Bon Jovi: When We Were Beautiful

by Jon Bon Jovi

The first-ever official Bon Jovi book celebrates the band’s 25th anniversary with previously untold stories straight from Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, David Bryan, and Tico Torres, and never-before-seen photographs from Phil Griffin (known for his Bon Jovi documentary When We Were Beautiful , as well as for collaborations with Amy Winehouse, Prince, Annie Lenox, Kings of Leon, and Paul McCartney). This one-of-a-kind biography will bring back the heyday of classic songs like “Livin’ on a Prayer,” “Wanted Dead or Alive,” and “You Give Love A Bad Name” in the 1980s, and transport newer fans to the tour bus alongside Bon Jovi’s recent Lost Highway and Circle tours—it’s the perfect gift for anyone born to rock.

Genres: Music, Nonfiction, Biography, Biography Memoir, Autobiography, Adult, Coffee Table Books

350 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2009

About the author

Jon Bon Jovi (born John Francis Bongiovi, Jr.; March 2, 1962) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and actor, best known as the founder, occasional rhythm guitarist, and lead singer of rock band Bon Jovi, which was named after him. During his career, he has released two solo albums and eleven studio albums with his band, which to date have sold over 130 million albums worldwide. Тhe band was declared the second richest band for 2011, behind U2, earning an approximate $125 million income.[1] In addition, Jon Bon Jovi is one of the majority-owners of the Philadelphia Soul, a team playing in the Arena Football League. In 2010, President Barack Obama named Jon Bon Jovi to the White House Council for Community Solutions.

Reviews

[Mads · Rating 5 out of 5]

https://bookmonstersblog.com/

**I always love Bon Jovi → ♥♥♥

Maybe because he is such a good looking guy, and is like red wine getting better as time goes by maybe because his songs have meaning AND my hubby do know he is a was & always will be one of my top musicians ;-) AND my biggest eye candy since a very young age






My songs in order from favorite to least favorite:
Bon Jovi - Always](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BMwc...
Bon Jovi - I'll Be There For You](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mh8MI...
Bon Jovi - When We Were Beautiful](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GHOL...
Bon Jovi - Thank You For Loving Me](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SptZ...
Bon Jovi - About Lovin' You](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eb1oF...
Bon Jovi - Bed Of Roses](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvR60...
Bon Jovi - These Days](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCUzw...
BON JOVI - NEVER SAY GOODBYE](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BMwc...

[Ivo Stoyanov · Rating 4 out of 5]

През годините съм изчел сигурно десетки да не кажа стотици интервюта с членовете на Бон Джови , книжката албум е приятна и е само за заклети фенове , снимките вътре са наистина страхотни , интервютата на моменти скучаещи , но това е заради факта, че съм чел доста за тях и мн неща ми бяха известни

[Tania · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bon Jovi: When We Were Beautiful is about the legendary band Bon Jovi as of 2008. Billed as a story of the band's career, it's a bit misleading. However, I do love the book for what it is, rather than disliking it for what it is not. What it is - a great point in time reflection on what the band has meant to its members, what they mean to each other, and how the journey they've been on for 25 years has affected them.

Intertwining an interview-style narrative with full color, full page photos, this large format book is a nice escape into the world of Bon Jovi for their fans. There are a few pictures from the early days, but most of the pictures are from the tour closest to the publication of the book, the Lost Highway tour, and most were taken by the man who wrote the forward and followed the band throughout 2008 to get these pictures - Phil Griffin. Likewise, there is some talk throughout the narrative of the early days, but its not to relive it or retell it, rather to reflect on it and how it shaped the guys in the band into the men they are today. This is a feel-good book, and that doesn't have to be a bad thing.

This is a gorgeous book (from a purely visual standpoint) and I am a huge Bon Jovi fan, and so both of those considerations go into my rating. If you are not a huge Bon Jovi fan, or do not want a book filled with beautiful pictures of the band, then this book will rate lower for you, and that's ok too.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is the companion to the documentary of the same name. This is a 'coffee table' book so the emphasis is on the photography, with a minimal amount of words, most of which is presented in an interview style format.

For the big fan, this book is a must.... but,

I am a fan, but I have seen much better presentations and the while the quality of the photos are fine, and they do appear to capture the band in off moments where they seem pensive, tired, or bored, they were often posed, and sometimes they felt contrived, and there weren't enough photos of David, plus the book was way too short. After twenty-five years, I would think there would be a wealth of photos to share. It was OK.

[Heidi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sadly there wasn't enough of the old stuff in this book. I'm an 80s girl at heart so I was hoping to hear about those days.

[Jadin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the documentary in book form. I actually think that it comes off better in the book. For a Bon Jovi fan, this is an essential item for their collection.

May the circle be unbroken!

[Chip'sBookBinge · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bon Jovi: When We Were Beautiful is hyped as a career retrospective coffee table book with never before seen photos. I was thinking this was going to be like that of Queen: The Ultimate Illustrated History of the Crown Kings of Rock. Boy, was I ever wrong on that. Where Queen's book is packed with a ton of never before seen images of the band and in depth stories, testimonials and reviews to keep you busy for days on end, Bon Jovi's book is the complete opposite.

I have been a huge fan of these guys since day 1 and I can't tell you how disappointed I am in this book. For a book that hinges on a retrospective look at the band, I would say that probably 80% of the pics in the book are from the previous Tour. There is hardly anything from their glory days before Slippery When Wet. And even then, not a lot of content from Wet and Jersey either.

And the words on paper is not a retelling of their history so much as a "we do this for the fans..." pat on the back book. Some of the pictures are ok, but the majority are lacking. It's not going to make you go "whoooooa", or "cool". It is what it is. It's just something that will take you no longer than a couple of hours to get through and you certainly will never bother to look through it again. I know I won't.

What a shame.

You can find more of my Book, DVD, TV and Movie reviews at my Forum (Penny Can) at...

http://pennycan.createaforum.com

Feel free to stop by and contribute your 2 cents.

[Anne Wi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was an excellent journey with Bon Jovi during 25 years of their career. The book was published in 2009/probably released in 2010. If you are a fan this is a must read; the pictures in the book were really good too.

[Ninia Frania · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Lucy Meder · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book showed me there was more to the band than I originally thought and it was cool to see it in the band members point of view.

[Joanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me start by saying that if you are a Bon Jovi fan, this is a book that you will want to have on your coffee table. You can only imagine how tickled pink I was to open this book and find so many full page photographs from the very same concert that I attended in 2008! This book gives you an honest look into the lives of the band and the path they followed that brought them where they are today.

As they look back at the beginning of their career it seems to me that when they hit it big, they hit it big fast. Although the stardom I'm sure was fun and exciting for them I think it was also hard having to keep up with such a fast pace. When they were doing those early tours they didn't even own homes but seemed to just live from hotel to hotel and I can't even imagine that. I also remember a period of time when you really didn't hear much about Bon Jovi. This would have been the time when they took a much needed break, and they talk about this time in the book. It was a tough time for everyone and I think they all seemed to have their own ideas for the future of the band.

It was after this break when Jon approached the members and said that they need to get their minds in order before they can succeed as a band again, and that is when he suggested that they all see a 'shrink'. Even though they were pretty hesitant about this idea they went through with Jon's suggestion and found it was probably the best thing they could have ever done. This act put them on a path to better communication and let them realize that they all have different gifts to offer to the band.

Jon shares with us in this book how important it is for him to write songs that move people. He also shares with us how he wants people to enjoy their songs just as much ten years from now as today. Here is an excerpt from page 87 that I want to share where Jon talks about his inspiration for the Keep The Faith album that stems from the LA riots after the Rodney King beating:
"Keep the Faith" was a reaction to what we'd witnessed but we intentionally did not get specific. Hopefully people will understand the power of the lyric and what inspired it but in a year-or ten-it still needs to resonate. You want things to be timeless and classic. You want things to be there forever. So, it's not catering to this generation...it's for all generations. So we hone the lyric. We universalize it.

Well I am definitely hoping to see the documentary that this book was made to accompany. I am probably biased because I have been a Bon Jovi fan since high school in the eighties, but they are still my favorite! Unfortunately, because of my location I did not have the opportunity to see Bon Jovi live back then. I wasn't able to go to my first show until a couple of years ago, and I can tell you one thing that I said: "I will never miss seeing this band again!" It truly was an amazing concert and if you enjoy their music you will not be disappointed! They have successfully reached out to all generations because when I looked around that arena I saw ages of people that ranged fifty years. And I also want to say that they put on the best show that I have ever seen!

So I think you can tell from my review that I enjoyed this book, and if you enjoy Bon Jovi I think you will also.

[Blagica · Rating 5 out of 5]

seeing that I am from Jersey and I love Bon Jovi this was a perfect gift to have been given. In the last couple weeks I have been on a biography or memoir kick so this was perfection on pages.


I have not yet seen the documentary that accompanies this book (I don't get Showtime...bummer), but the book is a very in-depth look into one of the worlds most successful bands. The guys speak candidly about their days starting out, just how green they were when they released their first few albums, and how much they've learned in the 25 years they've been making music. The photos are awesome. Many are concert shots, but there are a bunch of back-stage shots that offer a behind the scenes glimpse, as well as some personal family shots.

Basically, if you're a fan of Bon Jovi, I absolutely recommend this. If you've followed their career and bought all the albums, then buy the book...you won't be disappointed. I can't wait to see the documentary that goes along with this. A great book from a great band. Here's to another 25 years guys!

[Serena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bon Jovi: When We Were Beautiful, conversations with Phil Griffin is chock full of behind the scenes, on stage, and recording photos, plus interviews with the band members. Fans of Bon Jovi will be fascinated to learn about the family that is Bon Jovi. Bon Jovi: When We Were Beautiful is not only a look at the past, present, and possible future of the band, but also about the dedication and ambition that each member holds in unison for what they have created.

The book is a testament to that dedication and how the band continues to survive throughout the decades as the music scene changes and other bands have fallen out of favor. The book was autographed by the band, and the book is a nice hefty hardcover.

Read the full review: http://savvyverseandwit.com/2010/10/b...

[Christopher Long · Rating 5 out of 5]

Light on text, yet heavy on photos, "When We Were Beautiful" is an authorized, behind-the-scenes account of one of rock's all-time biggest and best-loved bands.

Most of the fabulous photographs featured within the book's 184 pages come courtesy of author Phil Griffin, who shot them during Bon Jovi's record-setting 2008 Lost Highway world tour. However, "When We Were Beautiful" also includes amazing, never-before-seen pics spanning the multi-platinum group's entire twenty-five year career.

Offering more than a collection of candid photos, the pages of "When We Were Beautiful" also tell the complete Bon Jovi story as told to Griffin by the band members themselves.

Buyer/reader beware! This is an "authorized" publication -- a well-orchestrated presentation -- a view of the band as THEY want to be seen. It's a very warm and fuzzy "feel-good."

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book every Bon Jovi fan should enjoy. It's filled with pictures of the band through the early days up through 2008 as well as quotes from the band themselves.

I have to admit, I was a little disappointed that there weren't more pictures from the late 80's/early 90's, but the book is still amazing. There's some truly gorgeous pictures here, and it's always interesting to read the thoughts of the band themselves.

[Anne · Rating 2 out of 5]

A coffee table book featuring photos of the band across their career. It is marketed as a biography in collaboration with the band but is really an interview with some key points repeated again and again. Essentially they are a close knit band - as close as family and they all lookout for each other, but it lacked interesting anecdotes. There are some great photos and I still love their music but shouldn't be described as a biography.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never like Bon Jovi as a teenager. I thought that he was full of hot air and made all my friends cry and scream. I wasn't part of that. However, I have to give him credit when I read this book and how the struggle of being on the road and pushing to be one of the best. I have seen a new light. A man who is a great giver and a great leader for his bandmates.

[Andrew · Rating 2 out of 5]

The photos are wonderful but the text is just plain stupid. Someone described it better as "a totally self-congratulatory and ego-driven narrative by the band members. I almost choked while I was reading it."

Indeed, it's very shallow. I expected a lot more but there's more valuable info on Wikipedia than here.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

What great photography in this book. And the band talked about how close they are after 26 years of touring together. They said they will never write an autobiography because they don't want people to know all of their personal details and I don't blame them.

[Katy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so awesome. I'd recommend it for the photos alone, but the story is great too.

[Kiedra · Rating 2 out of 5]

Loved the pictures, but not much of a story.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes I read it cover to cover and I loved it. Jon is extremely photogenic. Ritchie isn't so bad either.

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love Bon Jovi you'll love this book. Great photographs and interesting retrospective comments about the band and each other.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

They didn't share as much as I hoped, loved looking at all the photo's though.

[Ekaterina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Will be interesting for a fan, shows the band from other side! Humorous as usual)

[Indah Threez Lestari · Rating 4 out of 5]

523 - 2012

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must for Bon Jovi fans!!

[Maria Wheeler · Rating 5 out of 5]

My wonderful daughter bought this book for me for Christmas. I love it! Really cool look at band members and its journey.

[Pattie Babbitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Photographs were amazing! I also now have my first official bucket list item...to go to a Bon Jovi concert. :)

[Joan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Shallow, self-congratulatory piffle. Maybe the coffee table version is pretty, but the kindle version is just a waste.