Bon Jovi: When We Were Beautiful [ハードカバー]

I started listening to Bon Jovi when I was 6...I am now 29. The first cassette tape (man, that makes me feel old!) I ever owned was New Jersey, and from there, my entire musical life was changed. I have followed Jovi through every album they've ever released, the break they took in the 90's that seemed to last forever, and have caught as many shows of theirs as I can...often dragging a reluctant father, who was then replace by an even MORE reluctant husband. So, without a doubt, Bon Jovi has, is, and always will be my favorite band.

I have not yet seen the documentary that accompanies this book (I don't get Showtime...bummer), but the book is a very in-depth look into one of the worlds most successful bands. The guys speak candidly about their days starting out, just how green they were when they released their first few albums, and how much they've learned in the 25 years they've been making music. The photos are awesome. Many are concert shots, but there are a bunch of back-stage shots that offer a behind the scenes glimpse, as well as some personal family shots.

Basically, if you're a fan of Bon Jovi, I absolutely recommend this. If you've followed their career and bought all the albums, then buy the book...you won't be disappointed. I can't wait to see the documentary that goes along with this. A great book from a great band. Here's to another 25 years guys!

How does a band sum up over 25 years worth of career that's spanned more than half their lead singer's life, thousands of concerts, and sales of well over 120 million albums? Not to mention survived more than 8 different music trends (at last count)and umpteen label management changes (10? 12?), while doing their own thing. By Jovi, this'd better be good.

Bon Jovi: When We Were Beautiful is indeed a very good anthology of a great career. Arranged by subject instead of the more predictable chronological order, it's narrated by the band members themselves and loaded with photos from a perspective rarely seen of the band, who publicly admit to not letting many people into their tight circle. There's much here to surprise the public, and maybe even a few hard core fans.

For one thing, this is not a picture book full of pretty, posed studio photographs of cute guys in the 80's. Although a couple of those are there for scrapbook purposes, the majority of the book's photos are either original, Phil Stern-style behind-the-scenes candids that were snapped for the book and its accompanying documentary (many of these photos are in black and white) or are photos of the band onstage. In both cases, the style and quality of the photographer's work shares equal billing with the subjects, with great results.

As a serious photography hobbyist, the photos on pages 8-9,13,15,43,126-27,and 137 are among my favorites, because I know how deceptively difficult they are to do. Because of this, my copy of Bon Jovi: When We Were Beautiful isn't kept with the other music biographies in my collection. Instead, it resides on a shelf of favorite photography books, between works by Phil Stern and Life Magazine: these are the kind of artist photographs I'd like to achieve.

When We Were Beautiful also contains snapshots from the band members' personal collections, photo session outtakes, and previously unapproved photos. Some of these are hilariously not so great...such as the series of an extremely sleepy/sleeping Jon Bon Jovi on a plane to Moscow in 1989 (page 48-49), complete with large red X's and thick lines drawn on the photos to indicate someone's disapproval (presumably management's or Jon's). Every major artist has marked-up contact sheets of unapproved, goofy photos in their files. Bon Jovi actually lets you see them.

The text shows the expected business savvy, tenacity, and personal growth of the individual band members, as well as their wit (David Bryan, page 59--drinking liquid while reading not recommended). But it can also be surprisingly revealing, such as on page 138. There's even an "Eeeeew"-provoking gross-out moment from, of all people, Jon Bon Jovi (page 142).

From a practical standpoint, for aspiring artists (and their aspiring managers and tour managers), the Backstage section is most helpful, especially Jon's wisdom on page 139. Pages 138-144, 150,152, and 175 are of special note...particularly page 152, which gives the reader something to think about.

Bon Jovi:When We Were Beautiful is certainly not the type of sordid tell-all that publishers and the media like to see from a rock band, so don't expect this book to get much media attention. Nor is it the bare-it-all autobiography a lot of rock fans and celebrity watchers may prefer. But by all accounts, Bon Jovi are guys who deeply respect their families, especially their kids, who don't happen to be in the spotlight. In Jersey parlance, ya gotta respect that. And ya gotta respect the band for doing it their way.

After all, it's worked for 26 years.

Full disclosure of Endorsements/recommendations/disclolosure of financial compensation or business relationships per FTC Blog Dsiclosure Regulations in effect as of December 1, 2009: In the 90's I worked for a concert promotion company that presented many Bon Jovi shows. Since that time I've received no financial compensation or free product in direct connection with the band. I have, however, interviewed their recording engineer, and my music industry website sells Amazon products as an Amazon Associate.

Randi Reed
Founder / Editor in Chief, MusicBizAdvice.com

This Book is totally for any Die Hard Bon Jovi fan. It is also for people who are just getting into the band as well. It's the perfect gift for that Bon Jovi fan this holiday season. I have been a fan since "Runaway" went national which is about almost 30 years now. This book will give you an inside look about the band, what they stand for and why so many people who have followed and discovered them over the years. A must read!