should have waited until after the tour."


"They should postpone the concerts until Richie's back; they just care about the money."  

I'm sorry, but you're being idiotic.

Here are a few simple truths, people.

1. Shit happens.  Life is messy, unpredictable, and bound to screw up your schedule once in a while, but someone's health and well-being takes precedence over his job.  And that's all the tour is -- his job.  Granted, a well-paying, highly public, very visible job that we all love to participate in, but a job nonetheless.  Definitely not more important than health and well-being, I don't care what you do for a living.

2. The Jovi boys have enough money that their grandkids don't have to worry about anything.  They are not in this for the dough.  They're in it because they love it.  They understand that they made commitments to the fans, many of whom have made international travel plans to follow the band.  They understand they have made commitments to the hundreds of people who put the tour together and work for the tour, who are depending on the income from these dates to feed their families.

3.  You can't choose when a personal crisis will occur.  For it to come to this -- to need seek professional help at an inopportune time, and turn your world inside-out -- things must be bad.  Real bad.  Scary bad.  I don't want that kind of bad happening to people I care about.  And I don't know the man personally, but I do care about what happens to him.  You should too.

and finally,

4. You can always sell your ticket.  I'm sure there's someone out there who will take it.

Granted, the shows won't be the same.  There's no denying that.  Part of the Jovi experience is seeing the chemistry between Jon and Richie.  So yeah, the experience now will be a bit different.  But look, the band wouldn't be the same if Richie was permanently gone from the band, right?  Or what if if things got so bad, that EVERY show was like the CMT Unplugged from the LH era?  Would that be better?

I will leave you with this -- one of the comments on BonJovi.com that really stuck with me this morning. The comment came from someone called NotMe:

Do you want a healthy Richie or a dead Richie?

I know what I want.  Get well soon, Richie.

~ Hath

Win Two Tickets to an Upcoming Show

From BonJovi.com:




Create the ultimate hometown tribute to “Livin’ On a Prayer” using Animoto for chance to win 2 tickets to a Bon Jovi Live 2011 concert and see your video aired on the big screen!

Upload to Animoto photos/video clips of your city's best landmarks, you rockin' your city, or your undying love for Bon Jovi. Share your new creation with friends via Facebook, Twitter, and email. Your video only needs 15 views to qualify you for a chance to chance to win!

Check out Bon Jovi's website for more information.

~ Hath

Interview with David Bergman

A great article on the Bon Jovi Photographer, David Bergman, from the PhotoShelter blog.

You're known for your sports images and Gigapan work. How did you get into music photography?
I was a musician before I ever picked up a camera. After attending the Berklee College of Music in Boston for my freshman year of college, I transferred to the University of Miami. At UM, I walked into the school newspaper on a whim and began my photo career.

Years later, when I was on staff at the Miami Herald, I pitched a story to the entertainment desk that put me on tour with Gloria Estefan. Next thing I knew, I was on a tour bus with Gloria and her family and loving every minute of it.

When I went freelance and moved to New York City in 2001, I was determined to make tour photography a regular part of my photo business.

Did you start off shooting both live events as well as band portraits?
Early on, I preferred shooting live events. The excitement and energy in the middle of a big stadium show just can't be beat. But over time, I've developed my portraiture style. The truth is that bands are more willing to pay for portraits. Lighting a portrait and working directly with artists is something that not everyone can do. Those that can do it well should always be able to find work.

How do you go from shooting local bands to Bon Jovi?
Slow and steady wins the race. That's my philosophy. I've been in this business for 20 years and treat every shoot as an opportunity to show what I can do.

My advice is to be nice to everyone and, most importantly, produce the highest quality work possible every single time you shoot. You never know who is talking about you and who can help you in the future.

You can read the whole interview here.

~ Hath

Confirmation -- of sorts

Tweets from @MatthewBongiovi confirming the rehab rumors:

Tweet #1

MatthewBongiovi: All I can say is that we are heading to NOLA tomorrow. No shows will be canceled. (Received by my cell @10:21 am EST)

Tweet #2

MatthewBongiovi: Now you know it's not my place to comment. Richie will be fine and is fine. Personal life comes first and you have to respect that. (Received by my cell @10:56 am EST)

TMZ is reporting

We're told he has not checked in yet, but the plan is that he will enter shortly - possibly today.

So, now MORE rumors abound as to whether or not JazzFest will feature our favorite guitarist. I guess we'll have to wait and see.

Either way, Richie, you're in my prayers darlin'.

~ Hath

MEMPHIS on the Big Screen

Thanks, Jan, for the drop on this article from LiveBWAY.

If you missed seeing "Memphis" at La Jolla Playhouse in 2008 before it headed east to become the toast of Broadway, you're in luck.

A filmed version of the rock 'n' roll musical ---- featuring the original La Jolla/Broadway cast ---- will hit local movie screens this week for a limited, four-show engagement.

On a recent break at his New Jersey home from Bon Jovi's world tour (ranked last week by pollstar.com as the No. 1-grossing tour in America), the Juilliard-trained Bryan talked about the big-screen version of "Memphis," along with his work in musicals and the famous band he co-founded more than 20 years (and 130 million albums) ago with some fellow Jersey musicians.

Question: How did this big-screen version of "Memphis" come about?
This company came to us that had done recordings of Broadway shows. In the past, they'd captured the shows just before they closed and then released them on screens afterward. This was the first time they were doing it for a show that was still running. Some people think it's a mistake, that it will hurt the Broadway production ---- that people won't want to go see it in New York if they've already seen it onscreen, but we don't believe that theory. The live experience is something that can't be duplicated. This just gets the word out. We're not based on any kind of brand, so we have to create our own brand. Also, this is only for four nights in 530 theaters across America, so it's not oversaturating the market. Plus we get a DVD out of it, so it will be memorialized for all of us.

Q: Have you seen the finished product and are you happy with it?
Yes, it's great. I was very involved. The thing about my work in "Memphis" is that I don't visit my shows, I live my shows. Every inch of it, every decision that's made, every single step of the way I've been the master of my own destiny. I'm really proud of the fact that I started this project and followed it every step of the way to Broadway. I carved every inch.

Q: Do you have a preference between doing musicals and Bon Jovi?

They both bring me a lot of great things. Broadway brings me the creative process and I don't have to work eight times a week, so it's good that way. But the band gives me the satisfaction of live performance. I get to get out there every night and play in front of anywhere from 20,000 to 90,000 people, and you can't match that. I am so fortunate to keep walking onstage and experiencing that. It makes me the everlasting kid.

You can read the rest of the Q&A here.

For information on where/how to get tickets for this movie event, visit FathomEvents.

~ Hath

Richie Heading Back to Rehab?

According to RadarOnline, that is the case.  Citing exhaustion and a need to "regain sobriety", Richie is rumored to be heading back into rehab:

Sambora is coming off a highly successful tour with Bon Jovi and is checking into a facility for exhaustion and to regain his sobriety.

”Richie recently has been drinking too much, and wants to get his life together," a source told RadarOnline.com exclusively, adding that the band has been very supportive of the rehab decision.

"Richie has had a busy year," a close friend of the musician told Radar. "I think this was a culmination of all the things that overloaded his life and finally he realized he needed to take care of himself.”

It was not immediately clear how Sambora's treatment will affect his role in Bon Jovi. The group is scheduled to play tour dates this month in the U.S. before performing in Europe during June.

You can read the whole article here.

My initial thought was “I’d like to think Richie was stronger than that”, but then I realized, it does take incredible strength to know when you need help. Assuming this rumor is true, then he’s getting help before the drinking becomes a Problem, with a capital ‘P’. I say good for him for realizing he needs to keep his life straight, and taking steps to do it.

As for the “It was not immediately clear how Sambora's treatment will affect his role in Bon Jovi” part, I can’t imagine he wouldn’t continue touring with the band. IMO they’d get egged/tomatoed in Europe if Richie wasn’t there.

If it's true, Richie, know that you have a spot in the hearts and prayers of millions of fans out here. We're all pulling for you.

If it's not true, well, you're still in our hearts and prayers because we love you and only want good things for you :)

~ Hath

Mid-Day Motivator: OHHH

Catte, what did it for you?  The tie-dye t-shirt, or the lip bite?

~ Hath

NJ Community Restaurant

Thanks, Mys, for dropping this link into my inbox :)

From ABCNews:

RED BANK, N.J. (WABC) -- Rocker Jon Bon Jovi's foundation has received approval for a restaurant that would serve people whether they can pay or not.

The spot doesn't look like much right now. It's an old auto repair shop, closed for years. There's no grass, just gravel, but rocker Jon Bon Jovi's about to give it a quite unique new life as a community restaurant.

"It got a unanimous vote last night," Dan Mancuso of the Red Bank Planning Board said.

The key word here is "community" - meaning if you can pay, cool. If you can't, don't worry about it. Just commit to volunteer work of just about any kind, and that'll cover your meal.

Talk about a Bon Jovi hit.

"It shows he cares about poor people. It's good for the area," John Decker said.

"I was concerned at first," said Wendy Giguere, who lives right next door to the lot that may very well, all of a sudden be a popular spot. After hearing it'll have only a few tables, just 4 parking spots, and a community garden to replace the gravel, she warmed to the idea.

"I think it's a lovely idea, and it will be good for the area," she said.

An abandoned building across the street has been approved for development. So have a few other nearby eyesores.

The foundation plans to move forward quickly on the restaurant. The hope is to have it open and receiving customers by July.

The menu at the Bon Jovi restaurant will feature nutritious items and no prices.

Diners can also donate money to pay for the meals of others.

~ Hath

Wanted Wednesday: November 1, 2007

Please rise for the playing of our national anthem.

Lost Highway Tour, Newark.

aka the REAL start of my obsession.  This was the first show I went to solo and the beginning of a beautiful [fake] friendship with the band.

Man alive, what a great show, and a great experience overall.  I met a great woman named Mary who was also traveling alone to the show -- we ended up at the same hotel, and hung out together before the show.

I had purchased my ticket via TicketMaster and had something on the floor but wa-a-a-a-a-ay far back.  When I got to the arena, I went to the box office and checked on what was left for tix.  I wound up with 20th row from the stage, dead center in front of Jon's mic stand.  A-MAY-zing seat.  Unbelieveable experience.

As for this particular performance, it's honestly (in the grand scheme of things) not as special as some of the others I've showcased in this feature.  No long intro, nothing really interesting with their voices or the sound, but still a solid, great performance.
Let's Ride!






The link to download from my Mediafire is here.

~ Hath

Mid-Day Motivator: Fictionistas

Why not, indeed!

Some of us Fictionistas are getting together this June to take in a Philly Soul game.  Jon, we'll be out and about in your old stomping grounds -- chase us down, why dontcha?

~ Hath

NYC Memphis In-Theater Event

David Bryan attended the New York Premiere of "Memphis" at Regal Union Square Theatre, Stadium 14 last night in New York City.

~ Hath

Mid-Day Motivators: Faith

Anastasia, thanks for these -- they're beautiful.  And, since I missed the noon deadline, here are THREE of them for you.

~ Hath

David out and About

... sometime over the weekend.
Anyone know where these are from?

Thanks, Wils, for the photos -- you're right, he does look damned good :)

~ Hath

One Night Only

... until it gets taken down at least :)




~ Hath

Hitting ALL the Demographics

As seen in the May/June edition of AARP magazine.

Thanks, JD, for the drop!


~ Hath

He's a little bit Rock-n-Roll

As reported by Broadway World, Richie is  to be released on May 3:

Donny Marie Osmond have reunited to record together again after 30 years with a much anticipated new album, produced by Buddy Cannon, best known for producing Kenny Chesney's hit albums. The songs will excite fans of their infectious style a little country and a little bit rock n roll . The album features songs written by Richie Sambora, Carole King and Kenneth Babyface Edmonds, Carole Bayer Sager, David Foster, Jeremy Lubbock, Richard Marx, Frank Myers, Gary Baker and Walt Aldridge, and performances by Richie Sambora and Gavin DeGraw.

To pre-order, click here.

The track listing includes One Last Goodbye; a version of which was done by our Richie on the Banger Sisters soundtrack. Suppose it's the same one?

~ Hath

Out for a Stroll

Jon Bon Jovi and his wife Dorothea Hurley are spotted strolling through SoHo in New York City before sitting down for a drink at the 'Pasticceria Bruno Bakery and Cafe'.

source

~ Hath

JonBon and the Gores

The Gores (Al and Tipper) had a little get-together in Manhattan on Thursday night to celebrate the publication of Kristin's book "Sweet Jiminy."

Both Al and Tipper were in tow -- we've had a soft spot for them since they dressed up as Beauty and the Beast for Halloween back when Al was Veep -- and siblings Karenna and Albert III turned up to support their sister. Also on-hand: Bon Jovi, Gayle King, Renee Zellweger, Jason Sudeikis and designer Rachel Roy.

source

Thanks, Queenie, for the link drop!

~ Hath

Page Six: We Hear...

Thanks, Mys!!

~ Hath