Bon Jovi Links - 7800 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT

More to the point, they were setting their stall. By going for an album moniker that was directly related to molten lava, they showed the world that Bon Jovi were hot, heavy and slightly off-kilter. There was something altogether different this time around. They were not a happy bunch - and it showed.

After the 'Bon Jovi' album came out, the band had toured, toured, toured again, supporting the likes of The Scorpions and Kiss in the US and Europe. They had seen the 'down' side to success, the constant demands on your time, the pressures brought about by trying to gain an extra notch on the sales graph, of attempting to convince people at your own label to take you even remotely seriously.

The whole mechanics of promoting and selling albums came as something of a culture shock for the band. Their dreams and hopes were suddenly no longer as gold-tinted as they had hoped. Bon Jovi had breached the rock clans and made their own significant impact; they were even being feted in many quarters as new lords of the genre. But, if the truth be known, they were not gaining any real respect. They were learning fast that making a good album didn't entitle you to anything, except perhaps the right to open shows whenever and wherever they were bid.

So, it was a tired and slightly demoralized band who regrouped after they had finished exhaustive touring to promote 'Bon Jovi', By this time, the demands of the band had begun to take their toll, Both Tico Torres and Alec John Such were facing divorces, Long-term relationships for the other three members of the band were out of the question.

In addition, there was the extra pressure caused by the expectations of the record label. Mercury had seen 'Bon Jovi' climb towards gold status in the US, Now they were demanding more - much more, People at the label were talking openly about a platinum album next time out for Bon Jovi - in other words, they were looking to the band to break the million sales mark and start to recoup some of the money already invested in them.

Mercury clearly thought that they would get more of the same from the band, Maybe. there were jobs on the line in this respect. A lot of time and effort had been expended by various employees of the record company in getting Bon Jovi to the level they had already reached. But to stand still for a rock band is to slide backwards. And if that were to happen, then heads might roll as scapegoats are found. At record labels, nothing is acclaimed so much as success. Equally, nothing is as badly punished as failure.

Thus, Bon Jovi entered their second phase with others wanting an input, simply for the sake of their own survival. They were no longer five 'dudes' out to make music for their own pleasure and for that of their fans. They were actually now involved in a potentially deadly game. They were, to some extent, being used as pawns by others trying to further their power bases. It had already left a nasty taste in the mouth with the five of them.

Add in the fact that although they were a 'happening' band, all of its members were obliged for economic reasons to live together in a single apartment while they recorded the new record, and it's plain to understand why resentment was setting in fast.

For this new opus, Bon Jovi elected to work with someone they knew - Lance Quinn - who'd been Tony Bongiovi's sidekick on the first album. Now, he took over the reins completely. Jon and Tony had finally fallen out beyond the point where their relationship could be repaired. Law suits and court cases fly in the coming years, and with their liaison permanently soured, there was never any chance that Bonjiovi would be let anywhere near the band this time around.

Thus, at Quinn's behest. Bon Jovi relocated to Philadelphia to record. Why Quinn? He Nas comparatively cheap, and the band already knew him, that's why. Despite their 3uccess, Bon Jovi could not yet command any producer they wished. They had to watch the Jennies and go with whoever was available at the right price at the right time. Besides, better the devil you know ...
The recording process was recalled in later years with metaphorical shudders by every member of the band. It was not a warm experience for them whatsoever. And the whole album was tainted with alienation as an overriding subject. In particular, there was a common theme of losing respect for women.

In an interview conducted just before the album came out, David Bryan hinted that the band had indeed begun to see women in a more predatory, less respectful light. They had lived with the instincts of groupies out on the road, and didn't like the way in which this was beginning to colour their attitudes. Using women as mere sex objects was anathema to Jon in particular. He hated what he had become and, in a manner of speaking, he hit Jut lyrically.