By Shane Goodman shane@dmcityview.com

On a steel horse they ride…

As a teenager of the ’80s, I could not help but be a fan of Bon Jovi. Like many of my friends, I made rock and roll a part of my daily — if not hourly — ritual. We all wore out our Walkmans playing the relatively unknown “Runaway” from the first Bon Jovi cassette.

I recall making the trek to Vet’s Auditorium with three of my high school friends to see the little-known band open for the more popular hair band of the time, Ratt (Yes, Bon Jovi opened for Ratt). Now these were the days before Bon Jovi’s popularity had risen. I mean, Jon Bon Jovi even had chest hair — and lots of it — back then, if that tells you anything. At the time, the band was the essence of cool, making rock and roll fun like we had not seen before. Over time, the band discovered a softer sound, but continued to hit the charts, albeit losing many of the young rockers like myself.

Much has certainly changed for the band since Jon ruled the stage in Spandex with the American flag draped around him. And Bon Jovi continues to evolve, 25 years later, with a new sound — and some criticism to go with it. But it is hard to argue with the band’s success, and they certainly deserve to do things their own way. Michael Swanger shares the story of the band, and just as important, the fans who play for keeps, cause they might not make it back.

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