Feeling frustrated
 

Hi, this is the first time I have ever posted here, but I have been following the board for years.
The fact that I am even about to write this saddens me, because I have LOVED and supported this band for a decade now. There have been so many things going on in the Bon Jovi organization for the last 5 years (at least) that have left me bewildered, disillusioned, frustrated, disappointed, angry and above all sad.

It is sad that Jon has put all his focus on chasing fair-weather fans (and non-fans) while losing touch with die-hards - the people who are now standing there, feeling abandoned by their favorite band, thinking "What about us?"

Sky-rocketing ticket prices have left me (and so many others) feeling like cash cows. The fact that Jon continues to refer to himself as the "CEO" and to Bon Jovi as a "brand" sickens me and made me lose respect for him.
I am NOT a fan of a brand, nor am I a fan of a "CEO" (who is not even doing a good job, I might add!!). For me it has always been about the music!

True, Bon Jovi has always been a commercial band, but these days the focus shifted too far to the business/commercial side of things, while the music has been neglected.

Most of us agree that the music hasn't been up to par this decade - and in my opinion it is not a coincidence that this has happened while Jon has been parading around as a business man. Where is Jon Bon Jovi - the musician? The songwriter who wrote brilliant songs such as "Dry County", "Santa Fe", "Something To Believe In", "Bed Of Roses" etc. ? Where is the passionate performer who ALWAYS gave his best on stage?

Bon Jovi have been dumbing their music down and giving one lackluster performance after the other - only giving ammunition to the critics.
Let's face it: Bon Jovi have become their own worst enemies!
And the thing that frustrates me the most about this is that I KNOW they can do so much better - they just refuse to in order to stay relevant. Ironically, they have not realised that this behavior is making them irrelevant to die-hard fans.

The Circle is a good album - but it had the potential of being GREAT. Instead it feels like a rushed job (and I am definately not a fan of Shanks' production style). Richie is one of the best guitarists in the world, but he hardly ever shows it on record. WHY? They already have all the tools they need to be brilliant, so why aren't they using them!?

Jon says he doesn't perform many album tracks, because he is afraid of "polite applause". Since when has Jon become a coward? This is also laughable considering that the reason die-hards like me still come to Bon Jovi shows (even more than one) is to see exactly those songs being played. I personally could care less about the "hits" - in fact I could do without most of them ("Who Says You Can't Go Home" sucks, "It's my Life" is overplayed and now it's just annoying).
I want to see a daring Jon Bon Jovi! A Jon Bon Jovi who is able to suprise me and knock me off my feet with both his songwriting and his performances. And I am sad to say he has been failing to do so.

Jon has changed and not for the better. In the documentary, Jon comes off as arrogant (one could argue he has always been arrogant, but not this much) and out of touch with reality.
The documentary was a let down. To me it comes across as a vehicle to satisfy Jon's entirely too big ego. The documentary's aim was to make me/us fall in love with the band all over again - but it left me feeling cold. So if I, as a die-hard, reacted like this, I don't even want to imagine how non-fans reacted to it.

The promotion they have done this year in general has been a total disaster, which certainly didn't help record sales. They over-saturated the market with too many products all at once and over-exposed themselves. They have been too available to the point where most non_fans (the people Bon Jovi are so desperately chasing) are thinking "Go away. Get out of my face already!"

Bon Jovi desperately need to take a break and recharge. They cannot afford to release another rushed record. (Personally, I would love for Richie to FINALLY release another solo album - and even do a solo tour!)

Bon Jovi also need to be in closer contact with their fans (the internet provides many possibilities for that), so that they can finally be able to deliver again. The reason Bon Jovi haven't been able to satisfy die-hards is because the band don't even know who they are - much less what they want.

The only time Bon Jovi want something from their fans is when they are supposed to buy something (and almost everything is overpriced). and no fan wants to feel like a cash cow - it is disrespectful and hurtful. Their website is just one big commercial - even though it should be used as a way to communicate and connect with fans. The only news on the site is when some new PRODUCT is being sold. And the Q&A with Obie is a joke - he hardly ever has anything useful to say (if at all...). The website doesn't even have a message board for fans to interact and discuss.

And I don't even want to talk about the so-called "fanclub" (it's too depressing!). I just pretend it doesn't exist.

The people in charge of Bon Jovi have been running the band into the ground. So many things need to change! in my opinion, the management team needs to be restructured. Younger people who are aware of new media outlets need to have a chance in management.

I'm sorry if this post has been too long, but I just had to let my frustration out somewhere. This seems like the best place to do that (without being censored - another thing that disgusts me...)

Since this is a plce for discussion and not just for venting:
If you were part of the management team (and had the power to do as you please), what kinds of changes would you make regarding promotion etc.)?
As a fan, how do you want the band to change musically?

sack jon and bring in sebastian bach lol that guy doesn give a shit (and before you start it was a joke and i know alllllllllllllll about the bad blood and doc mchgee incident)

Yes it's a long post but very relevant in my opinion. I agree with almost everything you wrote.

Especially about the "brand" and Jon being the CEO of this brand.
He should try creativity, inspiration, commitment and passion to his art. And by art I don't mean business... I don't even think of buying this documentary.

Jon maybe put the band at its highest, but he's also responsible for what it is now. But he surely knows that, as the CEO of the brand...

And to answer to your last question, I don't think that management changes could save the band. Unfortunately it's not just a question of management, it's deeper than that.

Awesome post. I couldn't agree more.

I agree with everything you have to say. It's better to vent here than in the fan club boards. Those people are disillusioned. As much as I used to love this band I can honestly say it is all dying down after all these years. The prices of tickets and the ridiculously over priced packages just demonstrates to me that they don't care anymore. I am sure Jon knows everything that is going on EVERYTHING! Those that think the CEO is not aware need a wake up call.

I agree with your post.

I think album sales reflect that the band is over exposed.

I've felt for a long time that Jon just does the music for the money.

It's not about the fans anymore at all! It is all about the greed and the money.

Yeah it seems that way. There is just no passion to it anymore. It's as if the band need to stick to a strict set of rules when making new albums and releasing singles. They are trying to hard to be commercial and not making the music that comes naturally to them. I think Jon thinks it's important for him to keep a high profile and remains in the public eye to help aid his business dealings.

Well, I certainly do not intend to defend their songwriting and there's no way I could deny that they're trying to be commercial (at least 3 it's my life clones, a countryalbum after wsycgh and so on).

But I just can't imagine that they write songs and make albums just for the money, with songs that (they think) please the masses while they themselves don't like them. They must be contented with what they're doing. And not just because they get money for it.

I as a musician can't get my head around the concept of making music you don't like but that appeals to others. You do it one or two times, but no way for ten years and four albums. I played bass for several disco songs at a concert, but as I hate disco, there's no way I'm doing it again, in spite of all the positive reviews we got.

And they too keep mentioning how much fun they had while recording lh, or what a bunch of great songs they wrote for the circle. So I do think they like where they are at musically. And that's even sadder then doing it just for the money...

you pretty much nailed it

pretty depressing

hopefully one day they'll see the light and become the band they could be

dare to dream...