[bonjovi90]

Originally Posted by JackieBlue

Speculation has it that the label may have actually pulled the promotion of Stranger in this Town because if it had succeeded it might have delayed the reunion of Bon Jovi (or even killed it, according to Tommy Marolda). The label knew they would make more money off of one album from an extremely successful rock band than they would off of moderately successful solo albums from 2 of the band's members.

It's known that they pulled the plug in 1998 midway through his solo tour and it could've been both ways in 1991.
While I adore the album, it was at the time of grunge arising and I think it wouldn't have made much of an impact anyway. For instance, the German shows were cancelled because of poor ticket sales. Tickets were 35,- DM back then which is roughly 19€ now and was actually the amount of money you had to pay for a Bon Jovi ticket here on the New Jersey tour. So maybe they had also been a bit too ambitious.

[bonjovi90]

Originally Posted by YOVANAfromPeru

for my taste BJ albums were waaay better than JBJ/RS solo albums

Interesting take. It solely depends on my mood, but on any given day I actually rate Stranger and Destination Anywhere as high as my top Bon Jovi albums.

[Rdkopper]

Originally Posted by JackieBlue

Speculation has it that the label may have actually pulled the promotion of Stranger in this Town because if it had succeeded it might have delayed the reunion of Bon Jovi (or even killed it, according to Tommy Marolda). The label knew they would make more money off of one album from an extremely successful rock band than they would off of moderately successful solo albums from 2 of the band's members.

Not true what so ever... I lived through it they promoted the shit out of it... Just wasn't radio friendly for that period of time... end of discussion

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[JackieBlue]

Originally Posted by bonjovi90

It's known that they pulled the plug in 1998 midway through his solo tour and it could've been both ways in 1991.
While I adore the album, it was at the time of grunge arising and I think it wouldn't have made much of an impact anyway. For instance, the German shows were cancelled because of poor ticket sales. Tickets were 35,- DM back then which is roughly 19€ now and was actually the amount of money you had to pay for a Bon Jovi ticket here on the New Jersey tour. So maybe they had also been a bit too ambitious.

And strangely enough, in both cases, it conveniently freed Richie up to go back into the studio. Very similar to AOTL and WAN. Of course, that was Dangerbird, after the guy who brought Richie on was suddenly made an offer he couldn't refuse to head up Elektra.

(Now, RDK, THAT is what a real conspiracy theory looks like.)

Good point about the ticket sales. Still, it would be nice to know if it would have fared any better if Richie hadn't had to fund the tour himself.

But it's a moot point anyway, since it seems the World's Most Professional Bon Jovi Fan has called an end to the discussion.

Originally Posted by Rdkopper

Not true what so ever... I lived through it they promoted the shit out of it... Just wasn't radio friendly for that period of time... end of discussion

Don't tell me, man. Tell Bryan Reesman and Tommy Marolda.

BTW, here's a question for you: if you don't want to discuss something, why do you bring it up?

[Rdkopper]

Originally Posted by JackieBlue

And strangely enough, in both cases, it conveniently freed Richie up to go back into the studio. Very similar to AOTL and WAN. Of course, that was Dangerbird, after the guy who brought Richie on was suddenly made an offer he couldn't refuse to head up Elektra.

(Now, RDK, THAT is what a real conspiracy theory looks like.)

Good point about the ticket sales. Still, it would be nice to know if it would have fared any better if Richie hadn't had to fund the tour himself.

But it's a moot point anyway, since it seems the World's Most Professional Bon Jovi Fan has called an end to the discussion.



Don't tell me, man. Tell Bryan Reesman and Tommy Marolda.

BTW, here's a question for you: if you don't want to discuss something, why do you bring it up?

I'm not saying they didn't pull the plugs... I'm saying they didn't pull the plug because of any fear of losing Bon Jovi....

Stranger was fully promoted with multiple videos, radio air play, and Richie did the interviews... YouTube is your friend...

I was pulling for Stranger like no other. Ballad Of Youth just failed to chart... and it was all down hill from there... end of story...

Edit: one addition point... Grunge had absolutely nothing to do with it... '91 was still very 80's.. they was just an overload of bands (wanna be Bon Jovi's)... Some did very well and others tanked... Even though it seemed like a slam dunk, the 80's competition was unreal during that time... Everything had to be perfect... from the looks, to the hook, to the video, etc... Jon's side project with Aldo Nova was another one of those sad failed projects... I think if Richie and Aldo both released their albums a year or two earlier, their fate could have been different....

[YOVANAfromPeru]

I'm not gonna participate of this conversation, it's a slow Tuesday in my business, so I'm out of here! >_< jaja

[Thinny]

Originally Posted by Rdkopper

Edit: one addition point... Grunge had absolutely nothing to do with it... '91 was still very 80's.. they was just an overload of bands (wanna be Bon Jovi's)... Some did very well and others tanked... Even though it seemed like a slam dunk, the 80's competition was unreal during that time... Everything had to be perfect... from the looks, to the hook, to the video, etc... Jon's side project with Aldo Nova was another one of those sad failed projects... I think if Richie and Aldo both released their albums a year or two earlier, their fate could have been different....

Grunge had everything to do with the labels pulling funding for 80's era rock artists in 1991. I work with a band that had it happen to them. They were about to go in tour in the US with David Lee Roth and Cinderalla at the end of 91. Nirvana hit in September (same month Richie's album came out) and the label literally just dropped all support for 80's rock artists instantly and they were told not to fly over for the tour. The labels started signing bands from Seattle left right and centre. It was literally over night that everything changed. Sure there were still a few rock bands breaking through in the early 90s, but mainly only with acoustic ballads (Extreme, Mr. Big), but then it was over! Some of the radio stations took a little longer to change format.

[Rdkopper]

Originally Posted by Thinny

Grunge had everything to do with the labels pulling funding for 80's era rock artists in 1991. I work with a band that had it happen to them. They were about to go in tour in the US with David Lee Roth and Cinderalla at the end of 91. Nirvana hit in September (same month Richie's album came out) and the label literally just dropped all support for 80's rock artists instantly and they were told not to fly over for the tour. The labels started signing bands from Seattle left right and centre. It was literally over night that everything changed. Sure there were still a few rock bands breaking through in the early 90s, but mainly only with acoustic ballads (Extreme, Mr. Big), but then it was over! Some of the radio stations took a little longer to change format.

Wrong...It took a year for grunge to gain momentum and popularity... it's not like the album dropped and the next day it was over... Ballad Of Youth was released a month before the album when Paul Abdul, Brian Adams, Dam Yankees, Fire House were still having hit singles... Google hit songs from 1991 and Nirvana is no where to be seen on those charts... Here I'll do it for you...

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill...ingles_of_1991

It started with Smells Like Teen Spirit becoming a mainstream hit in 1992 and then other grunge bands gained momentum from that point. It was a progression like a domino effect. Stranger was already done by the time all this happened... KTF however fell victim to all this... but they still managed to get some success with BOR, In These Arms, and later with Always...

http://www.songfacts.com/facts-bon_jovi.php

Interesting rare facts of the band and Jon/Richie, etc himself.
Some facts there are known by fans and people though but others are rare.
I didn't know Richie was colorblind to red, green and brown.

[Rdkopper]

So for a label who didn't back Stranger In This Town, they provided the following: (Keep in mind that 90% of this was before Smells Like Teen Spirit became a mainstream hit)...

3 Singles with Videos:
Ballad of Youth - Release in August
One Light Burning
Stranger in This Town (Song)

Mr. Bluesman was released as a promo single
The "Answer" and "Rosie" were also released as promo singles in Japan.

Promo Appearances:
David Letterman
Arsenio Hall
MTV - Multiple
Rock-line
The Friday Rock Show
BBC Radio 1

Tour:
August 28th, 1991 - Richie Sambora, New York, USA
November 11th, 1991 - Richie Sambora, Moore theater, Seattle
November 13th, 1991 - Richie Sambora, San Francisco
November 15th, 1991 - Richie Sambora, Phoenix
November 16th, 1991 - Richie Sambora, Spreckles Theater, San Diego
November 19th, 1991 - Richie Sambora, UCLA Royce Hall, Los Angeles
November 23rd, 1991 - Richie Sambora, Riviera, Chicago
November 26th, 1991 - Richie Sambora, The Academy, New York
November 29th, 1991 - Richie Sambora, Count Basie Theater, Red Bank
December 1st, 1991 - Richie Sambora, Center Stage, Atlanta
October 10th, 1992 - Richie Sambora, Pecos Theater, San Diego, USA

I love this album. It's without a doubt in my top 10 but I'm going to call it what it is...