Bon Jovi and Cinderella
 

Maybe Bon Jovi didn't create the 80's Hairband / Glam Nation but he sure did have a heavy hand in adding to its popularity. We all know and proved that Jon wrote, sang on, and produced a bunch of material for other artists during that period. Although Jon's own record label failed, he did have some prior success finding new, amazing talent. This is just another notch as to why Bon Jovi deserves to be in the R&R Hall Of Fame Hall of Fame.

One rock act that doesn't get discussed enough is Cinderella. I personally think they were an amazing band and were much heavier than their name lead people to believe. This might be old news for some of the older folks but some of the younger ones could appreciate this....

Here is the story behind Jon's discovery of Cinderella:

1.
Cinderella was playing a gig in their hometown, Philly, and Jon happened to be in the club that night. He liked what he heard and got his label's talent scout to come see them and they ended up getting signed to a label as a result.

Cinderella toured with Bon Jovi for a while on the Slippery When Wet tour. There's even an appearance by Jon and the gang in the Cinderella video "Somebody Save Me."

(I time marked it to the part)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUkqBRC1zUA#t=03m46s

Bon Jovi has been quoted as saying "I saw Tommy Keifer onstage delivering some pretty nifty, growling vocals. Then he whipped out this Les Paul and proceeded to lay into some astounding sounds. This guy struck me as a star right then and there."

Jon Bon Jovi discovered this Pennsylvania band, whose album is filled with the kind of catchy pop-metal his own band plays. Night Songs CD music Produced by Andy Johns.

Jon Bon Jovi - Background vocals on "Nothing for Nothin" and "In From the Outside" (credited)

2.
Interview Guitarist Jeff LaBar:

What's the story behind how Cinderella was discovered by Jon Bon Jovi?

It happened while Bon Jovi was in Philadelphia recording the 7800° Fahrenheit record. On a night off from recording, Jon went out to watch Cinderella perform at a local club. I wasn't in the band at the time, but I was in a band that opened for them called Precious Metal. Cinderella didn't have a record deal at the time, but Derek Shulman, the man who signed Bon Jovi to Polygram, had the band's demo sitting on his desk.

After seeing the band, Jon was so impressed that he went back to Derek and told him he really needed to check out the band. So Derek came out, saw Cinderella play live and pretty much said the same thing every other record company had said about them: great look, great songs, great energy. They just need to change the drummer and the guitar player.

So, in 1985 Tom (Keifer) and Eric (Brittingham) began holding auditions. I had already known Tom because we both grew up not far from each other. I also remember that two of the other guitarists who auditioned were "Snake" Sabo (Skid Row) and Reggie Wu (Heaven's Edge).


Good thing Sabo found Skid Row..... lol

Jon really did play an intricate part in defining the 80's, which puzzles me so much as to why he's so against it.

Interesting post. I have vague memories of hearing Cinderella when I was growing up in the 80s (my parents only listened to classical music and I didn't get a radio of my own --and discover Top 40 music--until 1987).

I just recently reaquainted myself with Cinderella on YouTube, and listened to some live shows from last year. I found myself with a new appreciation for their blues-rock sound, and I love how Tom Keifer can just wail on vocals and then wail on guitar with equal conviction. My fave by them lately is "Long, Cold Winter."

By the way, Tom Keifer just released his first-ever solo album; there's live footage of him doing an old Cinderella song (can't remember which one offhand) on acoustic in a sort of folk-stripped down style as a duet with his wife. Then, midway through, he stands up, straps on his electric, raises his voice an octave, and brings it home. Amazing.

Maybe Jon disavows the 80s scene because so many of those bands (including Cinderella) are playing the small venue/county fair circuit now. But I'd argue that talent is either there or it isn't; playing for county fairs doesn't negate your talent (though it might negate your paycheck).

Saw Cinderella open at my first Bon Jovi show 03/14/87!

Reminds me of the Saturday Night Live sketch from JBJ's episode "Now i don't get to go to see Bon Jovi with opening act Cinderella!"

Gene Simmons has always claimed he discovered Cinderella, but that he couldn't convince the label to sign them.

I love Cinderella and Keifers new solo album sounds promising, but live he can't pull it off anymore. He sounds awful. No power, no confidence.

Did you know he actually had a paralysis on his vocal chords for years? Which is basically why Cinderella stopped touring, he just couldn't sing.

Ice

I discovered Cinderella ages ago. I haven't listened to their music in ages, though. Might give an album a spin.

Hear hear! Amen to that and so on. Cinderella are, were, whatever, an awesome band.

I always said Tom Keifer's voice was an acquired taste...just one I never acquired. :)

I remember watching the Moscow festival on satellite TV and, having had their album before the gig and liking it, I was quietly expectant.

I thought they were good but when you watch that show and compare it to Jovi at the same gig, it's a perfect example of why Bon Jovi survived grunge and so many didn't.

The work ethic of Jovi, playing like they've been told they'll never get to gig again. The difference in the songs is also evident. Songs like Gypsy Road and Coming Home are good, solid 3-stars out of 5 but they are more comparable to Jovi songs post-2000 and don't stand up next to BoB, WITS etc...