Jon's AMA Acceptance Speech

This was posted on the Backstage Message Board by Karen (One4Love4Truth) and so she gets the credit. I just borrowed it and thought I would share it over here on this board.


This is the thirty-first award of merit presented at the AMAs.

It reads: "for being the embodiment of rock music for the last 20 years for inspiring countless musicians to follow in their footsteps and for elevating all of us with their musicianship and artistry"

Jon:

Thank you. I’d like to thank Dick Clark and Larry Klein for this surreal but much appreciated award. And I have to read some people off the list.

My parents. Thanks mom and dad you were good enough to let your kids dream and I know you must be very proud of us tonight.

I want to thank Dorothea who put up with me, who loved me when it was easy, and who loved me even more when it was hard. I thank you for that.

There’s a lot of others I need to thank. Jerry Edelstein that’s been like a father and a friend and always the voice of reason. ?? Alper. Eileen Shriveman, who’s always had my back.….

And Paul Korzillus. Paul, your selfless dedication to my dream is so appreciated you’ll never know. We’ve been through so much together and it’s not over yet. Bill Harper, Joy Deretiger, Rob Light, Chris Halston, Bugsy, ?? bMike Rew, Scott Casey, and our crew.

To Obie O’Brien the one who reminds me it’s all still worth fighting for. You’re a real friend and I thank you.

Now to our record company IDG once Polygram now Universal the only label I’ve ever recorded for. Thank you. They’re a loyal bunch of guys who allow me to do what I want when I want and continue to believe. So for Dick Asher, Elan Levy, Jim Caparo, Lee Arcaro, and now Eliot Reed. I thank you.

And where would I be without the guys in the band?

To Alex Such, thank you for your dedication.

To Hugh Mcdonald, the best bass player any band could ever hope for I thank you.

For David Bryan, we’ve gone from the basements to the bars together since we were sixteen years old. I know big Ed is smiling on you tonight.

Tico Torres, the grownup of the band. Tico once said to me "you know I must love you I’ve been staring at your backside for 20 years." Thank you for pushing me, pulling me, keeping me big.

And Richie, Richie Sambora. Richie, I’m honored to call you my friend. We’ve done a lot together. You are always looking out for me. And I truly appreciate that. You are truly my right arm. I thank you.

I have to give a quick shout to our kids: the baby Hector, Colton, Gabby, Lilly, Ava, Stephanie, Jesse, Jake, and Romeo--Who are in fact our greatest hits.

And finally to our fans cause the reason we’re still here is because you believe even when I couldn’t you gave me the chance to dream. So may all your dreams take you wherever you want to go.

Thank you. God bless you. And good night.

You know, even if they were going to release a really really crap record, I would still admire Jon just for the person he is today.

I like the speech but I do think Jon speaks too much for himself!

He is thanking the other bandmembers ... That's nice in a way but it's BON JOVI who won the award - Not just Jon himself!!

I thought that too. Surely they should have been on stage and all said something too.

Weren't they on stage??? I thought they were (if I look on the pics) but that it was just Jon speaking.

That's exactly what I was thinking.

Did the other band members say anything? Like only a "thank you" or something?

The whole band was on stage but only Jon was the one who spoke. It would have been planned like that. Jon was the only one with paper in his hand. When they walked over to the stage, you could see Jon take the paper out but the others just get ready to stand there.

Aw, I thought calling the children their greatest hits was cute.

But I don't think him thanking the other members of the band implies he's appropriating the award

The fact that Jon had a piece of paper in his hand leads me to believe that they had discussed it before hand and they were fine with Jon doing all the talking. I don't think we should worry about it. They don't seem too concerned.