Jon Bon Jovi's Opening Act

Tells 60 Minutes "I Haven't Had A Bad Year Since The Doctor Slapped Me On The Ass"

(CBS)  This story was first published on May 18, 2008. It was updated on July 4, 2009.

When you mention the name Bon Jovi, you are really talking about two things: it's the name of one of the most famous rock bands in the world, and it's also the name of its front man and lead singer, Jon Bon Jovi.

Either way, after a quarter of a century in the spotlight, you're still talking about one of the most successful acts in music history.

Since emerging from the clubs of the New Jersey shore a decade after Bruce Springsteen, Bon Jovi has sold just as many records around the world, but without the fanfare and critical acclaim.

And, as 60 Minutes correspondent Steve Kroft first reported last spring, none of it would have happened without the founder, Jon Bon Jovi: show man, salesman, philanthropist, sportsman and clear-eyed CEO, who is very much an anomaly in the music business.

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On a hot New Jersey day in July 2007, Giants Stadium in the Meadowlands was packed for a Live Earth benefit featuring some of the most famous rock stars on the planet. A few thousand feet overhead, Jon Bon Jovi-one of the main headliners and the crowd's favorite-was surveying his domain.

"This is my hometown stadium. I'm so crazy about this building," he said.

And with good reason: in this day and age there are only a handful of groups that can fill a football stadium, and Bon Jovi has done it at Giants Stadium eight times.

A half an hour later, he was on the ground and in the dressing room chugging little bottle of Ginseng, as the rest of the band went through its pre-concert routine.

After a few pictures with his fans, more than 50,000 people would get what they had been waiting for.

It was the beginning of another good run in a very long career that has been full of them. His tenth album, "Lost Highway," was number one on the Billboard charts, and he was just beginning another world tour that ended up grossing more than a quarter if a billion dollars over fourteen months.

"This has been a very good year for you," Kroft remarked.

"I haven't had a bad year since the doctor slapped me on the ass, you know," Bon Jovi joked, laughing.

He's not bragging - he's just commenting on his own incredible good luck. He was born John Francis Bongiovi an hour's drive from the Meadowlands to a father who was a Marine-turned-hairdresser and a mother who was a Marine-turned-Playboy Bunny. It explains the good looks and the discipline he needed to survive the stigma of being one of the original 1980s hair bands.

"You've got to laugh and have some fun with it. I've jokingly said I'm responsible for the hole in the ozone layer," Bon Jovi joked.

He's still trying to live it down, and it has probably hasn't helped his street cred.

Asked if he has gotten the respect that's due, Bon Jovi told Kroft, "Well that depends on how do you want to define the word respect. Is longevity respect? Is coming home and having your family be proud of you respect? I don't know if what you're asking me is, critical acclaim, you know? There are critic's darlings. That I won't be. I got that."

When Bon Jovi's third album, "Slippery When Wet," debuted in 1986, Rolling Stone wrote that it sounded like "bad fourth generation metal," and neglected to mention a cut that would soon become a rock anthem.

That song was "Livin' On A Prayer;" the album sold 25 million copies and Bon Jovi got the last laugh.

"One of the biggest albums of all time is called 'Slippery When Wet.' If 'Livin' On a Prayer' hasn't crossed generations and had its influence on this culture and isn't the biggest karaoke song or stadium song that's its up there with anyone ever, let me know. Because it's just obviously not the truth," he told Kroft.

He followed it up with six more platinum albums and enough hits to make his sold out concerts among the hottest tickets in the music industry.

In a business that's struggling to survive, Bon Jovi is still a cash cow and no one works harder at it. He does four or five two and a half hour shows per week when he's on the road, with only a couple of two minute breaks to change clothes and cool off before going back on stage.

"I have to think every night like, I'm a prize fighter going out on that stage, that it's gonna be the last fight. You'd think, why would I beat myself up like that after 25 years?" Bon Jovi asked. "'Cause you want to be the best. I don't want to think that anyone's coming in there and gonna be better tomorrow night."

That blue collar work ethic to put on the best show possible has won him a loyal audience that generally prefers beer to wine, knows what they like, and could care less about the cognoscenti.

Bon Jovi likes to think that they are drawn to his honest, optimistic music, but he is not oblivious to his sex appeal, which is why he wears those tight jeans for all the ladies on their night out.

[LinMMonte]

I recently saw the video "Stand By Me". AWSOME! Jon & Richie you are ANGELS with huge hearts. Brothers that stay united for every cause. I love you & looking forward to your next tour in Texas.

[coolride3]

can you tell me brand of the little gingseng bottles
jon takes during the show. it was on your program
when the camera followed him back stage.

[jbjgrrl82]

*** do you people even waste your time COMPLAINING about the BEST BAND in the world!!!! Give it a rest HATERS. JBJ is an amazing person and this video proves it. I love to see stories on them becuz they are such down to earth people!! Bon Jovi has been around for 26 years and they''re not slowing down ANYTIME SOON SO KEEP ON HATING!! Thanks 60 minutes and I love you Jon.

[keithle1]

I can handle The Boss in small doses. Love "Livin'' On A Prayer." Great song. "Tommy used to work on the docks.." You have to take it for what it is. He''s not trying to be Bob Dylan.

[jerzeme]

There''s no need to call names, after all Jon Bon Jovi fans are as classy as he is, he is an amazing artist who has done more, given more and is loved more and respected more than all his naysayers. Let them have there opinions after all it''s a free country. We who love him, respect him and will continue to support him in all his next acts know the truth.

[truthyness]

CBS/AP) Barack Obama was poised to reach a major milestone Tuesday in the Kentucky and Oregon primaries - a majority of the pledged delegates offered in the Democratic presidential contest". YOU MEAN THIS IS "MAYBE", "ONLY THE FIRST TIME" HE HAS HAD a majority of the pledged delegates offered in the Democratic presidential contest???

ONLY THE FIRST TIME????

MAYBE????????!

In other words, *HILLARY IS WINNING* !!!!!

[maloosecat]

HERE''S A WEB-SITE FOR YOU STEVE...
http://www.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/care.html

[maloosecat]

Corporatized repetitive music packaged and made possibe by the 1980''s MTV/cable phenomenon, without which this guy,Bon Jovi, would have been a one-hit wonder. Thanks to our regular consumption of this short-lived stuff we''ve created millionaire entertainers turned business-people who can afford to buy football teams. People! haven''t you heard of the word boycott? We''re supposed to be the ones in control!

[republic1776]

I an take Bon Jovi over a moaning socialist Bruce Springstein anyday.

[tmnp7]

Making tickets affordable so that families can attend sporting events together! Believing that a sports franchise should get involved in solving the problems of the community in which they play! I thoroughly enjoyed this feature, and I applaud Mr. Bon Jovi for his efforts to build housing for lower income families and help organizations like Covenant House.

[Syndicate]

I took my wife to see them last year. It was a great show and we had a blast. I highly recommend seeing them if you get the chance.

[mmstar20]

i was just blaring the "New Jersey" album in my house the other day. introducing my 4 year old to my all time favorite band. there''s so many haters on here, but say what you will. it doesn''t matter to me. but what''s in the papers is all the bad stuff. the good stuff never gets press - that''s the price of being a celebrity, i guess. i was happy to find out how much good jon bon jovi has been doing, however small some of you think it is. it isn''t so small to the people and communities he''s helped, though.

[Kim Heigert]

Reading this article brought back memories of the Slippery When Wet concert. THAT WAS the first concert that I had ever been to. Went with a couple of friends to St. Louis....drank a little Jack...bought a couple t-shirts with BonJovi''s long mane on the front of it..danced in the aisles, screamed until we lost our voices...I don''t think anyone saw us without those t-shirts on for weeks. We used to tease each other that we slept with the shirts inside out so that we could be a little closer to Jon! (life was so simple back then!...so were we!LOL!) Anyway, it is nice to read about Jon''s views, his success, his insight and really to see that I was right to make him my ''hero'' back then...because no matter what silly people say....anyone with the responsibilities that that man OBVIOUSLY has ie: the lives of his band members, their families, his other business ventures and their families...etc..AND TO HOLD TOGETHER HIS OWN FAMILY...AND RESPECT HIS WIFE while having ''one-night candy'' thrown at him for all of these years...IS A HERO in my book! I am NOT saying that I believe that he is an Angel whom never strayed....I am saying that HE GOT IT RIGHT! AND CHOSE HIS FAMILY. There are many men and women out there with less temtation that don''t. Life can be so HARD these days....it is nice to see someone GET IT RIGHT!

[acolton1]

Bon Jovi: They came to Kansas City about a month ago and did 2 shows at the New Sprint Center. I would not pay a PENNY to see Bon Jovi. Bon Jovi is a major W.T band and I am sure they would be welcome with open arms at any NASCAR EVENT. Bon Jovi the W.T band.

[shellyj86]

How shallow are you people. Don''t we all work for our money?
That''s what we do, some of us make more, some less. You are just all jealous. He does a lot for all different chairites.

[robfactor1]

I have been so very impressed with 60 minutes over the years. But wasting so much expense on a rock group that will make enough money to feed a small nation but shares so little is just what you did on this broadcast. What a sham...give me a reason to watch anymore.

[neenga]

"say things like "could care less". That obviously means you must care some, which is not what he is trying to say. It''''s "couldn''''t care less" Steve."

Thanks for bringing that up. Sick of hearing people say it when it''s not what they mean!

[aaabee-2009]

These are My Boys, and Jon is/was/and will always be The Sexiest Man Alive. Best to them!

Dead or Alive! Wahoooooo. [flicks a bic and holds it high]

[jwh1953-2009]

How can Steve Croft rise to the level of 60 Minutes anchor and say things like "could care less". That obviously means you must care some, which is not what he is trying to say. It''s "couldn''t care less" Steve. I expect more from 60 Minutes.

[cricketmk3]

I try not to concern myself with entertainer''s opinions on politics, how much charity work they do, etc. They are famous for being a great band, actor, whatever. We buy their cd''s because we enjoy their music. Bon Jovi has been a great band for a LONG time. So what if they live a high lifestyle. They have worked hard unlike some of these rich celebutantes who are famous for doing nothing, do nothing for charity, and have no opinions.