Monday, June 21, 2004 BY LAURA DANNEN
For the Star-Ledger

Alec Jon Such, former bassist for Bon Jovi, put thousands of dollars worth of cars, furniture, artwork and rock'n'roll memorabilia on sale in a weekend auction at his home in Colts Neck.

Too bad no one was buying it.

"What a dull crowd," said auctioneer Steve Miranti of Auction Liquidation Services. "I guess there's no Bon Jovi fans out there."

There were a few fans of the New Jersey-based band on hand -- notably, Pam and Chauncey Cozine from Middletown, who went home Saturday with $1,525 worth of Such's keepsakes, including a Fender bass guitar played and signed by Such, and the 1992 "Keep the Faith" album's double platinum records.

"We've been fans of Bon Jovi's since his big-hair days in the 1980s," said Pam Cozine. "I thought they were going to sell everything here for a lot more. I didn't think we'd get anything."

When Chauncey handed her seven pairs of fake-leather "pleather" pants worn by Such on tour and in videos, she groaned.

"I hope this isn't my birthday present."

Auction items ran the spectrum, even for a self-proclaimed "pack rat" like Such. Jewelry and coin collectors poured over sterling silver bracelets and Susan B. Anthony coins, while a mom and her daughter inspected the stuffed Bon Jovi band dolls.

Still, it didn't look like the auction would yield the $400,000 Such's first auction in 2000 earned. A few Fender bass guitars sold for $700 to $750, while the highlight of the day -- the 1960 MGA Roadster convertible -- sold for $7,500. In all, 300 items were sold for a total of $30,000. Last year's auction ended with a $300,000 profit, but sold 1,200 items.

Murphy Realty also held an open house for Such's $1.5 million colonial-style house and three acres of property. There has been a lot of interest, but no sale as of yet. Such wants to "downsize" and move to a ranch-style home in the Colts Neck area.

"I broke my hip when my car was hit head-on by a drunk driver in 1995," said Such. "I just don't feel like walking up and down stairs anymore."

At age 52, Such is divorced and childless, and admits he doesn't need a lot of property at this point in his life. Although Teen Beat once called him the "wild one" in the band, he has considered settling down with his girlfriend, Karin Konrad, 35.

"I keep asking her to marry me and she keeps telling me no," he said with a wry smile.

Such left Bon Jovi in 1994, when he was 42. He says the age difference to the reason he retired.

"I'm 10 years older than these guys, and I guess I just burnt out quicker. Now they're getting up to the age I was when I left the band, and they realize they have to do easier tours."

Such and guitarist Richie Sambora left the band Message and joined Sayreville-native Jon Bon Jovi's band in the early 1980s.

Drummer Tico Torres and keyboardist David Bryan rounded out the group that would go on to international fame with albums "New Jersey" in 1988, "Keep the Faith" in 1992 and the greatest-hits album "Cross Road" in 1994.

Such, who plans on staying in the area because of family, joins Bryan, Bruce Springsteen, and Queen Latifah as famous Colts Neck residents. Torres and Sambora used to live in the area, but have since moved to Florida and California, respectively.