The Bon Jovi Experience Chats To Us Ahead Of Its Harrogate Gig

The Bon Jovi Experience, which has been touring since 2004, is heading for Harrogate. Tony, a former senior railman from Crewe talks about his 29 years being a Jovi tribute act with our Arts Correspondent, Yuvaraj Parmar.


Chatting to Tony (the man who plays Bon Jovi) I explored his life as a tribute artist. Despite doing a gig in Wales at The Tivoli, a place he used to visit to see bands during the 80s, Tony took some time out of his busy schedule for a quick interview.

Who encouraged you to become a Bon Jovi tribute act?

Tributes didn’t exist back then, despite of course, those dedicated to Elvis.

A friend had hired a pub for a party and invited me along. He had his own band at the time and asked me to sing, which I did with a couple of Bon Jovi and Iron maiden songs.

This prompted the drummer to ask my friend: 'can he sing like that all the time?'

He said 'yes' as he knew I did opera singing, which led him to ask me if I would join him to start a Bon Jovi tribute act.

Now 28/ 29 years later we have been around the world.

When we first started, we did tiny little pubs with not enough money for a kebab at the end of the night!

That’s how it started, but I was a massive Jovi fan.

What was the first Album/single you owned?

I think… Now that’s a question! I remember Since You been Gone (Rainbow) stuff like that. I would say that was my most memorable one.

In terms of rock music, Tony recalled his parents owned old 78 Elvis Presley songs.

They were the first rock records I played, I even taped them

If not Bon Jovi – who would you have liked to play?

I think I would have liked to be, music wise, Luciano Pavarotti.

However, thinking out of the music business, being a bike crazy nut, it would have to be Valentino Rossi or Guy Martin.

My musical tastes really span the spectrum of music, people like Pavarotti, its effortless for them and it’s unbelievable. I never met him but he had an incredible voice.

I believe you met Bon Jovi, what was that like?

Yes, I played on stage with him. He is a really nice guy. He’s funny. He asked us to join and play with him when he was inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

He got on stage with us and along with him I met his wife, friends and brother. What a great bloke!

They say you should never meet your idol, but I am so glad I did. He’s a great guy, he walked into a question-and-answer thing, saw me and shouted: “Tony, come here!” He actually said to me: “I wanted to meet you for years, I followed what you have being doing."

Tony recalled his amazement when meeting him, it was fair to say he was absolutely starstruck. He recalls a special moment when he and Bon Jovi stood on a beer crate behind the bar.

Nobody has done that on the planet. I’m standing there with my arm around Bon Jovi – like what the hell!

What is your favourite Bon Jovi song to play live?

Got to be Livin on a Prayer cos the crowd response on that song is second to none; its hard to pin it down. My favourite Bon Jovi song is an old one called Only Lonely but again depends on the mood.

The Bon Jovi thing has been with me since day one. I always ask the audience what they want and most of the time its old school, which is fine with me because I also prefer it.

When asking him why the old songs still remain pertinent, he says:

Bon Jon Jovi and Richie Sambora’s writing has stood the test of time, it still sounds good as it did then, that’s why.

The old ones still sound bright and modern, whether it’s the writing or arrangements, I don’t know, but I think it still sounds modern.

I asked for advice for those who are interested in becoming a tribute band, to which he clearly pointed out:

Don’t ever think its easy, it isn’t. It very hard work. It’s not the two hours on stage where the hard work starts, it’s a long time after!

I asked him about his favourite albums.

My favourite non-Jon Bon Jovi ones are, Images and Words by Dream Theatre. The Unforgiving by Within Temptation and Operation Mindcrime by Queensryche. His favourite Bon Jovi are Slippery When Wet and 7800 Fahrenheit.

And finally after being sidetracked to Elton, who was recently on his Farewell Tour, Tony commented that his voice was incredible, being semi- operatic, I asked him if he was to host a fantasy dinner party, who would he invite?

Valentino Rossi for starters, oh and Guy Martin. Jon Bon Jovi obviously! Bruce Dickenson and Pavarotti.