Are you going to say the same thing about Richie when/if he ever reunites with the band since he publicly said that only a large sum of money would make him come back? Or are you going to finally take your blinders off and realize that people can compromise, wounds can heal, and friendships/relationships/partnerships can mend?

That's what I was thinking too. And I'm thinking that Jon hanging out in Nashville and his alliance with Nashville artists and events might be an indication of the direction we're going to see. The only album Jon has seemed exceptionally excited about in the last ten years has been Lost Highway and he had to compromise with the record company to be able to record and release it.

That could all be true. On the other hand, it could also be that Jon realized that he had made some mistakes and that there's a world of difference between "sticking to your guns" and "cutting off your nose to spite your face."

It wouldn't necessarily indicate a lack of principles either way, IMO.

The truth probably lies somewhere in the middle, where it usually hangs out. We'll probably never know where the give and take occurred, especially since we don't know what the sticking points were to begin with. My guess would be that both sides had to give up some ground. No shame in that.

Which is why I said they reached a compromise that would make Jon sign on the dotted line.

I'm happy that they are back in Universal, it's a "safe" home with support. Just think the last decade. We had an album every now and then.

But, I would love to hear them just once under a new label. I guess they would have more "artistic freedom". Universal seems to be too pushing about this in the other way

Somehow I don't see Universal running after Jon begging him to go back.

Jon, sitting on an album with no label, running back to Universal sounds more likely to me.

Because really... Who needs who more? The answer is pretty clear.

But, wasn't Irving Azoff offering a label/alternative or did I dream that?

No you didn't dream that. He was a manager AND there was talk of a label/alternative. Talk. But no one knew anything for sure. And we still don't. He might still be acting as manager. For all we know, he was a key player in getting them back with UMG.

As far as UMG not needing them, I scoff. Sure, there's no desire for a label to have the world's biggest touring act (on the years they tour) on their roster. Everyone knows album sales are going to be minimal in this day anyway, so at least they know Bon Jovi HAS an audience and their last several new albums have given UMG the top spot on the Billboard chart. Yeah... nothing appealing about that act. Nothing at all. :rolleyes:

In case anyone is interested, here’s a transcript of the video from the Q&A about the album that was posted over on the “Nashville” thread. The video was originally posted here: (https://www.facebook.com/BonJoviUpda...54017506363834)



The question was already in progress so I picked up with Jon’s response, beginning at 0:13:



“The record’s done. The record is just being mixed now. I’m ecstatic with it. Y’know, if for nothing else, out of pain come great songs. And I’m really, really, really, really happy with the record. I think we’ve got a fantastic representation of who we are at this time. So, the intention, y’know, is to get it out this fall, um, sooner than later, because it’s been sitting, y’know, on my computer forever… But we’re really pleased with it. And then the hope is that we go out early next year. That’s the hope. That’s the hope. February-ISH, right now. Don’t hold me to it. I don’t want to read it on the internet: ‘Jon said February.’ I think it just depends on everybody’s um, health and well-being at that time. Y’know?

"But yeah, the record’s fantastic and it’s still definitely called This House is Not for Sale and it’s definitely… I’m really proud of it. It’s all about our integrity, and … I read an article today. Somebody, like some hitmaker and they were like, ‘nobody listens to the lyrics anyway!’ I was like (flips the guy off and mouths like “FU”,“Whaddya mean ‘nobody listens…?’ and flips him off again”), ‘I’m working hard on this shit!’

"Y’know, anyhow, it, it’s really good. It’s something I’m ecstatic with. I…I… See, the bitch is, in this day and age, I can’t play it ‘cause you guys would record it and put it out today. So I can’t even sit here with my phone and go, ‘listen to this.’ But I got it. All I can say is, ‘I got it.'

"Alright, next question…”


I didn’t hear the reference to ‘they sobered up and we’re back home’ though. Must have happened at a different point in the Q&A.

Edited for corrections after seeing a better quality video shot from a different angle. Corrections in yellow.

Thanks for the transcript. His enthusiasm about the songs is contagious. I'm very eagerly looking forward to the next album. He's right--out of pain comes great material. And I love that he said he works hard on the lyrics. It's nice to know that he cares about the quality and doesn't just phone it in.