Chapter 10 - Never Say Goodbye

This was going to be the big time.  Jon knew that he found HIS band, his band of brothers.  He was on his way and there wasn't going to be anyone holding him back.  The five of them agreed that the band was formed and after many name changes, they finally settled on Jon's last name - with a change up.  1983 the band Bon Jovi is formed.  It consists of John Bongiovi, Richie Sambora, Alec John Such, Tico Torres and David Rashbaum. 

Jon had the feeling that you get when you know that something is good.  This was good and the five of them were going to be rockstars. 

As the Fast Lane cleared out at closing the easier it got for the five of them to talk.  Out of the five, the one with the most excitement was Richie.  When Richie is happy or nervouse, he tends to crack jokes, poke fun and impersonate people.  And tonight was no different.  To some, he would look like he's not taking the fact thathe just formed a band seriously, but he is, very serious.  He loves the idea of being the quitar player in a rock and roll band.

The five of them sat there and were working on a writing schedule and they all needed to work around their work schedules or school schedules.  What they figured out is that they can write/rehearse on Monday night, Thursday night and Saturday night.  This worked for all five guys and ow that they have the schedule in place, they decided they would get together and write this coming Saturday night.  They finsished their drinks and parted ways at the Fast Lane. 

Jon and Richie weren't ready to call it a night, so they headed over to Richie's house.  Richie lived in his mon's basement and was able to get in without disturbing his parents.  Once at Richie's, Richie handed Jon a beer and said "Hey man, what did you think?  That Alec is a little weird, but that Tico kicks ass."  Richie cracks his beer and takes a big drink.

Jon, swallowing his gulp of beer, says, "I think they both are excellent musicians and they look like they fit the part.  What do you think their songwriting abilites are?  We need people that can write, unless it's just going to be us doing the writing?" Jon leaves that in the form of a question, hoping to get a feel of what Richie thought.

"I think this weekend, we need to see what everyone can bring to the table.  If one can't write a song, them you better bet your ass they can play their instrument.  We ain't doin it all."  Richie gets up and plays a Blondie cassette, making sure it's not too loud and it wakes his parents.  His favorite Blondie tune is CALL ME and that's obvious to JOn, he can hear the tape has been stretched to far from constant rewind/fast forward.  He's done it to a cassette or two himself.

Jon asks Richie, "Do you have anything new written?"  looking around for a note pad or anything that looks like music or lyrics.  "I have some stuff at my mom's I think you'll like." 

Richie leans over and opens a drawer on a stansd that's next to his bed.  He pulls out a notebook and hands it to Jon.  Jon thumbs through and sees it's lyrics.  One lyric caught his eye, "when you spit, you better mean it' and he asked Richie what that line was for?

"They're just lyrics I was playing with for a song called Stick To Your Guns, been messing with that for a few weeks now.  That line has just stuck with me.  Ya know, when you spit you better mean it.  If your going to cross that line, you better be prepared for what might happen next.  Kind of my Sambora motto."  Richie laughs at himself and that makes Jon laugh.  "Want another beer?"

Jon shakes his head no and tells Richie, "I better get going.  I have to be in the city by 7.  I should head home and get a couple of hours of shut eye.  It's going to be a long day."  Jon gets up and shakes Richie's hand.  Looking at his best friend, his brother he tells him, "We're going all the way, no matter what." 

"We are man, we are and it's going to be a hell of a ride.  Call me tomorrow." Richie says to his lead singer and best friend.  "If you spit, you better mean it dude."

On his way to leave, Jon looks back at Richie and says, I mean it man, I mean it." And Jon leaves.  Richie throws on the headphones and chills out before dozing off.

Jon gets home and there is a note on the kitchen table. Johnny, Liz called 10 times. call her, will ya!! Love mom.  He wrinkles it up, rolls his eyes and throws it away - thinking outloud, "Yeah, I"ll call her, never."  He heads up to bed, and hopes he gets a few hours before he hears the devil sound of his alarm clock.