Why Bon Jovi Had A Feud With The Rock n Roll Hall Of Fame

Bon Jovi, led by Jon Bon Jovi, is known for keeping a clean image and staying away from scandals. Since the mid-1980s, they’ve been a big deal in the music world, filling stadiums and topping charts with hits like “You Give Love a Bad Name” and “Livin’ on a Prayer.” But not everyone was a fan. Some critics didn’t take them seriously because of their pop-metal sound and their looks, even though they were one of the top bands around. This bothered Jon Bon Jovi, especially when it came to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, a place that celebrates the best in music.

Bon Jovi’s Rocky Road to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

Bon Jovi’s albums in the late ’80s and early ’90s sold millions, and they managed to stay popular even when music trends changed in the 1990s. Despite this, some reviews were not kind, calling the band a “guilty pleasure.” Even in the 2000s, their concerts made a lot of money, showing they still had a lot of fans. In 2004, they celebrated their huge fan base with a boxset named “100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Can’t Be Wrong.”

Getting into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is a big honor for any musician. The Hall of Fame started in 1986 and includes famous names like Elvis Presley and The Beatles. It looks at an artist’s impact on music to decide who gets in. Bon Jovi became eligible in 2008 but didn’t get nominated for a while. Jon Bon Jovi thinks it’s partly because Jann Wenner, a big name behind the Hall of Fame, didn’t think highly of them. Wenner once said, “I don’t think he’s that important … What does Bon Jovi mean in the history of music? Nothing” (The New York Times).

For years, Bon Jovi didn’t even get nominated, which led some to think the process wasn’t fair. Jon Bon Jovi talked about this with Howard Stern, saying he had “choice words” for those he met from the Foundation, expressing his frustration but not naming Wenner directly.

 

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Bon Jovi’s Long-Awaited Induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

The first time they were up for nomination was in 2011, but they didn’t make it in. Jon Bon Jovi shared with Billboard, “The first time when we were nominated…and ultimately didn’t get in, there were a lot of conversations about were we legitimately not voted in, was there a little bit of covert action going on, and we’ll never know.” Things started to change as Wenner’s influence waned, and finally, in 2018, Bon Jovi made it into the Hall of Fame.

Bon Jovi’s induction was a big win, with over 1 million fan votes helping them get recognized. They were inducted with other legendary acts, marking a significant moment for the band. Jon Bon Jovi told The New York Times, “We’re very happy about it … It’s great … I really want to say it’s about time,” clearly showing how much this meant to him after years of feeling overlooked.

This story of Bon Jovi’s struggle with the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame reveals how challenging the music industry can be, even for the most successful artists. Despite the hurdles, Bon Jovi’s induction into the Hall of Fame is a testament to their lasting appeal and the strong connection they’ve forged with fans worldwide.