Bon Jovi is an iconic rock band that has left
an indelible mark on the music industry. This legendary band defined the 1980s rock scene like
no other, and now, Hulu and director Gotham Chopra are giving us an all-access pass to their journey
with Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story.
Does this film have any
surprises in store for fans?
It’s not just your average documentary—it's
a journey through time and sound, taking us from the bustling streets of
New Jersey in 1983 to the present day.
With footage from 2022, we get an
up-close-and-personal look at Jon Bon Jovi as he prepares for the band's
monumental fortieth anniversary.
It's a pure nostalgia trip like no other,
especially for those who rocked out in the '80s and still have a soft spot for the classics.
However, it seems that the band members take themselves too seriously. The documentary could
have benefited from self-irony and easiness: Jon Bon Jovi is a rock legend, he can allow
himself to breath out and just tell his story.
Some viewers complain in reviews that each
episode of the documentary goes in circles, talking about every little thing from the band's
past. But it doesn't really tell a clear story.
And because they only talk to people in the
band, it starts to feel like they're telling a one-sided story over and over again.
From our perspective, what the documentary really lacks - is the insights into
personal lives of the band members.
The film is all about Jon's work, but it barely
touches on his family. Like, he has kids, but they're not even in the movie!
And Richie Sambora? He used to be married to Heather Locklear, but
they don't talk about that at all.
But guess what? We've got some juicy details
about Sambora and Jovi's personal lives to spill!
In the film Richie Sambora reflects on
his sudden decision to leave the band:
“I don’t regret leaving the situation, but I
regret how I did it, so I want to apologize fully right now to the fans, especially, and also
to the guys because my feet and my spirit were just not letting me walk out the door.”
Turns out, Sambora’s breaking point was “an amalgamation of things” that
included the grueling tour schedule, but also issues in his personal life involving
ex-wife Locklear and their daughter Ava.
Heather was quite the catch back in
the day, and she and Richie seemed like the perfect couple. After they
had a fairytale wedding in Paris, Richie and Heather welcomed their daughter Ava.
Their union seemed to be perfect. But sadly, things took a turn, and after staggering eleven
years of marriage, they called it quits.
The weirdest part? Richie had no clue Heather
was going to file for divorce! He even said he was heading home to celebrate Valentine's
Day with her just before the news broke.
And here's where it gets juicy. Shortly
after Heather filed for divorce, rumors started flying that Richie was dating Denise
Richards, Heather's friend. Talk about drama!
Now, we can't say for sure if that's true, but
it's the talk of the town. And despite all the ups and downs, Richie says he still loves Heather,
especially since they share a daughter, Ava.
"Time does heal old wounds. I mean, I still
love Heather and I know she loves me. She's the mother of my child, man. What can you say?"
In fact, Richie's been a pillar of support for Heather, especially in 2018 during her turmoil
which included multiple arrests and incidents involving alcohol and medication. He even
hired specialists to help her out. Now, that's what you call standing by someone!
Luckily, Heather's doing great now. She's been sober for years. And
through it all, Richie's been there, ready to lend a hand whenever she needs it.
Well, you might think rock stars aren't the type for happily-ever-afters. But Jon
Bon Jovi is here to prove that wrong!
Jon Bon Jovi and Dorothea Hurley met as
high school students back in the late 1970s. The pair went to the same school in
New Jersey, and when Jon first laid eyes on Dorothea, he knew that she was special.
The high school sweethearts were immediately smitten and inseparable. They dated throughout
the rest of their school years but didn’t rush to get married after they both graduated in 1980. Jon
was determined to pursue his career as a musician, and in 1983, he formed his own rock band. The
band quickly rose to success, and Jon’s life was suddenly thrown into the spotlight. On the other
hand, didn’t aspire for a life in the spotlight, and for a brief moment, the couple
was torn in different directions.
Jon and Dorothea briefly broke
up in 1985 and during that time, Jon dated actress Diane Lane for five months.
After his breakup with Diane, Jon, and Dorothea were drawn back to one another and managed to
rekindle their love. After the couple reconciled, they knew that what they had was forever, and
they never wanted to be with anyone else.
After nine years together, the high
school sweethearts eloped in Vegas in April 1989. Four years later, the couple
welcomed their first child, a daughter they named Stephanie. In 1995 they had a son, Jesse.
But Jon's rockstar life sometimes got in the way, like when he almost missed the birth of their
third child, Jake, in 2002 while he was on tour in New Orleans. Luckily, he managed to
take a private plane back to New Jersey, and made it just in time for Jake’s birth.
In 2004, the couple welcomed their fourth and last child, a son they called Romeo.
Just shy of his 30th wedding anniversary, Bon Jovi shared that his fans' were distraught
after he and Dorothea got married. He explained, "It was like Harry Styles or Justin Timberlake
getting married. I was that to the young girls in my time. When I came back from Vegas my manager
was furious. He was like, 'America's boy is now married… that's not a good career move.'
The record company was also despondent."
But nothing broke the bond between Jon and
Dorothea, and their love stood the test of time.
Or did it?
Dorothea was nowhere to be seen at the New York City screening of Jon's documentary,
a little over one week after attending the U.K. screening. As reported, it was a severe
case of COVID-19 that kept Hurley at home.
However, his absence raised eyebrows,
especially after Jon's recent comments hinting at cheating in his marriage:
“These are all the wonderful clichés of rock stardom,” he told the publication. “It’s
about never lying about having been a saint, but not being a fool enough to
fuck up the home life, either.”
He also confessed about having many girls
in his life, but how could that be possible while staying loyal to Dorothea?...
Apparently, Jovi's revelations might have stirred up some trouble in his marriage to
Hurley. So, it's a waiting game now to see how their relationship weathers this storm.
Will their bond withstand this test?
As Jon Bon Jovi celebrates his 60s,
the documentary Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story serves as a reminder
of his mortality. Yet, he still exudes the charisma of a rockstar, with his wealth,
devoted wife, and countless gold records.
While the documentary taps into nostalgia,
it falls short in delivering the personal stories that truly connect with the audience.
But it leaves us with a lingering question: will we get another hit from Bon Jovi in
the nearest future? Well, let’s hope so!
