Bon Jovi 1978

00.00.78 - Richie Sambora with The FM Band - Billy D's Rumrunner Club, NJ, USA

00.08.78 – Richie Sambora with The FM Band - Nottingham HS Footballfield, NJ, USA ( Joe's Jam II Show)

14.11.78 - Richie Sambora with The FM Band - Trenton, The Ratskeller, Trenton State College, NJ, USA

Bruce Foster - Shark Frenzy VOL-1 Released Party - Clinton, NJ, USA - Mai 2004 feat Richie Sambora

1978 - 1979 - John Bongiovi & David Bryan with Atlantic City Expressway - Local Clubs around New Jersey

Atlantic City Expressway was a R&B group. They entered the ‘Battle of the bands’ at Sayreville High for which they came in second. They also landed a gig at a club in Asbury Park. The first time Jon played a club was on his 17th Birthday. One night, they even got to jam with Bruce Springsteen as they did "Promised Land". (Jon references this night, but not the date, on VH-1 Behind the Music)

The First ACE original Lineup:Jon-lead vocals; Willy Hercek-rhythm guitar; Steve Pretti-bass; Chuck Mills-drums; Bill Frank-lead guitar; David Rashbaum-organ; Ken and Bill Durrea-trombone and trumpet; Alan "Goober" Cheznovitch-trumpet; and Rick Cyr-saxophone

Atlantic City Expressway, "Save The Whales" Benefit concert, Sayreville, NJ, Spring 1979. Charlie Milles on Drums ( http://www.cmillsdrums.com )

Second Picture: Out of focus shot I scanned off of a contact sheet..... Hard to tell, but the white, fuzzy blob in the foreground is John Bongiovi..... ( Charlie Milles )

The Original Atlantic City Expressway, circa 1979. On the steps of the Fast Lane, Asbury Park, NJ. Note the matching satin
jackets, ala the Asbury Jukes....thanks to Charlie Mills ( http://www.cmillsdrums.com )
From front to back, left to right:

John Bongiovi
Steve Pretti (bass): Will Hercek (guitar/vocals)
Ken Durrua (Trombone): John Godowski (Keyboards): Charlie Mills (Drums)
Don Noe (Trumpet); Bill "Bounce" Durrua (Trumpet); Al "Goober" Chez
(Trumpet); Rick Cyr (Sax)

David Rashbaum-organ, Jon-lead vocals , Jeff Kinder-drums, Willy Hercek-rhythm guitar, Steve Pretti-bass,Bill Frank-lead guitar, Ken and Bill Durrea-trombone and trumpet; Alan "Goober" Cheznovitch-trumpet and Rick Cyr-saxophone

- The Jam with Bruce was actually A.C.E. and the song was Promised Land. It was at the Fast Lane in Asbury Park NJ. In that picture i am just to the right and Jeff Kinder can barely be seen in the background (thanks to Bill Frank)

- The shots of Jon w/ Springsteen were taken at the Fast Lane in 80-81. That was Jeff Kinders first night with ACE. (thanks to Charlie Mills)

I just don't get it.I am NOT a bon jovi fan however I used to see him and ACE(Atlantic City Express) at the NJ clubs(Royal Manor North/Final Exam) and thought they were great-they played Geils,Southside Johnny and other good party bands.I used to see the other bon jovi memebers bar bands too.All very good.I was at the Royal Manor the night of their big 1st concert tour w/their "hit" Runaway

Atlantic City Expressway Reunion show - Friday October 15, 2004 at Harry’s Roadhouse, Asbury Park, NJ, USA

Atlantic City Expressway Reunion show feat David Bryan of Bon Jovi in support of Rett Syndrome Friday October 15, 2004

The Atlantic City Expressway will be performing at Harry’s Roadhouse (www.harrysroadhouse.com), 662 Cookman Avenue, Asbury Park, NJ, the evening of October 15, 2004.

The Atlantic City Expressway, who have not performed as a group in over 20 years, will take the stage for a fundraiser for Rett Syndrome.

The Atlantic City Expressway alumni consists of a vast array of recognizable names in the New Jersey music scene. The band in its earliest formation featured Jon Bon Jovi , David Bryan (keyboardist, Bon Jovi) and Al Chez (trumpet, David Letterman Band).

David Bryan and Al Chez are scheduled to perform along with founding members Wil Hercek (vocals, guitar), Rick Cyr (saxophone) , Ed Horne (bass), Jeff Kinder (drums), and Bill Frank (lead guitar). Hercek, Horne, Kinder and Frank currently perform with the Bad Willie Band. www.badwillieband.com

The Expressway was a vehicle for then teenager John Bongiovi to cut his teeth and experiment with rhythm and blues. Before long, the ten-piece band, featuring a dynamic horn ensemble, began ripping it up along the shore in Asbury Park and rock clubs in North Jersey playing R&B chestnuts and covers of Springsteen and Asbury Juke songs.

The Bad Wille Band - Classic Rock...Jersey Style (old Members of Atlantic City Expressway)

Wil Hercek (vocals, guitar), Ed Horne (bass), Jeff Kinder (drums), and Bill Frank (lead guitar)

A pay receipt for The Next's Sunday January 13 1980 performance...let's see, soundman and equipment rental $60, lightman $35, Richie Sambora and the 3 other band members get $23.75 each.

00.00.80 - Alec John Such & Tico Torres with Phantom Opera - local Clubs around NJ

In the early '80s, Alec managed the Hunka Bunka Ballroom in Sayreville, then known as the Jernee Mill Inn. He even booked a band called Jon Bon Jovi & The Wild Ones and saw potential. He brought Richie and Tico in; Jon brought David in.

24.01.80 – Richie Sambora with The Next - Mercerville, Brothers Saloon, NJ, USA

The Next was:
Dean Fasano; lead vocals
Bruce Foster; vocals, guitar & keyboards
Jody Giambelluca; vocals, bass
Steve Mosley; vocals & drums
Richie Sambora; vocals & guitar

The Songs:
We Will Rock You - lead vocal: Dean
Cruising Lines - lead vocal: Dean
It Won't Be Long - lead vocal: Dean
I Need Your Love - lead vocal: Dean
Into The Night - lead vocal: Bruce
Ice Cold - lead vocal: Jody (guitar intro: Richie)
Southern Belle - lead vocal: Richie
Note: When Richie growls "Schnardvarts" into the microphone at the beginning of the song, that's a signal for the soundman to turn his vocal up in the onstage monitor mix.
I Haven't Changed - lead vocal: Steve
Right Side Of A Good Time - lead vocals: Jody, Richie & Steve
California Man - lead vocal: Richie
Honky Tonk Woman - lead vocal: Steve
Shattered - lead vocal: Richie
Feel Like Making Love - lead vocal: Dean
Get Back - lead vocal: Jody
Tie Your Mother Down - Dean

00.00.80 - Richie Sambora with The Next - Frontier Room at the White Horse Bowling Alley, NJ, USA

00.04.80 - John Bongiovi with The Rest - Freehold Raceway, NJ, USA ( Night of the Highschool Prom)

The Rest was Opening Act for Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes / Hall & Oats

The Rest, managed by Jim Giantonio [Jack Ponti-guitarist; Tommy Swift-drummer; Mick ?-keyboard player]. They opened up for Hall & Oates and Southside Johnny at Freehold Raceway in New Jersey. Southside Johnny took the band into a West Orange studio called House of Music to cut some demos. Billy Squier also took the band to cut some demos at RPM Recording Studio in Manhattan. However, nothing ever happened with them. Jack fired Jon from The Rest and the band dissolved. Jack formed Surgin' and recorded "Shot through the heart" on his EMI record. Jon did the same on the first Bon Jovi album.

01.09.80 - John Bongiovi with The Rest - Asbury Park, The Fast Lane, NJ, USA

00.00.81 - Richie Sambora with Duke Williams & the Extremes - around NJ, USA

Who said it would last forever, Open your Heart, Stringin´ a line, Don´t leave me tonight, More than we bargained for, For you, Hollywood Dreams, All talk,no action, Don´t keep me wondering, Head over heals, No one does it like you, What you want, Don´t you belive Him, Talking in your sleep, More Than We Bargained For, Runaway (instumental), Maybe Tomorrow, This Women is Dangerus, Don´t do that to me anymore, Gimme some lovin´ Charlene, Bobby´s Girl,

00.00.81 - John Bongiovi with The Lerchers - Work at Power Station, NY, USA

Don`t Leave Me Tonight (is also to be found on Power Station album) was recorded by Gary US Bonds after Bruce Springsteen recomended it to him. Perhaps noteworthy for Bon Jovi fans is a song called Bobby's Girl. The signifigance of this being that Jon has always admitted that he stole his wife Dorothea from his best friend, and taking it one step further to a line from New Jersey`s Blood on Blood where he sings, "Me and Danny and BOBBY", it probably would be safe to assume that Bobby's Girl was written for Dorothea.

Tony Bongiovi, Jon's cousin, and Bob Walters jointly owned the Power Station Studios in New York City where Jon worked as a "gopher". Barry Bongiovi was the studio's manager. While working there, Jon was introduced to and learned from Lance Quinn and Eddie Schwatz. During the same period of time, Jon took voice lessons from Harry Garland, a noted New York City vocal instructor of opera and Broadway theater. Jon formed the Lechers with a couple of guys from New Jersey. They recorded for the first time at the Power Station Studios (from 1 am to 7 am): "Don't keep me wondering", "Charlene", "Head over heels" and "Don't leave me tonight".

The Uncle Floyd show was this odd childrens show that adults began to watch and it became popular. Uncle Floyd Vivino would have one band on each week. That band was post-lechers, but pre-wild ones. I think the name of that band was just Jon Bongiovi. If my memory is correct this band was the first one after John left A.C.E. I was in it along with Charley Mills, Tom Pyle on keys and Danny Sky on Bass. We never really played much with that band and the Wild Ones were formed shortly after that. The song we played was called "What you Want".

At 19, John had his first recording experience, singing the song "R2-D2 We Wish You A Merry Christmas" on the Star Wars Christmas album entitled "Christmas With the Stars", with songs by John Williams, produced by Jon's cousin and released on the RSO label.

00.00.82 – Richie Sambora with Mercy - in the Studio, TV Special Sight´s & Sounds, USA

In 1982, a TV programme in America featured an interview and live performances by a band called Mercy feat Richie Sambora. This 20 min snippet is also available on video from a few bootleg sources. It features the tracks Any Other Girl (a track recorded by his next band The Message) and Magic Child.

00.00.82 - Richie Sambora, Alec John Such with The Message - Studio Work to Lessons

Message began in the early '80s playing the New Jersey circuit with Dean on vocals, Alec Jon Such on bassand Richie Sambora on guitar. An up and coming band called "Jon Bon Jovi and the Wild Ones" were one of the acts playing support to Message at this early time and both Alec and Richie later hooked up with Jon in BON JOVI.

Any other girl, Our love, Better Days, I need your love, Eight days a week, Can’ t take it, Wishing on a star, Always believe

01.05.82 - Tico Torres with Lord Gunner Group - Asbury Park, Stone Pony, NJ, USA

00.06.82 - John Bongiovi with The All Star Review - Power Station Studio, NY, USA

After Tony heard "Runaway", a song written by Jon, he felt that it should be recorded by an all-star cast of musicians such as Frankie La Rocka-drums, Tim Pierce-guitar; Huey McDonald-bass; and Roy Bittan-keyboard.

Ray Willard, a former assistant engineer at the Power Station Studios, took Jon's demo to Chip Hobart at WAPP radio in New York to be entered in the "Rock to Riches" contest. Jon won the regional contest in New York. “Runaway” was included on a for-radio-play-only compilation record entitled Apple album. The song was also added to the radio play lists belonging to the Doublechain chain.

00.06.82 – John Bongiovi with Johnny B. & the Wild Ones - New York, The Ritz, NY, USA ( Showcase )

10.09.82 – John Bongiovi and the Wild Ones - Asbury Park, Fastlane, NJ, USA

After the Lechers came John Bongiovi and the Wild Ones formed by Tim "Animal" Mount-drums; Rick Cyr-organ/sax; Billy Frank-lead guitar; David Rashbaum-keyboards; and Mick Seeley-bass.

00.00.83 - Tico Torres with Franke and the Knockouts - Studio Work 3rd LP Makin´the Point

Summertime Blues, American Dream,Tonight, Promises, Better Think Twice, ?, Take another Little Piece Of My Heart, Head Over Heels, Don‘t You Believe Him

Jon finally signed to Polygram in early 1983. Jon is the only member of the band actually signed, the other members are still technically regarded as backing musicians in terms of the contract with Polygram. The final studio bootleg recordings from this era are a 25 min+ recording of an early Bon Jovi rehersal. The quality of this recording is very poor but it does contain some unreleased material as well as cover versions of Eddie Cochranes Summertime Blues and Irma Franklin`s Take Another Piece Of My Heart.The unreleased tracks are American Dream, Tonight, Promises, Better Think Twice and On With The Show (Stay).

24.09.83 - Bon Jovi - New York, Madison Square Garden, NY, USA ( opening Act for ZZ-TOP )

In September 1983, Jon was invited by concert promoter John Schear to play Madison Square Garden as the opening act for ZZ Top. They had no equipment, no manager, no roadies... They got their friends to help them move their stuff. They were supposed to play for about 35 minutes but ended up doing the set in 18 minutes. Bon Jovi's performance impressed a promoter who booked them on a tour with Eddie Money for about a week. It became the "Station Wagon Tour" because they packed their gear into the back of a beat-up station wagon to follow Eddie Money