If your city or town is one of the stops on Bon Jovi’s 2022 Tour this spring, you’re in for a home cooked treat.
A local band in each market will open up for Bon Jovi, a great opportunity for any performer. Bon Jovi has launched a website, encouraging local bands to upload a video.
How each band or musician will be selected is a bit murky, but that hasn’t stopped an onslaught of acts excited at the possibility of opening for the New Jersey rock n’ roll icon.
Below is Stone Whiskey, a North Carolina band that describes themselves as “straight up, rebellious rock n’ roll.”
Why not let a local band have the honors, rather than a fledgling act that St. Louisans, Milwaukeeans, and Austinites have never hear of?
For Jon Bon Jovi, this is a bit of déjà vu all over again. And it’s no accident.
The artist born John Francis Bongiovi, Jr. in 1962 in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, won a similar contest…on the radio.
In 1982, the young Jersey boy walked into WAPP in New York City, and chatted up DJ Chip Hobart and 19 year-old promotion director, John Lassman about his music. It turns out the new station was in the middle of a “Hometown” competition, seeking out area bands for a local music album.
Jon Bon Jovi paid tribute to those WAPP staffers when he was inducted into the Rock Hall of Fame in 2018. He told the story at his induction ceremony:
“After sending that cassette to every label and manager I could think of, I thought, ‘Who is the loneliest person in the music business? … the DJ.’ There was a new station in NYC called WAPP. It was so new, that there wasn’t even a receptionist, so I was able to walk in and get the attention of John Lassman and Chip Hobart (who sadly passed away last year).
“I told them about the songs on the cassette and the frustration of not getting any label to listen to it. Chip did listen to it, and he told me he thought it should be included on their ‘Homegrown’
record of local original music.”
Bon Jovi knows the pain and frustration of having talent but not having the opportunity to be “discovered.” Nearly four decades later, he’s paying it forward, giving more than a dozen local bands the chance to play on a big stage.
The song, of course, was “Runaway.” And as it happened, another local band from the area, Twisted Sister, was also included on “New York Rock,” that WAPP compilation.
John Lassman (pictured) is still very much in radio, having spent a lot of time at KQRS in Minneapolis where we worked together for many years under “the wizard,” Dave Hamilton. John told me at the time he was a 19 year-old promotion director in New York City – “in over my head.” But that was radio in the 1980s. Anything could happen.
For Jon Bon Jovi, it was the break. He actually turned down the grand prize when he signed on the dotted line with Mercury Records. But that exposure on the radio was the catalyst that broke him wide open.
And he’s paying it forward with a local flair all these years later on his new tour.
For a superstar arena band like Bon Jovi, you’d think the last thing on the tour checklist would be cementing fan bases in St. Paul, Omaha, and Ft. Lauderdale.
But if anyone understands the power of local – and radio – Bon Jovi is the poster boy for what can happen. “Runaway” was being pounded on the radio before he had a record deal.
And he should serve as a reminder for national, syndicated talent about the importance of local radio, hometown fans, and remembering what it was like when no one wanted to take three minutes to hear his demo.
You never know – one of the fledgling bands opening for Bon Jovi this spring could turn out to be the next “runaway” hit.
You can discover more homegrown talent on Bon Jovi’s 2022 Tour page.
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I grew up listening to Chip Hobart on WPOP in Hartford. Later, while at Northwestern University, I worked for Metromedia at WDHF/WMET as a night jock to pay the tuition and heard this guy Chip Hobart on WDAI (fred knows all about that station). I called to ask if he was one of my old radio heroes because I had grown up listening to him and now was on the air across the street. After a few unmentionable words, he laughed and confirmed he was that same guy I had idolized…whereupon we became fast friends. He mentored and befriended me until his death that occurred far too early. Radio has always been a wonderful business that has launched superstar artists and has always paid it forward to its own.
Thanks, Chip.
Thanks for relating that story, Jim. I know John Lassman made sure Chip got to the Bon Jovi induction.
Hi Jim. I just read your comments about Chip Hobart. Very cool.
We lost Chip nearly 3 years ago on March 17, 2021 at his home in Richmond, Vermont.
Like you I grew up listening to Chip on WRKO in Boston in the early 70’s. He was my radio idol and inspiration to get into radio.
To make a long story short, we became friends until the day he passed. 50 years. He encouraged me to go to the Northeast Broadcasting School in Boston. After 4 years in Boston radio Chip invited me out to Chicago in 1976 to work with him at 94.7 WDAI-FM. I worked as a spare jock, but mostly as Chip’s Producer there. Working in Rock Radio back in the 70’s in Chicago was an adventure I’ll never forget. Chip and I were both in our late 20’s. We were both single at that time. Back Stage passes to almost every concert.
The memories I had with Chip out there are precious to me, especially at my age (74 next month).
Happy to share some of my memories with Chip with you Jim.
As the father of a working musician/songwriter, its nice to see Jon Bon Jovi both pay it forward and acknowledge his roots. There are a lot of artists with enough money for multiple lifetimes (even after all the divorces) that could do the same and help the next generation of stars. I truly hope this is the start of a trend.
Back when my hair could still be parted (barely), some of the best testing songs we had were from local artists.
What goes around, comes around, Bob. It’s great Jon believes in that ethnic.
Me too Enda
Thank you Fred, Chip was a dear personal friend of mine and I interviewed Chip in 2008 on his life and career including the Bon Jovi connection. (It will soon be released as a Podcast) Lyndsey & Jeremy, Diane Desmond at WZXP The Album Station will be so happy to read this story. Still can’t believe he’s gone I sure miss him.
Appreciate it, Enda. Thanks for the note.