Jon Bon Jovi looked like he had barely aged since his band’s heyday in the 1980s and 1990s as he attended the premiere of a new docuseries at the South By Southwest festival in Austin, Texas.
The 62-year-old rocker was joined by the rest of his eponymous band Bon Jovi to attend a screening of Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story.
Debuting April 26, the four-part Hulu series will feature interviews with the band members and chart the ups and downs of the legendary groups and continued success.
Jon Bon Jovi (real name: John Bongiovi) graced the festival shortly after sharing an update on his relationship with former Bon Jovi member Richie Sambora.
The frontman admitted to Ultimate Classic Rock that he and the guitarist ‘no longer have contact’ now that Sambora is officially out of the band, although Sambora said last year he hoped to kick off a reunion with the older line-up.
Jon Bon Jovi looked like he had barely aged since his band’s heyday in the 1980s and 1990s as he attended the premiere of a new docuseries at the South By Southwest festival in Austin, Texas.
The 62-year-old rocker was joined by the rest of his eponymous band Bon Jovi to attend a screening of Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story. It comes after he revealed he and ex-guitarist Richie Sambora are no longer speaking; seen in 2013
Jon’s hair may have been considerably grayer than it used to be, but he still had an impressively thick head when he arrived on the red carpet.
He wore a simple black shirt and slim matching trousers that emphasized his fit, and he contrasted the dark look with a cool cream leather biker jacket.
The singer-songwriter wore chunky black shoes with bright red soles, and he looked too cool for school in aviator sunglasses.
The premiere was a family affair and he brought along members of the current Bon Jovi lineup.
Keyboardist David Bryan rocked a black leather and denim jacket with matching T-shirt and jeans.
He was wearing thick sunglasses and had long frizzy hair that would have been appropriate for the 1980s.
Drummer Tico Torres kept it casual in a black button-up jacket and matching black pants.
Phil
Multi-instrumentalist Everett Bradley looked stylish in a charcoal sports coat.
Jon’s hair may be grayer than it used to be, but he still had an impressively thick head as he stepped onto the red carpet. He wore a black shirt and matching slim trousers that highlighted his fit, and he contrasted the dark look with a cool cream leather biker jacket.
Keyboardist David Bryan rocked a black leather and denim jacket with matching T-shirt and jeans
He had on thick sunglasses and long frizzy hair that would have been appropriate for the eighties
Drummer Tico Torres kept it casual in a black button-up jacket and matching black pants
Phil
Multi-instrumentalist Everett Bradley looked stylish in a charcoal sports coat
They were also joined by John Shanks (second from left), who plays guitar. He stood out in a gray jacket
Bassist Hugh McDonald (third from left) looked cool in a black leather biker jacket
Bon Jovi revealed he has ‘no contact’ with Richie Sambora in an interview with Ultimate Classic Rock
They were also joined by John Shanks, who plays guitar. He stood out in a gray jacket.
Bassist Hugh McDonald looked cool in a black leather biker jacket.
The premiere comes after Bon Jovi clarified his relationship with one of his former close collaborators, Richie Sambora.
He handled the majority of lead guitar duties from the band’s inception in 1983, until he suddenly left the group just before a show during the 2013 tour to reportedly spend more time with his family.
But even 11 years after that tumultuous event, Bon Jovi still has no agreement with Sambora.
“We are no longer in contact because he is no longer in the organization,” the singer explained to Ultimate Classic Rock.
“Doesn’t mean love isn’t forever,” he quickly clarified, “but it’s been eleven years since he just stopped showing up.
“And there were emotional issues that he had to deal with as a single father, and there were substance abuse issues that, you know…” he added casually.
Sambora left the band with little explanation just before a show on April 2, 2013 in Calgary, Canada.
Ultimately it came down to a question of reliability, which he illustrated with a comparison to Richie’s successor, guitarist Phil X.
“Phil X had to show up one time, and then Phil X had to show up again. And then, again, There is a show that evening. What do we do?’
The frontman also clarified that he and Sambora did not communicate at all about the upcoming docuseries.
“Doesn’t mean there’s no love forever,” he quickly clarified, “but it’s been eleven years since he just stopped showing up”; seen in 2011
“And there were emotional issues that he had to deal with as a single father, and there were substance abuse issues that, you know…” he added, as he trailed off; pictured in 2009
Bon Jovi added that they did not speak to each other for the docuseries or film interviews together, and he claimed that they did not pull strings with the director; pictured in 2009
“Not a word,” he said. “This wasn’t a puff and these weren’t bulls***. This isn’t us pulling the strings behind the scenes. Oh, no, no, no,” he declared. ‘They interviewed Richie in London. I was not there. I had nothing to do with it. No, I still haven’t seen that one [finished] Product.’
Despite the former conflict with his ex-bandmate, Bon Jovi still enjoys playing music with his long-running band.
“What’s more important to me right now is just being here with my friends, writing the song I want to write and living the life I want to live,” he continued.
Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story premieres April 26 on Hulu in the US and on Disney+ internationally.