Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story, coming to Hulu

I’ve only seen the first episode so far, so can’t really comment too much, but… I think any authorised documentary is ultimately going to skew toward making the subjects look as good as possible.

Jon’s always held that line with drugs, and while he’s referenced not being a marital saint before - he’s also the only one, I think, still married to the person he was with at the time things were craziest and they were youngest. She’s obviously not an idiot and is aware, but even so it wouldn’t really be politic or respectful to dwell on the groupie stuff when you’re going to be watching it with the woman you were cheating on, right?

Anyway, I’m enjoying it so far. It feels warm and as open as it’s reasonable to expect a notoriously close-lipped organisation broadcasting on a Disney channel to be.

It’s a good trip down memory lane, I’m loving the snippets of earlier or less known work, and it’s nice to see a more vulnerable and softer Jon emerging from it all.

Yes, we all know that. My point is that I find it astonishing that even the media picks up on this and calls it bullshit...or at least has its doubts by mentioning that this is the picture Jon draws and implies that this can't be the truth.

A day after it - it was nice for watching once as a fan. But for five hours, it was plain vanilla and dragging in some parts. Probably because a lot of Bon Jovi's 40 years were, well, vanilla.
Can't see myself watching that whole thing again.

But the thing is: it is the truth. Jon stayed away from heavy narcotics and is happily married after 35 years of marriage, with all its' challenges in rockstar life. It is not a lie, if it makes him look good so what, it's truth. It's not "bullshit". Yes, the documentary does not have an agenda to make Jon look bad or hypocrite or whatever, but it doesn't mean that what is portrayed in regards to above is bullshit.

Trust me, it's not the truth. I know people that were on the road with Bon Jovi in the 80s and 90s and they paint a very different picture of Jon....believe what you want, but the "truth" is something Jon has always had a hard time with.

You miss my point completely.

Before watching the doc, my impression was that it was 70-30 Richie's fault.

After watching it, it's 50-50 on Jon and Richie, if not 60-40 on Jon.

It all started with Shanks, and Jon making records and finishing guitar parts with him.
Richie said - "that doesn't sound like a Bon Jovi record".

And there it was. He was clearly unhappy, Jon ignored it and pushed it forward. Until there was a breaking point.

Jon said they apparently tried getting in contact with him over the years and getting him back, but unsuccessfully.
Wondering how much truth is in that.

Jon clearly hasn't gotten over it.

But finally, why is Richie saying in his interviews he will come back and 'they need to do it', unless he really doesn't have an interest in rejoining the band?
He should be asked that the next time someone interviews him.

When you hear them talk about each other, seems that there's no obstacle in reunion, but yet, it's not happening. Why?

Did Richie put a condition that he would return only if Jon got rid of Shanks? If yes, it should be said out loud.

Shanks has ruined the Bon Jovi sound in the last 15 years. Aside from Jon's voice issues. Richie said it out loud. And he was right.

I get your point. It's that German media is paying attention to how Jon is portrayed in good light. I call bullshit on your argument that this good light is bullshit. I say it's not, the facts above are facts.

Regarding Jon's rockstar life in 80's, or even his whatever deeds later, it doesn't change the fact he is happily married. Obviously no saint, but also obviously to me not a serial cheater. Who are we to be moral verticals here?

Generally I don't get the need to spit on everything positive, no matter how objectively sound it is. Jon is model boy of rock and roll and he successfully built his image on his objective qualities (no hard drugs, no excess of dirty laundry, happily married). I don't see a problem with that.

I see more problems in his behaviour around 2010's, he was obnoxious, and part of the reason for Richie's leaving. It seems today he is softer than in those days, with less ego and more retrospect. It doesn't mean he is not calculated brilliant businessman turning his own weakness to PR material (voice). But not everything is negative and cynical.

Wow. What a fantastic documentary. I watched until 3 in the morning because I couldn't stop.

As someone who is in the business of making video, I appreciate and respect the tremendous amount of work done by the crew and director. You can see that he felt the history of the band, felt what is most important to say and how to present it so that also the biggest fans are satisfied (“Cadillac Man” or “Giant Stadium”).

The important thing is that the documentary said many important sentences that should have been said. The situation with Richie has been clear for a long time. It is known that 2 egos clash. On the one hand, Jon as a workaholic who wants to record another album despite the promised break. On the other, Richie who wants to stroke his ego with his tour and album in addition to having problems with alcohol.

It has long been known that Richie's alcohol problems were causing Jon to seek rescue and security in the form of a second guitarist. There was Bobbie, there was Phil X as a replacement and the perfect piece of the whole puzzle (for Jon) appeared - Shanks.

An important sentence was made that the band knew that Richie would fly to rehab sooner or later. The question was not “if” but “when.”

In 2012, Jon did not keep his word. There was supposed to be a break and he took to writing.
Tico and David knew how to stand up to him and make it clear that there was a break and we were not working further. They both took a break.
Richie did not rest. He threw himself, as Jon does, into the vortex of work. He recorded an album, promoted it and did a tour. We remember that the WAN tour was supposed to start earlier, and those were the press reports. However, it was delayed and the reason was said to be Richie's desire to promote his solo album. At the beginning of the tour there were actions with Richie not coming to rehearsal, etc.

The problem hung in the air. At the first concerts you could feel the tension.

Then there was a break. Tico and David on the occasion of the “This House” album revealed that during the break Richie was to go to rehab. Instead, he went on vacation with his daughter. And he didn't return.

Jon has always been a workaholic and Richie kept up with him in this. In 2012 Richie put his ego and solo career on the line. Jon continued to do his own thing. Shanks made it possible for him... But let's not kid ourselves. It wouldn't be Shanks it would be Bandiera (see Wildflower) or anyone else.

The document on this issue gave us 2 important things:
1.Jon admitted that he should take a one-year break
2.Richie apologized for the way he left.

I never held it against Richie for leaving the band because he had the right to do so. No one forced him to follow Jon. Many times musicians have left bands and this is a normal thing. However, I always felt that the way he did it was rude to the band, staff and fans.

That's why I greatly appreciate his apology included in this video. They sounded sincere, as if he understood his mistake. For me, that is enough.

On this point, the documentary explained the subject nicely. Also, it explained Jon's struggle with vocals well. I will definitely return to this series again.
1 episode - 7.5/10
2 episode - 10/10
3 episode - 10/10
4 episode - 9/10 (but I need to watch it again because I watched it at 2 o'clock in the morning).

It was worth the wait!

Great summary and great read, thanks!