When Did Jon Go Through "The Change"

I remember years ago being on an airplane reading a business magazine that had an in-depth article/interview of Gene Simmons. It was very interesting reading about the business part of KISS. So I think the problem is one of context: people want Jon to talk about and be excited about the music since a new cd has been released and he is touring the world again.

However, I always thought Jon and Bon Jovi would make an excellent in depth feature in a magazine such as Vanity Fair that would focus on all the components: music and the business of music, touring, etc. I certainly wouldn't mind learning more about the "mammoth machine" that is Bon Jovi. Lasting 30 years is a feat. Whether Jon wants to lift the veil on the operation is another thing entirely but it would be interesting.

For Jon to sound/act like he did in interviews 20 years ago wouldn't work. He is not that person anymore and he would look like a caricature of a young rock star. I don't think he was ever that goofy in reality--it was part of the promotion. From all reports, he has always been very very serious.

God I admire this Richie so much. He should quit the retarded jokes though, I can't stand them.

Exactly...the thing is when you meet both Jon and Richie they are not like they are in interviews. Meaning Jon isn't the grumpy bastard that he appears to be and Richie isn't the happy, go lucky guy either. But, both are good guys, at least from my experience.

LMAO

The overall problem I have with Jon is when he acts so politically serious. It's almost like he tries too hard and its comming off fake. Where is that cool happy rock star we once had? If he wants to pretend he's a politician, he has to smile more but then he thinks no one will take him serious. And he's right, they won't... Jon needs to realize that he is a rock star who does good things with his charity and thats it. He's not Bill Clinton's equal.

It's called "aging" - same has happened to me according to my wife.
As I've got older I've apparently got grumpier and am not so fun-loving.
My personal opinion on why that is is because I have more responsibilites and pressures now than I did 10/12 years ago.

It's the same with Jon.... He's not 31 anymore like he was in the first video.
Then he had no kids, the music scene was less manipulated by reality shows and there was more fun to be had.
Since then he's had 4 kids, toured a lot more, there's been 9/11 which obviously had a massive impact on him from a political perspective, he's decided he wants critics to admire his work, and general aging has got to him.

All the same reasons why the gigs are the same anymore.... as I've just commented on another thread, I'd love to re-live the 1996 shows, but they're just a memory now.

This ^

I don't expect Jon to act as he did 20 years ago and I do agree he has always been very serious about money and music. However, there is a difference between aging and becoming a self described grumpy old man. He is clearly more mature in the 2000 Conan interview than the 1993 interview but his personality is essentially the same. The past few years we have had who Rdkopper describes above and its affecting his image, music and performances, IMO. These interviews are all most fans have to go by. Jon, you're a rock star - own it.

I agree. I have often felt as though, in recent years, Jon's political/philanthropic interests have overshadowed his music, but maybe he wants it that way. Maybe he wants his legacy to be his good deeds and he wants the music to reflect that; to be almost incidental in the bigger picture (the idealism) he espouses. I think his heart is now with leaving a legacy that goes beyond the whole 'rock star' thing.

I agree. I think that if he would have received the recognition from critics that he so desired in the past, he would still be focused on the music. I'm not saying he wouldn't be a charitable guy, but he probably wouldn't be so vocal about it. I guess he figures if he won't be recognized/remembered for his music, he'll do something else. But I don't think its working as from what I read online, on various sites, many people think he comes across as arrogant and should keep his nose out of politics.

Going a little off topic here but in the 2000's Jon really started focusing on commercial success right? Maybe because he didn't think Keep the Faith and These Days were huge hits. But wasn't These Days their most critically acclaimed album? And Keep the Faith produced 4 greatest hits. So if they would have kept going down that road maybe they would have gotten that recognition.