Hugh Interview March 11,2015

Go back and listen.... It's around 34:00 minutes...

I'm not trying to give you a hard time but lets keep it real and not make more of something then what it really is. That's how rumors start.

He said there were a couple of songs that he's really excited about. He sounded pretty sincere and believable when he said it but he also just got done saying that Born To Follow is a great song too so again, I'm not reading into any of it. I wouldn't expect him to say that the songs suck or are just okay. Continuing.... The girl said "so the album isn't like WAN" and Hugh just responded with a very silent "NO"... Again, it's not like Hugh made the statement. It's a yes or no question and of course he is not going to respond with a "YES"... He also said that it's not like Theses Days either. Jon doesn't make two of the same albums... So all that above really means nothing at this point.

So one more time. He did not say that the album is not like WAN... He just confirmed that it wasn't. That's a big difference IMO.

Thanks for the highlights. I hope to listen to it tomorrow... on really low volume.

Just to confirm my own comment above which I know has been discussed a million+ times before but I just wanted to see it for myself.

I broke out my old tapes and read the inserts. They are the originals from back in the day so I know they weren't "revised". Hugh is specifically credited for playing on Runaway. He is also credited on the other albums as well. Runaway aside, he didn't play on the first 2 albums but all the others since.

I find it somewhat interesting that Jon had a ghost bass player until 1995. Alec seemed more than capable. I've watched a ton of live footage from Alec's day, and nothing ever struck me as odd. Unless Alec just couldn't handle the studio work but Jon just kept him on as a touring musician due to his vocals.

I wonder if Jon used different studio musicians for the other guys as well.

Obviously YES, at least from Have a Nice Day / This Left Feels Right. Crush and Bounce are suspects, but we have videos from recording, so apparently no traps in those years.

Since adopting Shanks and Bandiera in the band, the thing does not fit, even Shanks has admitted that he play keyboards or drum loops on the record. Something that is not strange to me when I hear the songs.

Basically, the way to work of Jon, makes that the band to be a hoax. No Alec in the old albums, Hugh is in the band, played in old Albums but no is official member. David and Tico not record all your tracks, Bobby and Shanks makes filler guitars.... Now, Sambora is out and Jon goes on as if nothing had happened.

The world's "most" knowledgeable BJ fan is aware that Richie also did not play on Runaway? Or Tico? Or David? That it was recorded before BJ were even formed?

Oh Really? Thanks! I never knew that!

I think it's a little extreme to call the band a hoax. The guys did / do play live. I like and listen to the live performances more than I do the studio albums anyway. They just happen to cross every "T" and dot every "I" when they make studio albums because millions are riding on them. There are probably things they could get away with as is but they call in additional musicians / professionals to perfect certain sounds. I'm still not convinced that Alec never entered the studio and it was all 100% Hugh. Hugh could have just laid down the demo tracks or maybe the other way around. That needs to be the next question to ask Hugh during the next interview. It makes absolutely no sense to have one guy play all the studio tracks and another guy to learn them to go on tour. Then again, the 80's were all about image and they didn't mess with any formulas.

BTY, Anything post 2K is totally different and you need to almost discuss things like they are 2 separate bands. The whole Bobby / Shanks thing is a whole different discussion.

All I could say is, it always was and always will be Jon's band. I think the only thing different between a band album and solo album at this point, is the name he slaps on the final cover.

The Band always was important in the old albums.

I wonder how resolve your image on the new album. It will be a trio? David, Tico, Jon. Or is it just Jon ?. Or maybe Jon includes all? Hugh, Bobby, Phil, David, Tico, Jon.

Something tells me that the cover will not have a image of jon and the band... rather, something like Lost Highway or Bounce. On his videos, I suppose that will all except Bobby, this is supposed to be only one support of touring, right?

I've "suffered" through the interview. (Noise is still killing me.)

Hugh said he, Dave, and Tico are ALL in the studio working on the album. So these questions about whether the "band" actually works on the album are pointless. He said a couple of songs are really good and he's really excited about them.

He met Jon through Lance Quinn. He said Jon is a "genius in many ways."

He said he has no problem with his position in the band. Jon said from the beginning that Al would never be "replaced." After 30 years he considers himself a member. Hugh doesn't care about pictures and album covers. Bon Jovi is his family. "It trumps everything."

Talked about Jon being a leader/songwriter and his name being on the songs and how it's hard to be a songwriter and reinventing himself. (about 11 minute mark)

"WWBTF is a great song." WTF????!?!?!

Sometimes he writes the bass line, sometimes it's a group effort, sometimes it's the producer, sometimes it's Jon, sometimes David is in on it, sometimes Richie is on it.

He loves steaks in Argentina.

David is the funniest human being he knows.

Everybody in the band is there for him if he needs something.

Jon is "The fearless leader. The man, the myth, the legend, the hair, the teeth, the songs, the god... well, if it wasn't for him, there would be no Bon Jovi. End of story." (I believe the use of god in this instance was a pause looking for the right words, not a reference to Jon as a deity.)

He's known Obie since he was 6. Jon keeps them together and gives them jobs.

When asked about Richie "cutting out of the band:" "I'll say the same thing Jon said. It's not a life sentence. If you, for whatever reason, he has, he's free to do whatever he feels. It's not what he did, it was how he did it. Just, you know, that's all. Everybody still loves him. He's still, I'm sure, would be welcome back with open arms. It's whatever makes Richie happy. And it's the same with any of the guys in the band. You know, whatever makes them happy as long as it's you know as long as it's done the right way it's fine. Everybody supports Richie. He's family. You know. Family f***s up sometimes. Family you know, everybody's, we're all human, and it was great to see him. I hadn't seen him in a while. I hadn't seen him since the beginning of the last tour. So it was just like I saw him yesterday. So it was great. But Jon hit the nail on the head. They still love one another and it's not a life sentence. I love that."

"Phil X is amazing. Phil X saved our asses. Phil X was great. Phil X is great. Phil X I'm pissed off because he didn't come last night, but I guess he had to get back to LA but he's been in town doing... he was great to play with... He's like herding cats. If you try to herd 6 or 7 cats you can't get them. He just won't stand still. I miss him." (There was something in there about him being an amazing guitar player and singer but I missed it. )

I thinks it's been discussed quite a lot in the past but since Crush Jon has definitely took the reigns. I think Richie would have had à say, as would the producer. Tico & Dave came in and played their bits and that's about as far as their input went (Jon has said as much) Of course WAN was basically just Jon and a producer but that album is an anomaly.

Maybe Jon has grouped together with the band and decided to come out with a united front now Richie has gone. It's doutbtful and I'll ignore any of the usual pre album hyperbole bullshit until I hear the finished product.