Early eighties had a big impact on me when it comes to music. Some of the bands that I did and do find so damn great today are coming from those days. Also, some of them brilliant acts back then has gone to mediocrity and nothingness today. I thought I'd post few opinions about then and now, feel free to add ur views and bashings to this

Metallica: Ride The Lightning
Brilliant follow-up to the debut, being big part in changing the metal scene.
Now: recent release, uh, well i guess it wasnt quite as good as anticipated, but they did put up a kickas* tour. Played some rare/never played tunes and proved they're still one of the top live acts out there

Iron Maiden: Piece Of Mind
After a masterpiece of metal, Number Of tThe Beast, this was sort of disappointing release. Album that I remember looking forward the most back then. With time though, it did get better and I do think it's way too underrated.
Now: Living a succesfull comeback after reuniting with Bruce Dickinson. Still one of the best live acts in metal scene. Just check out San Bernardino gig from this august...

Dio: Holy Diver
Ronnie James taking a step forward and going "solo" with one of the biggest surprises of the decade. Strong debut with no weak tracks
Now: Still touring and releasing album, only in quite small scale without any big media attention. Live shows being very audience oriented, giving a feeling that the man is in it for the love of music...

Deep Purple: Perfect Strangers
Reuniting classic line-up. A killer album in manner of classic Purple.
Now: After changes in line-up, still around. Still giving hell of a live show and Gillan does prove that gaining age doesn't mean losing all ability to perform well.

Whitesnake:Slide It In
They were always all about catchy tunes and Mr. Coverdale's voice.
Now: Comeback tour, or more like walk down the memory lane tour since there is no new album. Coverdale has lost lots of his vocal range but he doesn't try to hide that, he just gives all he got and does put up a damn good show.

Bon Jovi: The Debut
Showed that a band with a positive approch and catchy tunes can rock just as much as all so "serious" acts. Fresh sound, and did put some party attitude to the scene. Runaway just knocked me off my feet.
Now: Chasing commercial success with going more and more towards pop. Last decade, nothing good from them. Even live shows has become all the same tour after tour. Tired and worn out?

This list could go on a lot further, but I guess few examples will give u the idea why I still like and respect some and not the others...

In all fairness, I must add that lots of band I liked and still like has fallen into oblivion, but quitting/disappearing is at some cases better choise than becoming a calculated cash-making machine. Sure, lots of people do like this calculated stuff that fills the charts, but I just look for more heart and honesty in music. I don't put much value to bands that apparently has lost their passion for music and replaced it with passion for cash.

So what comes to jovi, I have seen and lived the days when I truly liked them because they were just brilliant at what they did. Year after year they just seem to put less effort into their releases, and I happen to find them boring being so damn calculated. Same thing with the shows, crap like Bad Med/Shout tour after tour is just boring. Sure, if I was born in '85 and first thing I heard was IML, I'm sure I'd think they still do rock, but I think I have a bit of a different view than lots of people around.