A review by Terry Farris / farfmjax@aol.com

Mr. Harrington,

I have just finished reading your review of Bon Jovi's 27 February San Jose concert.

I do have to say that you are completely wrong. Yes, you obviously are entitled to your review (opinion), that is our country given rights. I know this well having served in the Navy for the last 23 and one-half years, and still serving.

I have been a Bon Jovi fan since 1983 when Runaway and the debut album first came out. I have had the great opportunity to see the band live in concert on three different occasions. I have great memories through the years because of the band's music. The most recent concert was this past month (18 Feb) in Tampa. I have listen to their music on radio, watched their videos, bought DVDs and VHS videos, watched them on TV, and of course in concert from the first days of their career. Each time I have seen them in concert, the songs, the music, the show, the lights, everything, are great. They have gotten better each time I have seen them. During the Tampa show, which was over two hours and 24 songs, the band was simply awesome and they still know how to bring the rock and roll to their audience. My 19 and 13 year old sons, were totally entertained and are big fans of the band. For my 13 year old, he liked Bon Jovi all along in his young life, but with the release of Crush in 2000 and the single "It's My Life," Bon Jovi became his favorite band. By the way I disagree with your comment, "Comeback CD." The band never went away. If that is so, how can they continue to sell "MILLIONS" of CDs and sell out arenas and stadiums? They would be playing clubs and fairs if they were a "Comeback band." The band simply took a break and did have some low points personally, but hey, what marriage don't. I know my 24 year marriage to my beautiful wife Susan has had some low points. Richie called the bands relationship a marriage mixed with complete trust and friendship. You don't have staying power like they enjoy without it being a marriage. A marriage that has produced great music and will continue to do so.

You really gave a bad review of the bands new CD, "Have a Nice Day!" Being a fan of Jon and Richie's song writing ability, and I don't think you have followed the band close enough to get a better understanding of the lyrics written by these ICONS, you can see the originality and craftsmanship not seen by any band of their kind during the last 20 years in my opinion. The song "Last Man Standing" is a masterpiece. I couldn't wait for the concert to start because I knew the band would open with this song as I have been following their concert setlists. From the opening line of "Come see a living, breathing spectacle only seen right here" to the last line of "The Real Thing," the song writer has you drawn in to the story. The story, which covers the legacies of Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash as the last remaining song writers and authentic storytellers of their time, is truly a classically written song. If you just close your eyes and listen to the song (especially the live version), I think you will see how well this song was painstakingly put together and how well it was written. The CD only gets better with songs such as "Welcome to Wherever You Are," a song that says "you are excepted for who you are and wherever you come from, to "I Am", a song that says if you are feeling down and out, I am there for you, just here to love you, to "Story of My Life," a song that says, this is my story, and you know the song is so well written that it could apply to Clay Aiken or Justin Timberlake, or Terry Farris, because it is the "Story of My Life. If a person can make it his own, guess what, that song has made a difference in their life and this is what sells records! I am a big fan of the CD. Jon and the band have created yet another classic. It stays in my car CD player.

You must not like the type of music that Bon Jovi writes and performs. But 100,000,000 people who buy their records and over 250,000,000 people who have attended their concerts disagree.

You and I do agree on the bands ability to put on a good concert and I would not be remiss at all to say that all these "sold out shows" that Bon Jovi is still creating in 2005/2006 are in total agreement as well. Jon is a master showman and he knows how to work the audience. From his flying through a crowd to walking a catwalk, to actually standing amidst the fans, he has created brilliant ideas that make fans keep coming back for more and feel they are a part of the band. It also goes to show you that all those 18,000 plus people at each show agree with me that the songs are great and Bon Jovi is still a current band, not a comeback band. Did you see how many 20 and under people were in attendance? Not just the group of people who listened to Bon Jovi during the 80's. People don't just go to a concert to see a good show, they go because the MUSIC is good and the songs are good and that the band and audience become one. All the songs are sung by the crowd in unison with Jon. People know and LOVE the lyrics. How can you not, their great (the lyrics and music)?

I do believe that in order to give an honest review of a band, you have to know more about them then just "hearing" them once or twice. I don't know for sure, but I don't think you listen to the band's music on a daily basis and I sincerely doubt you sit down and actually read the lyrics of the band's songs, or listen to Jon explain how the lyric came to life. I have because I believe in their music and the words of each song.

Mr. Harrington, Bon Jovi's music has been a part of my life since their debut and I relate to their music, especially the lyrics. You can say Bon Jovi has been a major part of the "Story of My Life!" I listen to plenty of types of music, but I always come back to the music of Bon Jovi when I want to want to rock out or I want to get back in a good mood (singing along) or just mellow out with the power ballads or to just have plain fun. The are my favorite band.

Sir, Bon Jovi is "The Real Thing!" and in years to come not only will you hear from Jon and the boys with new music, you will also see some new storyteller lyric writer writing songs based on the writings of a Bon Jovi song and giving Bon Jovi the props for getting them started. Alas, Have a Nice Gig! Oh, by the way, finding new talent isn't new to Bon Jovi. Jon, Ritchie, Tico, and Bryan have been helping bands get their big break for years and how many other entertainers are singing a Bon Jovi written song? They have made a difference in today's music.

As I close this email and as the CD "Have a Nice Day" gets closer to three million sold (last I saw), I have to say you are totally off the mark in your review of Bon Jovi. Bon Jovi is definitely not a boy band, they are the true band that caters to the simple man and they are a band that knows what staying power is and they are a band that can entertain and they are a band that knows how to make you feel good through their songs and sir, I am one of 100,000,000 people that buy their records, go to their concerts, watch their videos, and thoroughly enjoy their music, we have to say we disagree with your review. They are the modern day Rolling Stones and as long as they keep putting out the music, I will keep buying. I believe in their music that much.

As Jon says so triumphantly, "CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?"

God Bless America and God Bless our right to speak out! BON JOVI ROCKS!

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