Jon Bon Jovi in "Bon Jovi: When We Were Beautiful"
courtesy of SHOWTIME
“Bon Jovi: When We Were Beautiful” (SHOWTIME)

It is hard to believe that Bon Jovi Band has been around for twenty-five years. Today it is still as popular as it has have been and it is still playing the concert arenas and making the music. A new documentary showing on SHOWTIME is titled “Bon Jovi: When We Were Beautiful” and that sounds like a reflective look back on the life of the band. But it isn’t. It is more a look at us now type of show.

The viewer gets to see Bon Jovi on a recent tour of European cities and then a return to New York City. The music comes in brief snippets of songs and the more definitive reflections of the members of the band – Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, David Bryan and Tico Torres - seem to come in the later moments of the show.

A lot of information is given about Jon Bon Jovi being the head of the group. It is stated the band is not a democracy but is under the control of Jon Bon Jovi. He has the vision and he makes the major decisions. Other members of the band provide support for him.

We also get an update on how the main members of the band are doing. We learn that most are doing fine. They have had some rough moments but the band has helped pull them through. This is particularly true of Richie Sambora. He went through a divorce and the death of his father and the band helped him survive and as he calls it “come back.”

The view of life on the road is not a pretty one. Each of the members of the band talks about how hard it is moving from place to place and living out of hotels. All stress how difficult it is to be away from family.

This documentary is a snapshot of where the group is today. They are still on the road and they are still making music. What tomorrow will bring, who knows. There may be different ventures or it may all stay the same.

“Bon Jovi: When We Were Beautiful” is an okay piece of entertainment. It is better or worse than you expected depending on your feelings about the Bon Jovi group. Maybe if it had been a little more reflective of the past it would have made a more interesting show.

“Bon Jovi: When We Were Beautiful” airs on SHOWTIME, Saturday, October 24 at 9PM.
 

 

 

 

 

©2009 Jackie K. Cooper

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