Chapter 95 - When All Is Said And Done

The reporters and photographers all settle down, in hopes that they get their questions answered.  The band is seated, and anyone that can see them know that they don't want to be there. 

The venue president introduced the band and laid down a few ground rules:  no approaching the band, children questions are off limits and Jon has made it known that they will NOT talk about their finances or the amounts of money that they have made.  Pretty simple, right?

Reporter 1#:  Mr. Bon Jovi, it's rumored that you were married in Vegas, weren't you worried how your females fans would react?"

Jon:  No,no. I didn't care.  I wanted to marry her, so I married her.

Reporter #2:  Jon, is it true that you and the new Mrs. Bongiovi lost a baby in the early stages of pregnancy?"

Jon: (squirming in his chair) That is true and that's all that I will say about that subject.

Reporter #2 (again):  How is your wife doing?  Is she here?

Jon looks over at Monica and can see her shaking her head no, he knows what that means and he will respect her.  He can see that those questions bothered her.  He winks and gets back to what he was doing.

Jon:  She is here, but she is not available for an interview and she is doing fine.

Reporter #3:  Richie, is it true that you dated Jon's wife before they were married? 

Richie looked at Jon, Jon looked at Richie and then they both looked at Monica.  Richie, having given the question a second of thought laughs and says, "I could never have been that lucky.  She is my best friend and has been for years.  She's like a little sister to me."

Reporter #3:  You were never romantically involved with her?

Richie:  Didn't you hear what I just said?  She's like my sister, man.

Reporter #4:  Tico, is it true that you are designing a drum skin?  It's been rumored that you are designing a drum kit, as well as a bass skin.  Is that true.

Tico:  Yes, that is true.  I have already designed the skin, it's a painting I did a few years ago while on tour.

Reporter #4:  What about the kit?  Are you designing a kit?

Tico:  I'm in negotiations with Pearl, but there is nothing definite.

Reporter #5:  Jon, it's been said that you are the boss, is that so and do you find it hard to manage the band and be their friends?

Jon:  I work with the best band of brothers.  It's not hard to manage guys that are just as driven as I am.  We all want to be rock stars, and that's what we are going to be.

Reporter #6:  Richie, we hear that you are the partier of the bunch.  Any road horror stories to share?  The band laughs at that, not only because it was true but it was a question that they thought they would never be asked.  It's one that they will never answer.

Alec:  We are bound by contracts to not talk about what happens on the road, plus, none of the stories are all that interesting.

Reporter #6:  There isn't even one story that you can share?

Richie: NO! Next question.

Reporter #7: Jon, will you and Monica try to have another baby?

Jon:  We'll have a baby when it's time.

Reporter #8:  Did they ever find the person that ran you down with the car in Las Vegas?

Jon:  As of the last time I checked, no they have not.

Reporter #8:  What will you do when they are caught, if they are caught?  Jon watches Monica get up and sneak away backstage, he knew questions like this were going to come and he plans to skate over the issue - he hated to see her leave.

Jon:  We plan to make sure that they are prosecuted, to the fullest extent of the law.

Reporter #8:  Are they actively investigating?

Jon:  As far as I know.

Reporter #9:  Richie, what's the best part of being on the road touring?  All of the guys had an answer for that question and they all were anxious to answer.  Talking over each other and raising their hands, in a pick me, pick me kind of way.  It was cute to see them talk over one another, but once the laughter and the jackassing stopped, Richie answers first.

Richie:  I think for me, the best part is seeing the different places of the world and meeting the fans.  He smiles his coy little smile, and no one believes a word he just said. 

Tico:  What I think is the best part is experiencing the different cultures.

Alec: For me, it's the parties and the women.

Richie:  And yeah, the women.

David:  Absolutely the women and the fun.  Who doesn't want to do this and GET PAID to do it.  This is every kids dreams, isn't it?

Reporter #10:  David, is it true that you were on your way to medical school when you decided to join the band?

David: shaking his head yes, That is true.  It was med school or rock and roll.  I think I made the best choice, don't you?

Reporter #10: And you dropped your real last name for a better stage name?  Rashbaum, being Jewish, was that a big decision?

David:  Yes.  My parents were a little upset, although I didn't drop my name, I'm just using my middle name.

Reporter#11:  This is for Jon and Richie.  Guys, how do you two typically write.  Do you have a ritual or a tradition that you follow?

Jon takes the lead:  We usually write when we are moved to.  We have written on an elevator, there's the famous story of writing in Richie's basement next to his mom washing machine...

Richie jumps in:  We have wrote on the beach, in bars, hotel rooms, each others houses, various places.  And we can never plan it.  It has to come to us.

Reporter #11:  Is it a lyric that starts the process?

Jon:  Nope, we always start with the title. 

Reporter #11:  The title?

Jon:  We always start with a song title and then the lyrics naturally follow. 

Reporter #11:  Do you, David, Tico and Alec help with the writing process?"

Alec starts to laugh and tells the reporter, "we don't even know that they're writing.

Reporter #12: Where will you guys go after this?  Your record is at number one and it looks like this upcoming leg is sold out, do you have another album in the works?

Richie: Yep.  We already have a few tracks laid for it.

Reporter #13:  Jon, will Monica continue to do your videos and the band photography?

Jon: Yeah, she's on board and on the road with us to do just that.

Reporter #13:  Will you release a live tape of a show or two?

Jon:  Maybe.  We are deciding if that's what we want to do.

Reporter #14 What is your relationship to Doc McGhee?"

Jon stands up, There is no relationship between us and Doc McGhee.

Reporter #14: Are you in anyway involved in the drug charges that he is facing?

Jon:  No. Interview is over.

He looks to his left, to his right and his band of brothers see that Jon is done and they crossed a line that they didn't know was even there.

The band makes a flashy exit, using a finger to two to express their discontent that they felt about the whole thing.