Well...let me think... when I was a kid I listened to whatever I could get... I had a cassette with Techno music (uuaarggghhhh), a promo CD with soul music (that was actually my first CD) and then I liked Michael Jackson, the Bad and Thriller stuff. But I guess it was my older brother who saved my taste.

When I heard the Beatles with "Ticket to ride" at the age of 9 or 10 I was so impressed that I said to myself: That's the kind of music I will listen to and play. Then I started to play guitar. My brother also introduced me to Pink Floyd and Guns n' Roses.
But it was a cassette that I found
at a friend's house that had some songs from "Slippery when wet" on it. I remember going on holiday with my parents and playing Livin' on a Prayer and Raise your hands in the car very loud - to "annoy all the neighbours" I then bought cassettes of KTF and the first album, which I liked very much. Keep the Faith, the album, had a deep impact on me and set the direction for the rest of my life. Songs like I believe or In these arms and my all time BJ fave Bed of Roses became close friends.

It's funny because I remember lying in the garden (must have been summer '93 or '94) listening to "Dry County" for the first time expecting a country song. At that age I didn't realize that there was no "r" in "county". How was I surprised!
Then my brother came around, found that cassette of KTF, looked at it and said, "oh, Bon Jovi. Do you know that I once played a song of them with my band?" He then gave me a demo cassette where they played "Wanted dead or alive". Although my brother isn't a big fan - but goes to concerts of BJ - he still says that Bed of Roses is one of the song he wishes to have written himself. Then he showed me songs on the guitar, Prayer, Wanted, bed of Roses, Dry County, Blaze of Glory etc.

The first CD I bought then was "7800° Fahrenheit" at nice price. It was summer, I played it loud and loved it. Then I went to the record store again, asked for Bon Jovi and they sold me a version of KTF with the bonus live disc. Then my brother bought me "New Jersey", took me to my first ever rock concert in 1995, Bon Jovi in Essen and so the story went on.

The first album I bought when it was released was "Crossroad" in autumn 1994. Then I already called myself a fan.

And yes, it's just damn good music. I don't care for Jon's ass, I like them as a band and what they do as a band. Which is just the best music around!