A Guitar And Gear Support Forum

Bon Jovi's founder and original bassist died yesterday. Always liked this band hate to loose him even though he left in 94. Seems I've got to the age that a lot of the musicians I've loved and played their songs over the years are leaving for the next chapter.

redman wrote: ↑Tue Jun 07, 2022 7:20 am Bon Jovi's founder and original bassist died yesterday. Always liked this band hate to loose him even though he left in 94. Seems I've got to the age that a lot of the musicians I've loved and played their songs over the years are leaving for the next chapter.

Hey, Randy. Another BJ fan here myself - I like some stuff more than other, basically the first 10 years were the best of the band -. Many of the members of bands I like(d) are reaching "serious" age levels - Bonjovi, Journey, Eagles, The Beatles, Santana, ABBA, etc. -, so this kind of news would show more frequent, I guess.

Aside from playing bass, he was such a great second voice for harmony.

PS: Of course, we´re all going to be RIP eventually, is part of the life package. We have to learn to live with it, until it is our time.

That's interesting, I did not know he was the founder of the band. From my teenage perspective back in the 80s he did stand out as appearing older than Jon and Ritchie. They pulled a Brian Jones on the poor guy, which has got to be a tough thing to take. I hope he at least had some part of the royalties from their huge selling albums of the 80s.

toomanycats wrote: ↑Wed Jun 08, 2022 5:44 am That's interesting, I did not know he was the founder of the band. From my teenage perspective back in the 80s he did stand out as appearing older than Jon and Ritchie. They pulled a Brian Jones on the poor guy, which has got to be a tough thing to take. I hope he at least had some part of the royalties from their huge selling albums of the 80s.

Many times when friends start playing together and form a band that's killer and in step with the times with the songs they write or buy. Then they go to a showcase I've done that but did not get picked up but for some everything falls in place managers, agents and labels get involved then they get rich and famous and all those music industry leeches whispering you don't need this guy or even the whole band you can do much better solo and just use hired guns for your band you'll sound better and go farther without him, her or them. Next thing those others that were once your best friends fade off to the "Island of Lost Muscians". We worked our butts off and came close a couple of times but at the end of the day we didn't get on the gravy train but I wouldn't trade those years for anything because I'm so addicted to playing with other musicians and I loved the crazy and wild gigs we played especially the ones that had several hundred and some with a few thousand screaming Rock and Roll fans. For us many of the bigger shows were outside and most were festivals and I loved those.

Here's one of ours


Here's another one

I met Bon Jovi's producer, Lance Quinn, at a barbeque at Whey Cooler and Jade Starling's house (Pretty Poison) when they were living in Cherryhill, NJ. He claimed Tony Bongiovi (Jon's record producer uncle, of the NY Record Plant fame) helped David Rashmbaum form the band, when the Philadelphia Allstars' 'Runaway' began to chart in Philly and NYC. Alec was definitely an original member, but not the founder.

I never met Alec, but heard he was a cool person. I met Jon & David once in a club, as they were helping promote the band of an acquaintance of mine, Tom Kefer (Cinderella). They were both regular guys and cordial. And definitely not interested in my band who was playing that night.

RIP, Alec

I had always heard that Tony Bongiovi definitely helped them out in the beginning.

Only Bon Jovi story I have is that I saw them on tour as opener for Ratt on the Invasion Of Your Privacy tour in 1985. They had it together even then, and definitely pushed Ratt as a live act. In fact, their set was more memorable from my recollection.

toomanycats wrote: ↑Wed Jun 08, 2022 5:44 am That's interesting, I did not know he was the founder of the band. From my teenage perspective back in the 80s he did stand out as appearing older than Jon and Ritchie. They pulled a Brian Jones on the poor guy, which has got to be a tough thing to take. I hope he at least had some part of the royalties from their huge selling albums of the 80s.

Well, I thought Tico or Richie were the older members, but found out that Alec was the oldest.


"They pulled a Brian Jones on the poor guy" : What does this mean? It´s a saying there in the US?

I don´t know many real stories from the band members, and you can never know what´s the real for sure, unless you were close to them, I guess.

sabasgr68 wrote: ↑Wed Jun 08, 2022 4:22 pm

toomanycats wrote: ↑Wed Jun 08, 2022 5:44 am That's interesting, I did not know he was the founder of the band. From my teenage perspective back in the 80s he did stand out as appearing older than Jon and Ritchie. They pulled a Brian Jones on the poor guy, which has got to be a tough thing to take. I hope he at least had some part of the royalties from their huge selling albums of the 80s.

"They pulled a Brian Jones on the poor guy" : What does this mean? It´s a saying there in the US?

Brian Jones was the founding member of the Rolling Stones and one of the original guitar players in addition to Keith. Brian contributed profoundly to the early sound of the band, in particular in his love for the blues. As the band became famous Mick and Keith become the focus of attention and Brian was ostracized. Granted, Brain had some personal issues and wasn't pulling his weight musically near the end. Brian was forced out of the band and Keith added insult to injury by simultaneously stealing his girlfriend, a famous model named Anita Pallenberg. That's why I say Alec Jon Such was given the Brian Jones treatment, as in being the founding member forced out of his own band. Jon and Ritchie are to the band Bon Jovi what Mick and Keith are to the Stones.

jhull54 wrote: ↑Wed Jun 08, 2022 2:20 pm I had always heard that Tony Bongiovi definitely helped them out in the beginning.

Only Bon Jovi story I have is that I saw them on tour as opener for Ratt on the Invasion Of Your Privacy tour in 1985. They had it together even then, and definitely pushed Ratt as a live act. In fact, their set was more memorable from my recollection.

I saw the Philly Spectrum stop on that tour. I was there for Ratt but Bon Jovi did put on a good show.

RIP Alec