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").