Wolverhampton Bon-derers

By Andy Coleman


Sir Jack Hayward, beware. American rock giants Bon Jovi may try to buy Wolverhampton Wanderers after their gig at the Molineux.





The band are in the market for a sports club - although Wolves chairman Sir Jack will be relieved to know they're initially looking at an American football team.

Reveals guitarist Richie Sambora: "There's the possibility of buying an Arena Football team. Arena Football is a new concept, it's basically an indoor, more compact version of American Football.

"It's very fast and very rough and is really growing in the States. Most of the clubs in the big cities have been snapped up but we hear there's a team available in Philadelphia."

With millions of records sold the Bon Jovi members enjoy the luxury of having money to spend on whatever their heart desires.

Lead singer Jon Bon Jovi has admitted buying luxury cars, houses and even college educations for his friends but Richie says he's more careful with his spending.

"I'm not that extravagant. I have a nice home and an Aston Martin. I just enjoy spending time with my family, going to the beach."

Richie is married to actress Heather Locklear, and they have a five-year-old daughter, Ava. They live an hour's drive north of Los Angeles. When not working with Bon Jovi he admits he likes to take a break from rock and roll.

"I take a sabbatical from music, that way I remain fresh for when we get back together again. But at some point I'd like to do more solo work, although there's another Bon Jovi album to record first."

Also on the drawing board is a box set to mark Bon Jovi's 20th anniversary and a live acoustic greatest hits set recorded and filmed for DVD in Japan.

The band has even become involved in selling their wares on a home shopping channel.

"That was a limited edition Bounce DVD and video with specially filmed segments. These days, with the increase in downloading from the Internet and piracy, you have to do whatever you can to sell records. When the chance to sell on a home shopping channel comes up you just have to seize the day."

With Bon Jovi's loyal British fanbase Richie is particularly looking forward to Tuesday's show.

"The American fans are fickle and at one point we fell off the map in our own country but the UK audience stuck with us," he says. "We like playing indoors and outdoors but a stadium in good weather is hard to beat."

Bon Jovi
Tuesday 24 June 2003
Molineux Stadium
Wolverhampton