Bon Jovi: These Days at 30 – a classic album, by any other band?

2025-04-11

Bon Jovi’s These Days was the first album Rob ever fell in love with, and three decades later he’s convinced that this grunge-influenced left turn would be hailed as a masterpiece today had it been made by any other band. Which is why, ahead of These Days’ 30th anniversary, Rob insisted his long-lost brother needed to hear it. Will the prog-loving poodle rock-adverse Dave fall for Bon Jovi’s uncharacteristically angsty, mid-90s masterpiece, or laugh it back to the footnotes of given-up glam metal lore?

Bon Jovi’s These Days was the first album Rob ever fell in love with, and three decades later he’s convinced that this grunge-influenced left turn would be hailed as a masterpiece today had it been made by any other band.

Which is why, ahead of These Days’ 30th anniversary, Rob insisted his long-lost brother needed to hear it. Will the prog-loving poodle rock-adverse Dave fall for Bon Jovi’s uncharacteristically angsty, mid-90s masterpiece, or laugh it back to the footnotes of given-up glam metal lore?

Also, how much of this album was really down to MIA guitarist Richie Sambora, and what’s the deal with Jon Bon Jovi’s beleaguered voice today?

Notes and references

Rob’s largely positive 2011 live review: https://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/music/255317/Review-Bon-Jovi-at-Hard-Rock-Calling

Rob’s not very positive 2015 review:
https://www.thenationalnews.com/arts/review-bon-jovi-fails-to-hit-the-high-notes-at-abu-dhabi-concert-1.85326

Rob shitting on Burning Bridges:
https://www.thenationalnews.com/arts/album-review-burning-bridges-bon-jovi-1.46827

Rob on seeing the band for a fifth time:
https://www.thenationalnews.com/arts/wild-night-for-bon-jovi-fans-in-abu-dhabi-1.131995

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