SamboraBlog

COUNTRY "HIGHWAY" Nashville is the spirit behind new Bon Jovi album

Jon Bon Jovi sends a Valentine to Nashville, Tenn., on his band's new album, while maintaining his love affair with Philadelphia and his lifelong commitment to New Jersey.

"Lost Highway," the new album, hits stores Tuesday. Much has been made of the band's newfound affinity for country music, but Bon Jovi has described it, accurately, as "a Bon Jovi record influenced by Nashville," rather than an outright country record.

"Lost Highway" was produced by Dann Huff, who has worked with Rascal Flatts and Keith Urban, and by John Shanks, who co-produced "Have a Nice Day" and who has worked with Sheryl Crow, Melissa Etheridge and Chris Isaak.

Songs from the album already have drifted into many ears. The band has performed "(You Want To) Make a Memory" on "American Idol" and on the CMT Awards, and the title track was featured in the John Travolta movie "Wild Hogs."

The last track on the album, "I Love This Town," refers to Nashville, where Bon Jovi has been hanging out since 1991, and where he recently has taken so much inspiration. A duet version of Bon Jovi's "Who Says You Can't Go Home," featuring Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland, from the "Have a Nice Day" album, last year topped the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and introduced Bon Jovi to a new demographic.

The original version of that song was used as a theme for New Jersey tourism in TV and radio commercials. Jon Bon Jovi is always true to the places he loves.

"When I sing "I Love This Town,' I'm obviously talking about Nashville," Bon Jovi stated in the Island/Def Jam press kit that accompanied the new album. "Nashville is the spirit behind this energy and relaxed musical backdrop. But I'm also talking about every town where open-hearted creative energy is nourished and encouraged. That's Chicago, that's Memphis, that's London, or that's Red Bank, New Jersey."

Bon Jovi remains devoted to Philadelphia through his ownership of the Philly Soul football team. "We Got It Going On," a duet with Big & Rich on "Lost Highway," is the theme song for the Arena Football League season on ESPN.

Bon Jovi will promote his album and his home state with five concerts this fall that will serve as the grand opening for the Prudential Center in Newark, which hopes to become a major concert venue as well as the home of the New Jersey Devils. The concerts are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Oct. 25, 26, 28 and 30 and Nov. 1.

Ticket packages, which include a download of the new album from iTunes, are available through 10 p.m. Friday at www.ticketmaster.com/bonjovi.

Ticket prices range from $61.50 to $337.74.

Stand-alone tickets go on sale to the general public beginning 10 a.m. Saturday via Ticketmaster.com or Charge-by-Phone at (201) 507-8900, (212) 307-7171, and (631) 888-9000.

Bon Jovi also will perform as part of the "Live Earth" concert July 7 at Giants Stadium, along with Kelly Clarkson and many others.

Guitarist in rehab

In the title track of his band's new album, Jon Bon Jovi sings, "Life changes like the weather.'

Life took a strange turn for the musicians this month when guitarist Richie Sambora entered a rehabilitation facility for unspecified reasons. Sambora is expected to be well enough to perform with Bon Jovi on the "Today" show Tuesday, the release day for Bon Jovi's "Lost Highway." The band is scheduled to perform "(You Want To) Make a Memory."

If "Lost Highway" has an undercurrent of melancholy, it's likely a reflection of Sambora's troubles. Emotionally, Sambora has been put through the ringer since the "Have a Nice Day" album, enduring a divorce from Heather Locklear, a breakup with Denise Richards and the death of his father.

Sambora says as much in the publicity material for the album: "Writing this record with Jon was deeply cathartic. I was going through emotional changes that were new for me. An ailing father. A painful divorce. The start of a new chapter in my life. I poured everything I had into this project, every last bit of soul at my command."

Sambora also stated that "Seat Next to You," a song on the new album, was inspired by his relationship with his dad, though it has been altered to fit a romantic, boy-girl theme.

Sambora was not available for comment for this story. Plans for an interview with Jon Bon Jovi were canceled, with his publicist citing his "hectic travel schedule."

Bon Jovi, the band, is a tight unit. Founding members Bon Jovi, Sambora, David Bryan and Tico Torres have worked together for more than 20 years. Bassist Hugh McDonald joined the band after the departure of founding member Alec John Such. The band never uses anonymous "ringers" or studio musicians — what you see onstage is the band and that's it.

However, on the "Have a Nice Day" tour, Bon Jovi did invite guitarist Bobby Bandiera to come along. Bandiera, a well-respected guitarist on the Jersey Shore music scene and a member of Southside Johnny's Asbury Jukes, recorded and toured with the band.

In an interview earlier this year with the Press, Bandiera says his relationship with Bon Jovi built steadily as they collaborated on several projects following a backstage encounter at what was then the Garden State Arts Center in Holmdel.

"We kind of just hit it off from the first time we met," Bandiera said. "It started out as, "Come on over, I'm having a barbecue.' Then it turned into, "Come on over. I'm doing a solo record. Maybe you could play on it.' To, "Come on over. We're going to get together and do some promotional touring behind the record.' To, "Come on over. I'm working on a new record ("Destination Anywhere"). I want to introduce you to the band. There's a possibility, as I see the big picture here, that you can be part of our band to an extent that's not, you know, full-fledged.' "