Out on a press junket promoting the new Bon Jovi album, This House Is Not For Sale, frontman Jon Bon Jovi is featured in an in-depth interview with the New Statesman discussing the highs and lows of his career, and the loss of guitarist Richie Sambora, who left the band in 2013. Following is an excerpt from the story.

The Jon Bon Jovi/Richie Sambora dynamic was extremely physical. They would occasionally kiss on stage. Jon spent three decades with an arm draped around Richie’s neck. He drapes his arm around the neck of the new guy now, but it doesn’t look right. He struts and whirls a bit less, seems more aware of himself. How did it feel to look up and see that Richie was no longer there?

“It sucked.”

Did you miss him?

“Yeah. I swear on my career, and on my children, there was no fight. He has [he waves an imaginary bottle] issues and he can’t deal with them. There’s obligations. You’re not 20. You have to show up. Get help, OK? I’m here to help. You don’t want the help? I can’t force anybody to make lifestyle choices.”

Increasingly, pop stars pull out of gigs for reasons of personal chaos. Last month Justin Bieber walked off stage because fans were annoying him. Zayn Malik cancelled shows due to anxiety issues.

“There is a generation of anxious young men and women who are being diagnosed for the first time – and maybe it was always there,” Bon Jovi begins. “I get it. But let me give you a little education, motherf***er. Jane just saved up for three months to buy that ticket. She travelled on a train to get there. And she is not going to be able to get a refund for her hotel room, or her travel, or the day she took off from work, or the babysitter she paid for. And the 120 families that are affected when they didn’t get their pay cheque at the end of the week because you didn’t show up for the f***ing show . . .”

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Bon Jovi released their new album, This House Is Not For Sale on November 4th in partnership with Island/UMG. In the video below, Jon Bon Jovi discusses the album’s title track:

This House Is Not For Sale is Bon Jovi’s 14th studio album since their 1984 debut. It reunites the band with Grammy Award-winning producer John Shanks, who began working with the band in 2005, for the RIAA platinum Have A Nice Day album, which entered the charts at #1 in 15 countries worldwide.

This is their first major release since What About Now (2013), which was the band’s third consecutive multi-platinum album to enter Soundscan at #1 (following Lost Highway in 2007, and The Circle in 2009).

Over an illustrious career spanning more than three decades since their formation in 1983, Bon Jovi has earned their place among global rock royalty. With over 130 million albums sold worldwide, an extensive catalog of hit anthems, and more than 2,800 concerts performed in 50 countries for more than 35 million fans, Bon Jovi is the consummate rock and roll band.

Tracklisting:

“This House Is Not For Sale”
“Living With The Ghost”
“Knockout”
“Labor Of Love”
“Born Again Tomorrow”
“Roller Coaster”
“New Year's Day”
“The Devil's In The Temple”
“Scars On This Guitar”
“God Bless This Mess”
“Reunion”
“Come On Up To Our House”

“Knockout” video:

“This House Is Not For Sale” video:

“This House Is Not For Sale” making-of footage:

“This House Is Not For Sale” live on Good Morning America:

Bon Jovi recently announced that the This House Is Not for Sale Tour, presented by Live Nation, will kick off in February 2017. Hitting arenas across the US, the iconic rock band will present anthems, fan favorites, and new hits from This House Is Not for Sale. As an added bonus, fans will receive a physical copy of This House Is Not For Sale with every ticket purchased.

This will be the band’s first outing since Bon Jovi’s 2013 Because We Can World Tour, which was their third tour in six years to be ranked the #1 top-grossing tour in the world (a feat accomplished by only The Rolling Stones previously). Bon Jovi’s touring legacy will be recognized November 9th with the 2016 “Legend Of Live” award at the Billboard Touring Conference & Awards.

Visit bonjovi.com for updated tour and ticketing information.

This House Is Not for Sale tour dates:

February
8 - Greenville, SC - Bon Secours Wellness Arena
10 - Atlanta, GA - Philips Arena
12 - Sunrise, FL - BB&T Center
14 - Tampa, FL - Amalie Arena
16 - Birmingham, AL - BJCC
18 - Nashville, TN - Bridgestone Arena
19 - St. Louis, MO - Scottrade Center
21 - Oklahoma City, OK - Chesapeake Energy Center
23 - Dallas, TX - American Airlines Center
25 - Las Vegas, NV - T-Mobile Arena
28 - Sacramento, CA - Golden 1 Center

March
1 - San Jose, CA - SAP Center
4 - Phoenix, AZ - Talking Stick Resort Arena
5 - San Diego, CA - Viejas Arena
8 - Los Angeles, CA - The Forum
14 - Denver, CO - Pepsi Center
16 - Memphis, TN - FedExForum
18 - Columbus, OH - Nationwide Arena
19 - Cleveland, OH - Quicken Loans Arena
22 - Indianapolis, IN - Bankers Life Fieldhouse

** Dates, cities and venues subject to change.

(Photos - Norman Jean Roy)