Jon Bon Jovi is looking back at his 40-year career in the music industry, expressing ‘great pride’ in the success of his band Bon Jovi.
The Livin’ On A Prayer hitmaker, 62 – who admitted he hasn’t watched future daughter-in-law Millie Bobby Brown’s series Stranger Things — revealed how his strong work ethic propelled the band to their iconic status.
‘I was willing to outwork everybody — I think that’s what it came down to,’ he told People on Tuesday.
‘I definitely wasn’t the best at anything. I was just the hardest working, and it was nothing more than the desire to get better every day.’
As for the ‘accomplishments’ of the band, which includes a Grammy win, Jon said, ‘I feel great pride.’
The singer/actor also opened up about recent vocal cord problems that almost made him retire, and how they changed his outlook on life.
Jon Bon Jovi is looking back at his 40-year career in the music industry, expressing ‘great pride’ in the success of his band Bon Jovi; seen in August
The Livin’ On A Prayer hitmaker, 62, revealed how his strong work ethic propelled the band to their iconic status; Richie Sambora, Jon and Alec John Such in 1985
‘The thing that gave me so much pleasure had been taken away,’ he explained. ‘Joy is something you got to work at, right? Happiness is what you make it.
‘It’s not about seizing the day anymore. I think it’s about embracing the day. I don’t have to punch it in the face anymore, now I just give it a hug, and that’s a good place to be.’
John Francis Bongiovi Jr., born to a barber father and florist mother, discovered his passion for guitar in Sayreville, N.J., influenced by a neighbor.
Breaking into fame in 1984, Jon’s band Bon Jovi, including guitarist Richie Sambora, keyboardist David Bryan, bassist Alec John Such, and drummer Tico Torres, solidified their rock legend status with the 1986 album Slippery When Wet.
Their chart-topping albums and iconic hits like Livin’ on a Prayer, You Give Love a Bad Name, and Wanted Dead or Alive, firmly established them as one of the most successful and enduring rock bands in history.
Their success culminating in a coveted induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
‘We were relentless young men who set out to make it — and we made it,’ Bryan told the outlet.
Jon’s candid take on the band’s legacy comes after he admitted that he has not always ‘been a saint’ during his 35-year marriage to wife Dorothea Hurley, who he first met in high school in 1980.
‘I was willing to outwork everybody — I think that’s what it came down to,’ he told People on Tuesday. ‘I definitely wasn’t the best at anything. I was just the hardest working, and it was nothing more than the desire to get better every day; seen in 1989
Bon Jovi backstage before a performance, Illinois, early March, 1987. Pictured are, from left, David Bryan, Tico Torres, Jon, Richie, and Alec
Bon Jovi perform at summer rock festival ‘Super Rock 84’ on their first visit to Japan, Naogoya Baseball Stadium, Aichi, Japan, in 1984
‘These are all the wonderful clichés of rock stardom,’ he told The Independent. ‘It’s about never lying about having been a saint, but not being a fool enough to [mess] up the home life, either.’
He credited their long-lasting union to a ‘mutual admiration society, and being lucky enough to have grown up together.’
They share four children, Stephanie, 30, Jesse, 29, Jake, 21, and Romeo, 20.
Jon also admitted that he was not familiar with his future daughter-in-law Millie Bobby Brown’s hit series Stranger Things, before she began dating his son Jake.
While speaking about his son’s plans to wed the actress, 20, who rose to fame at just on Netflix’s sci-fi horror series at age 12, the rock star praised the two-time Emmy nominee’s work ethic.
‘I can’t tell you that I honestly was very aware of Stranger Things, I think it was for another generation, but I do admire Millie Bobby Brown’s work ethic,’ he added to The Independent.
He continued: ‘Millie is a movie star. We just went to the premiere of Damsel with her, and Jake’s got his first movie out right now.’
‘I’m happy for him,’ he gushed.
Jon admitted that he has not always ‘been a saint’ during his 35-year marriage to wife Dorothea Hurley; seen in 2019
The couple famously met back in high school in 1980; seen in 1985
The rock star also raved about his son Jake’s engagement to Millie Bobby Brown (seen in Netflix’s premiere of her film Damsel in New York City)
‘They are two young people that are pursuing a dream together,’ the proud father-of-four added.
‘We’re supportive of it, because our hope for them – and Millie’s parents’ hope for them, because Bob and Kelly Brown, too, met when they were very young.’
The Livin’ on a Prayer hitmaker noted that he hopes ‘the kids will grow together’ through every chapter of their life to come.
‘Anything after that is out of all four of us as parents’ control, but they’re good kids. They’ll figure it out,’ he concluded.
