Jon Bon Jovi
Photo: Getty Images

LOS ANGELES — Bon Jovi want to give love a good name. The New Jersey rockers recently finished recording their ninth studio record, and singer Jon Bon Jovi calls it their most upbeat album ever.

"After these trying times in the States this last year, we're trying to get back to some optimism, people accepting each other," Bon Jovi said.

Telling of their optimism is the title of the first single, "Have a Nice Day," which the band performed at the American Music Awards last month.

John Shanks, who has worked with Lindsay Lohan, Ashlee Simpson, Hilary Duff and Kelly Clarkson in recent months, produced the album.

"It's a big rock record that I think is gonna surprise a lot of people," Bon Jovi said. "It's a very contemporary sound, a real rockin' record."

A title and release date have yet to be set, but fans should expect a spring release. "I'm really going to take my time with [the title], 'cause the songs are important enough to think of something," Bon Jovi said.

In the meantime, the band just released the box set 100 Million Bon Jovi Fans Can't Be Wrong. "It's 38 songs no one's ever heard and 12 rarities that you have to be a diehard fan to know, so it's 50 songs," Bon Jovi boasted.

Compiling the material gave the band a chance to reflect on it career. "It's incredible," Bon Jovi said. "Who would've thought? Twenty years, 100 million albums, not in my wildest dreams."

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• Bon Jovi

Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones
Photo: Paramount Pictures

Jeff Nathanson, who wrote "Catch Me If You Can" and "The Terminal" for Steven Spielberg, has been hired by the director and George Lucas to write the next "Indiana Jones" movie. The series' creators, along with star Harrison Ford, have said the three must agree on a script before the movie can move forward. ... Thomas Harris, the author who created Hannibal Lecter in his novels, is writing another book featuring the character and has already sold the film rights to the producer behind "Hannibal" and "Red Dragon." Called "Behind the Mask," the novel is said to be a prequel to "Red Dragon" that explains what turned Lecter into a cannibal. ...

Mark Ruffalo will join Gwyneth Paltrow, Ashley Judd, Sandra Bullock, Sigourney Weaver and Alan Cumming in "Every Word Is True," one of two movies in development about author Truman Capote and his bond with murderer Perry Smith. Filming is set to begin in January with Ruffalo playing Smith, who robbed and murdered a family of four in rural Kansas. Philip Seymour Hoffman and Chris Cooper are attached to the other Capote movie, shooting now. ...

With "Saw" taking in nearly $20 million during its first weekend, the producers and distributor behind the low-budget thriller are already working on a sequel for an October 2005 release. Director James Wan and screenwriter Leigh Whannell are involved only as producers, as the Australian duo are currently busy with another project. "We've been working on a script, like the definitive horror film," Whannell said. The two are not, however, shooting for a career in scary movies. "We're interested in stories rather than genres," Whannell said. "The thing that keeps us up at night is great stories that we come up with and we're like, 'Oh, that's so cool.' And it doesn't matter if it's science fiction, action, horror, musical, whatever." ...

Meanwhile, "Saw" star Cary Elwes has several films in the can, including "Edison" with Justin Timberlake and "The Trouble With Frank" with Jon Bon Jovi. "Believe it or not, Jon plays a loser," Elwes said. "When you think of Jon Bon Jovi you don't think, 'That loser,' at all. So he's definitely cast against type, but he plays a wonderful character. He plays a guy who is living in his sister's garage and ends up doing a pyramid scheme with credit cards and starts his own all-female hockey team. And I play the district attorney who has to bring him to justice, so it was a lot of fun." ...

While doing press for his upcoming "After the Sunset," Pierce Brosnan has insisted he is done playing James Bond and has suggested fellow Irishman Colin Farrell to fill his shoes. Brosnan said several actors could do it, but Farrell will "eat the head off them all." ... Quentin Tarantino is delaying production on "Inglorious Bastards," the working title of his long-expected movie based on World War II, to direct a kung-fu film with the dialogue in Mandarin Chinese. Tarantino told Total Film magazine he'll do a version dubbed in English, like the kung-fu movies that inspired him. ...

Stephen J. Cannell, who's producing "The A-Team" movie, has hired Bruce Feirstein (famous for James Bond movies) to write the script, which will be more violent and realistic than the TV series. Cannell is also adapting his TV drama "21 Jumpstreet" into a movie, as well as his novel "King Con." ... Moviegoers who check out "The Incredibles" over the weekend will catch a teaser trailer for "Cars," Pixar co-founder John Lasseter's first time in the director's chair since 1999's "Toy Story 2." "Cars," which features the voices of Owen Wilson, Paul Newman and NASCAR legend Richard Petty, chronicles the adventures of a racecar lost on his way to the track and is due in November 2005. ...

Ray Charles Jr., who co-produced the biopic on his late father, "Ray," also has another biopic finished. "I did a film about Alexander Pushkin, he was the forefather of Russian literature," Charles said. "I'm also busy building a restaurant [in Russia] named after my father." ... John Woo's production company is developing an action comedy titled "Espionage for Dummies" about a high school vice principal forced to rely on an "Espionage for Dummies" manual when he is mistaken as a spy. Stevie Long ("Starsky & Hutch") wrote the script. ...

John Carpenter has long been considering a sequel to his 1980 horror thriller "The Fog" but has instead signed off on a remake. Carpenter will produce along with Debra Hill, who co-wrote the original with the director. ... In other remake news, Jack Harris, who produced 1958's "The Blob," is remaking the campy cult classic. The movie was already remade once, in 1988. ...

Neve Campbell, Evan Rachel Wood and Jessica Lange will co-star in "The Mermaids Singing," about a young girl who returns to the remote and enchanted Irish island where she was born. Screenwriter Robin Swicord ("Practical Magic") will make her directorial debut on the indie adaptation of Lisa Carey's novel. ...

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Halle Berry, Dave Chappelle, Kirsten Dunst, Eve, Jimmy Fallon, Kate Hudson, Scarlett Johansson, Shia LaBeouf, Tobey Maguire and Snoop Dogg have signed on as the first set of presenters for the 2004 MTV Movie Awards. Last week, Lindsay Lohan was named the host of this year's ceremony, which airs on June 10. ...

Coldplay frontman Chris Martin and Gwyneth Paltrow are celebrating the birth of their baby girl, Apple Blythe Alison Martin. The baby was born Friday at a London hospital and weighed in at 9 pounds, 11 ounces. "We are 900 miles over the moon, and we'd like to thank everyone at the hospital who have looked after us amazingly," Martin said in a statement. In commemoration, Coldplay have posted a spoof video on their Web site, in which they're wearing wigs and performing as the Nappies, who bear more than a slight resemblance to the Darkness. During the clip, which is available for one week, Martin raps, "I'll be there through the thin and the thick/ I'm gonna clean up all the poo and the sick." Paltrow announced in December that she and Martin were expecting. ...

Though it's meant for the U.K., Christina Aguilera's commercial for Virgin Mobile — where she has a sort of "When Harry Met Sally" moment — is now available online at www.xtina-spotted.com. ... Jessica Simpson and her sister Ashlee are teaming up for another commercial endorsement. Following their Pizza Hut ads together, the siblings are shilling for Ice Breakers' new Liquid Ice breath mints. "As a busy newlywed and singer, I know how important it is to have fresh breath," Jessica Simpson said in a statement. "Whether it's liquid or it's ice — Ashlee seems to think it's both — Liquid Ice does the trick. But I'm a little stumped, so I'm hoping everyone will try it, decide for themselves, and cast their vote at www.liquidice.com." For every vote received, Hershey Foods is donating $1 — up to $10,000 — to Rock the Vote. ...

Joey Fatone, who made his Broadway debut in "Rent," will return to the Great White Way in "Little Shop of Horrors." Fatone will play Seymour in the production at the Virginia Theatre, starting on June 24. ... P.O.D. were forced to cancel a show on Saturday in Columbus, Ohio, after singer Sonny Sandoval fell from the stage and bruised his ribs at a show a few days earlier. Sandoval is recovering and was able to perform in Atlanta on Sunday. ...

The inaugural NASCAR Nextel All-Star Challenge will have a special guest when it kicks off at the Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte, North Carolina, on May 22. Lenny Kravitz will be the grand marshal and say the obligatory "gentleman, start your engines." ... Jon Bon Jovi will act in two upcoming films. According to the Bon Jovi Web site, the Jersey rocker will star as Frank in National Lampoon's "The Trouble With Frank," directed by Arthur Hiller. The singer also has a minor role in "Cry Wolf," a modern-day adaptation of the children's tale "The Boy Who Cried Wolf," which is slated for a fall release. ...

A host of reggae artists has gotten together to pay tribute to Bob Dylan. The 15-track Is It Rolling, Bob, due August 10, features contributions from Toots Hibbert, the Mighty Diamonds and Sizzla covering "Maggie's Farm," "Lay Lady Lay" and "Subterranean Homesick Blues," respectively. ... On May 31, Beenie Man, Elephant Man, Baby Cham and T.O.K. will play at the fifth annual Celebrity Soccer Match, Caribbean Family Day and Food Festival taking place at Roy Wilkins Park in Queens, New York. ...

Libertines frontman Pete Doherty checked into the Priory drug addiction clinic in London on Friday. The band's second album, tentatively due this summer, is currently being mixed. ... Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood has been hired by the BBC Concert Orchestra to write songs as a composer in residence. Greenwood's music will be broadcast in the U.K. by Radio 3, and he will also write for BBC festivals and theme tunes for programs. ...

05.14.2004

Producer Phil Spector, on bail and awaiting trial for the murder of actress Lana Clarkson, was arrested Friday after a scuffle with his chauffeur at his Los Angeles area mansion. Spector and his driver, Toby Wheeler, were reportedly arguing about business when a fight broke out and the two placed each other under citizen's arrest. Police arrested both men for investigation of misdemeanor battery, according to Lieutenant Elliot Kase, who said no weapons were involved. Spector's hand and Wheeler's jaw were treated on the scene. Spector is due in court June 14 to answer the charges, which will not affect his bail. ...

Usher is in preliminary talks with MGM to star in and executive produce — along with his mother/manager Jonnetta Patton — the script for "Step in the Name of Love," according to his spokesperson. The discussions are in very early stages, according to his booking agency, but if produced, the film would be a period piece on the step movement, a Chicago derivative of swing dancing. ...

Kelly Rowland of Destiny's Child announced Friday (May 14) that she's marrying her boyfriend of six months Roy Williams, a safety with the Dallas Cowboys. Williams proposed in New York on Monday at a party, whose guests included Rowland's groupmate Beyoncé. ... Six months after they legally got married, Audioslave's Chris Cornell and Vicky Karayiannis celebrated with a ceremony in Paris last weekend. Following the nuptials, Cornell sang to his bride, while guests feasted on a six-foot wedding cake. Cornell's band, meanwhile, is gearing up to hit the studio to record its second album in the next few weeks. The LP is expected out by the end of the year. ...

Fans dressed "as maggotish as possible" will descend on New York on May 21 to spread the word about Slipknot's Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses), set for release May 25. Organized by the Slipknot street team, the "March of the Maggots" will begin at the Roadrunner Records offices. ... New York radio station Hot 97 has just announced more acts for its June 12 Summer Jam concert at Giants Stadium. The G-Unit with Tony Yayo, Ludacris and Chingy have all been added. ...

Wilco's Jeff Tweedy has completed his stint in rehab, and the band will hit the road to support its fifth album, A Ghost Is Born, beginning May 19 in De Kalb, Illinois. Tweedy sought treatment for a painkiller addiction last month, forcing the band to cancel a handful of tour dates, including a stop at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival earlier this month. ... The long-awaited sixth album from Green Day will be called American Idiot and is tentatively scheduled for a September 14 release. The title track will serve as the album's first single. ...

U2's Bono said Thursday that the long-awaited follow-up to All That You Can't Leave Behind will be completed by the end of the summer. Referring to the still-untitled LP as the band's "first rock record," Bono also said that he expects the first single to hit the airwaves in September, followed by the album's release one month later. The U2 frontman made the revelations during an appearance on "CNN Live Today," where he discussed Canada's $50 million contribution to his global campaign to fight HIV/AIDS and his upcoming efforts to increase awareness of the disease amongst voters in the United States. ... The ninth installment of Epitaph Records' Punk-O-Rama series will be released June 8. The 24-track low-priced label sampler features tracks by longtime Epitaph bastions Bad Religion, Rancid and Pennywise, as well as newcomers such as the Matches, Scatter the Ashes and Nekromantix. ...

Truth Hurts' Ready Now apparently wasn't ready yet, so it's been moved from May 11 to a June 1 release date. Choreographer-turned-video-director Fatima Robinson recently shot a video for the title track in Los Angeles. The album follows the R&B singer's 2002 debut, Truthfully Speaking. ... AFI and Grandaddy will present, while Tesla, Night Ranger and Hieroglyphics will perform at the 27th annual California Music Awards on June 6 in Oakland. Green Day lead the pack of nominees with four nods, while AFI are up for three. ...

Florida Governor Jeb Bush has signed into law a proposal to ban suicide as a form of public entertainment. The law as enacted in response to the heavy metal band Hell on Earth, which announced one of its concerts would feature a live suicide. Under the new law, anyone promoting a live suicide would face a third-degree felony charge and a $5,000 fine. The proposal passed the Florida House and Senate last month. ... A battle has erupted between Great White and Cleopatra Records, which is scheduled to release a best-of collection called A Double Dose. Last month, Great White claimed the label was exploiting them by releasing an unauthorized collection that featured artwork of a shark jumping out of flames, a tasteless reference to the band's involvement in the tragic Station fire in Rhode Island. Cleopatra executive Jeff Gray told The Boston Globe that the label didn't plan to include flames with the artwork, and that although the band was aware of this, it made a stink simply to promote its upcoming tour. ...

Eagles of Death Metal frontman Jesse "The Devil" Hughes is preparing his solo flight. Fabulous Weapons features an appearance by ex-Queens of the Stone Age bassist Nick Oliveri. A two-track EP, A Pair of Queens, is expected to preface the album. ... One of alternative rock's biggest murder mysteries is going to be explored on "48 Hours" this weekend. The search for the man who killed Gits frontwoman Mia Zapata — whose 1993 murder went unsolved for nearly a decade before Jesus C. Mezquia was arrested last year — will be featured on the program, airing Saturday on CBS at 8 p.m. ET ...

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• Jon Bon Jovi

Jon Bon Jovi
Photo: VH1

As a red-blooded Jersey boy, Jon Bon Jovi was especially hard-hit by the terrorist attacks that took place in nearby New York City on September 11 — so much so that he delayed plans to start shooting his five-month stint on "Ally McBeal" to play some benefit shows back home.

"I want to lend my name and support to as many of these [benefits] as I can, so I told them, 'Either delay it a month, or I have to withdraw,' " Bon Jovi said Friday night after an appearance at the Twin Towers Relief Benefit at the Stone Pony in Asbury Park, New Jersey. "['Ally McBeal' creator] David E. Kelley was really wonderful, because he completely understood and supported my decision wholeheartedly."

Onstage at the Stone Pony, Bon Jovi played a solo acoustic version of Bob Dylan's "Chimes of Freedom," a song he played during 15 stops on Al Gore's campaign trail. Then band keyboardist David Bryan joined him for the Bon Jovi songs "Livin' on a Prayer," "Wanted Dead or Alive" and "Just Older."

The next stop on the Bon Jovi benefit rounds is the October 20 extravaganza at New York's Madison Square Garden, which will also feature Paul McCartney, the Who, John Mellencamp, Macy Gray, the Goo Goo Dolls, James Taylor, India.Arie and Melissa Etheridge (see "Paul McCartney Joining Bon Jovi, Macy Gray For New York Benefit"). All money from that event will go to the Robin Hood Relief Fund, which will distribute the money to the Twin Towers Fund and other agencies aiding victims and their families.

Not only is Bon Jovi performing music to help heal the wounds of others; he's also playing it to come to grips with his own confusion.

"I met the widows at the firehouses and spent some time with them. This whole thing was a tragedy," he said. "These [rescue workers] lost their lives protecting others. These guys were real heroes. They weren't afraid to run into a burning building to try to get people out of there, not knowing if there was anyone in there or not. As everyone was coming down the stairwells, they were running up them. So for me to have done the telethon (see "Mariah Carey, Springsteen, Other Stars Sing For America On Telethon") and then to sing 'America the Beautiful' for the NFL, those were the most difficult and rewarding things I've ever done in my career. For me to play these benefits is nothing compared to what the real heroes did."

When all the benefits have been played, Bon Jovi will concentrate on his guest role on the new season of "Ally McBeal" (see "Elton John Goes To 'Ally McBeal' Happy Hour; Bon Jovi May Take Role"). His appearances on the show should begin airing in mid-January, a Bon Jovi spokesperson said.

He's not giving up his recording career for the small screen, of course; he plans to enter the studio with his bandmates to record the next Bon Jovi album while he's working on "Ally McBeal" in L.A. (see "Bon Jovi's Future Holds Vampire-Slaying, Another LP"). Twelve songs have been demoed so far, and Bon Jovi said it's sounding like business as usual.

"We're affected by this [terrorism], but we're not going to let it affect the tone of the record," he said."I think we're really inspired now, and, if anything, we're going to try to find that optimism that we've always had in order to help people when they're listening to it."

The new Bon Jovi record is tentatively scheduled for release next fall.

For a feature interview with Bon Jovi, check out "Bon Jovi: The Big Dance."

For more information on and audience reaction to the attacks, including tips on how you can help, see "9.11.01: Moving Forward."

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• Bon Jovi

Elton John
Photo: Universal

Following the lead of Sting, Barry Manilow and Chubby Checker, Elton John will step into Ally McBeal's surreal world this season — and Jon Bon Jovi may be close behind him.

Appearing as himself, the British pop legend will sing and play piano for Ally's happy-hour crowd in the Fox show's November 19 episode. The bar scene, to be shot in Los Angeles on Friday (September 28), will feature John performing his classic "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting," and two new tunes, "The Wasteland" and his current single, "I Want Love." Former "Ally" cast member Robert Downey Jr. lip-synchs to John's lyrics in the video for the latter number.

Meanwhile, Jon Bon Jovi is in discussions with the producers of "Ally McBeal" about a recurring role on the show, according to a Fox spokesperson. He would play a potential love interest for Ally, similar to Downey's role last season.

Bon Jovi, whose big-screen credits include "Moonlight and Valentino" and "U-571," next stars in "Vampires: Los Muertos." He has also made an appearance on HBO's "Sex and the City."

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Jon Bon Jovi
Photo: VH1

Jon Bon Jovi, Jewel and Mary J. Blige will help New York mayoral candidate Mark Green raise money at a benefit concert and dinner a week before the primary election.

Actors Warren Beatty and Annette Bening will host the event, which will be held September 5 at Town Hall, according to Green press secretary Joe DePlasco. Invitations to the shindig went out last week, DePlasco said. Dinner and the concert cost $1,000, while $50 buys balcony seats for the show only.

With Green leading a field of four Democratic candidates in polls, DePlasco said that since the fund-raiser is so close to the September 11 primary, funds would be used to campaign for the general election November 6.

Green scored the high-powered musical lineup with the help of some show-biz supporters, including MTV Networks chairman/CEO Tom Freston and VH1 president John Sykes, DePlasco said.

Green has served as New York's (first) public advocate since 1993. He worked with Ralph Nader on public-interest issues during the late 1970s and early '80s.

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Jon Bon Jovi
Photo: VH1

While Bon Jovi are playing "It's My Life" on their worldwide tour, the band's singer is telling fans, "It's your life." Addressing the prestigious Oxford Union debating society on Friday, Jon Bon Jovi said, "You have to be true to yourself. It's your life. You are the masters of your destiny, and passion, not pedigree, will win the end." Bon Jovi gave a 20-minute speech to students at the 800-year-old university in Oxfordshire, England, according to the Associated Press. He preached the three "P's" — "passion, perseverance and possibility" — and lectured on the virtues of hard work and self belief.

"Nothing is more important than passion," he said. "Whatever you decide to do in life, just be passionate about it. Don't be intimidated by competition, as success is sweeter and failure less bitter when you have given everything." Showing he wasn't intimidated by competition (Michael Jackson, Kermit the Frog, Barry White, O.J. Simpson and Jerry Springer have all addressed the Oxford Union), Bon Jovi explained his qualifications.

"I spent years playing in bar bands, watching and learning my craft — that was my university," he said.

This was not the singer's first major speech of the year. Last month, Bon Jovi gave the commencement address at Monmouth University (see ).

Bon Jovi — the band — are currently on a British tour in support of their new live album, One Wild Night, which features classic hits such as "You Give Love a Bad Name" and "Wanted Dead or Alive," along with 2000's single, "It's My Life" (see "Bon Jovi Have One Wild Night").

• Jon Bon Jovi

Jon Bon Jovi
Photo: VH1

Hitting podiums from New Jersey to Oxfordshire, England, Jon Bon Jovi is working overtime to put another notch in his career belt. Already known worldwide as a singer and actor, Bon Jovi should soon be considered a public speaker as well.

Bon Jovi gave the commencement address at Monmouth University last month (see "Dr. Bon Jovi Salutes Underdogs In Graduation Speech") and said this week he will address the famed Oxford Union debating society on June 15.

"I do have a bit of experience performing in front of crowds but this audience does present a whole new set of challenges," Bon Jovi said in a statement, according to Reuters. "In a way, that's why I accepted the invitation. It wasn't vanity, it was more — OK, this is a new curve, let's do it. It is the same feeling that has led me to start at the bottom as an actor and prove myself." Bon Jovi follows a long list of celebrities who have spoken at the Oxford Union, including Michael Jackson, Barry White and Kermit the Frog. "To hear from a man whose music has had such a huge impact across the generations, and indeed, countries, would be fantastic," Oxford Union President Amy Hartland told Reuters. "We can't wait to hear about his experiences performing across the world and his views on the modern world of music.'' One Wild Night: Live 1985-2001, the first live album from the singer's namesake band, debuted last week at #20 on the Billboard albums chart. The 15-song LP includes classic hits such as "You Give Love a Bad Name" and "Wanted Dead or Alive," along with 2000's single, "It's My Life" (see "Bon Jovi Have One Wild Night").

• Jon Bon Jovi

Jon Bon Jovi poses with fellow honorary degree recipient Lewis M. Eisenberg (left) and university official Charles T. Parton at Monmouth University's commencement.
Photo: Jim Reme

WEST LONG BRANCH, New Jersey — Jon Bon Jovi might be just another underdog from Jersey, but now he's an underdog from Jersey with a doctorate in humanities.

The pop-rock singer received the honorary degree and gave the commencement address at Monmouth University on Wednesday (May 16), telling the class of 2001 not to be in awe of students from bigger, better-known schools.

"Every year, there's a new crop of talent making records who want my spot," Bon Jovi told the graduates, who were seated on folding chairs on a lawn behind the university's Woodrow Wilson Hall. "At this very moment, all across the country, thousands of graduates are receiving diplomas, some from schools like Yale, Georgetown and Dartmouth, who may think their piece of paper is more valuable — or their commencement speaker more impressive.

"Remember, we're from Jersey. We've been underdogs all of our lives," Bon Jovi said to cheers.

More than 1,000 students graduated from the university near Asbury Park, where Bon Jovi got his start at such Jersey Shore clubs as the Stone Pony and the Fast Lane.

"Bon Jovi was not supposed to succeed," the singer said. "Ask any critic. We weren't from New York. We weren't from L.A. I didn't live the clichéd rock and roll lifestyle that legends were made of. We tried to keep up with the Joneses until I realized that even if you win the rat race, you're still a rat." Bon Jovi and his band are enjoying the success of last year's Crush, which has sold more than 2 million copies. Their first live album, One Wild Night (see "Bon Jovi Have One Wild Night"), hits stores next week, and they are in the middle of a tour that ends with two sold-out homecoming shows, July 27 and 28, at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford.

Bon Jovi, who wore a black graduation gown, also spoke about his movie career, which includes "U-571" and "Moonlight and Valentino." "I may have been very successful in my music career, but when I started a film career, I was just another actor looking for work," he said. "My fame wasn't a help — in fact, it was a hindrance. No one in Hollywood encourages musicians to make the transition into acting. I had to audition just to get an acting coach." Introducing Bon Jovi — who grew up in Sayreville and lives in nearby Middletown — University trustee Peter Novello said the performer was given the honorary degree because of his success as an entertainer and his humanitarian work. Bon Jovi has worked on behalf of Special Olympics, the American Red Cross, the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation and other groups.

His speech was well-received — especially the New Jersey references.

"All my friends from high school went to college out of state, and they would give me speeches that I had to get out of state, too," said graduate Nicole Imperial, 23, of Westfield. "I still feel that I'm as good as them!" After his speech, Bon Jovi, a graduate of Sayreville's War Memorial High School, shook hands or gave high-fives for nearly two hours to graduating seniors as they picked up their diplomas. When all the degrees had been handed out, Bon Jovi ducked into a limo behind the stage and sped off, led by a police escort.

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Jon Bon Jovi
Photo: VH1

Bon Jovi will take their first live-album bow with One Wild Night, which will feature covers of Neil Young's "Rockin' in the Free World" and the Boomtown Rats' "I Don't Like Mondays" alongside the band's classic hits.

The 15-song LP is due May 22, Island Records said, and will include "You Give Love a Bad Name," "Livin' on a Prayer," "Wanted Dead or Alive," "Runaway," "Bad Medicine" and "It's My Life," among other favorites.

Contrary to what the title implies, One Wild Night was recorded at several concerts from around the world throughout their career. Bon Jovi compiled the track listing, which is short on ballads, to show the more straight-up rock side of the band that is sometimes overlooked (see "Bon Jovi Preparing Career-Spanning Live Album"). The boys from Sayreville will promote the new album with a May 12 performance on "Saturday Night Live." They are currently on the One Wild Night tour and play Monday (April 30) at the Pepsi Center in Denver. The outing wraps up July 27 and 28 with two sold-out homecoming shows at New Jersey's Giants Stadium.

The One Wild Night track listing, according to Island:

• "It's My Life"
• "Livin' on a Prayer"
• "You Give Love a Bad Name"
• "Keep the Faith"
• "Someday I'll Be Saturday Night"
• "Rockin' in the Free World"
• "Something to Believe In"
• "Wanted Dead or Alive"
• "Runaway"
• "In and Out of Love"
• "I Don't Like Mondays"
• "Just Older"
• "Something for the Pain"
• "Bad Medicine"
• "One Wild Night"

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• Jon Bon Jovi