University Date for Bon Jovi

Jun 16 2001

American rock singer Jon Bon Jovi took time out from his UK stadium tour yesterday to address students at the Oxford Union.

The 39-year-old frontman of rockers Bon Jovi, one of the world's best-selling bands, followed in the footsteps of superstar Michael Jackson who earlier this year spoke at the world-famous debating society.

As opposed to crowds of 60,000 plus, Bon Jovi spoke to an audience of a few hundred students at the Frewin Court premises in Oxford.

His band, who play the Millennium Stadium tomorrow, have been at the top of the charts for more than 17 years and in the last 12 months have performed 95 concerts in 17 countries to more than 3m people.

The band's latest album, Crush, has sold 11m copies since it was released last year.

The father of two, who is married to his childhood sweetheart, offered his own advice on living life while also touching on his upbringing during the speech.

Dressed entirely in black, Bon Jovi said, 'I spent years playing in bar bands, watching and learning my craft - that was my university. My folks saw my desires and dreams and never discouraged it. If you have people like that in your life you cannot fail.'

During his 20-minute speech he advised the students what he had learned from his life as a rock star was that what you really need to succeed in life is 'passion, perseverance and possibility'.

He added, 'Nothing is more important than passion. 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.

'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.'

On a less serious note he joked, 'My work is good work if you can get it. I recommend it. I don't believe I get paid for doing what I love, but you can never take your success for granted and never forget where you came from, be humble and stay humble.'

The superstar politely declined to sing to the union when asked by one young female student, instead recommending she turns up at the band's Milton Keynes concert tonight.

Passion's No Killer, Bon Jovi Tells Oxford

Free concert

But he invited them all to come to his weekend concert in Milton Keynes... for free.

Jon, 39, follows close on the heels of Michael Jackson, who addressed an audience of thousands at the debating society earlier this year.

"Nothing is more important than passion," said Jon, a father of two married to his childhood sweetheart.

Swift pint

"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. 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."

And he joked: "My work is good work if you can get it. I recommend it." And he said learning his craft "was my university". "In my mind I felt I was going to be musician. I felt it. I believed it."

ONE MILD NIGHT

Jon Bon Jovi has joined the exulted list of music legends to address the students at Oxford University, insisting they need "passion, perserverance and possibility" to succeed.

Jon Bon, following in the footsteps of Barry White and Michael Jackson, spoke to the prestigious union debating society, before joining our roving reporter in a pint of beer afterwards.

The rock and roll legend spoke for 20-minutes, extolling the virtues of hard work and self-belief to members of the elite 800-year-old university. He also told dotmusic that he loved the idea of doing something "fearless".

During the speech, Jon Bon explained: "I realise that in all likelihood some of you have some preconceived notions about me, some assumptions about who Jon Bon Jovi is.

"Ideas of fame and celebrity, the obstacles, the victories in my career, the curiosity and the gossip and what I have to say, and about making a difference. So ladies and gentlemen, let's make it our common mission here today to cast aside all our preconceived notions about each other.

"It's simple, but it is very true, you can't judge a book by its cover and so lets explore the context."

Bon Jovi Preaches Passion at Oxford

LONDON (AP) - Jon Bon Jovi told students at the prestigious Oxford Union debating society that the secrets of his success were "passion, perseverance and possibility."

Bon Jovi gave a 20-minute speech extolling the virtues of hard work and self belief to students of the elite 800-year-old university.

"Nothing is more important than passion," he said Friday.

"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.

"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," he said.

The New Jersey rocker, on a British tour that coincides with the release of his band's live album, "One Wild Night," also advised students to "be humble and stay humble."

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

Jon Bon Jovi tells Oxford students passion is key to success in life

Bon Jovi gave a 20-minute speech extolling the virtues of hard work and self-belief to students of the elite 800-year-old university.

"Nothing is more important than passion," he said Friday.

"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.

"You have to be true to yourself -- it's your life," he said. "You are the masters of your destiny. And passion, not pedigree, will win the end."

The New Jersey rocker, on a British tour that coincides with the release of his band's live album, One Wild Night, also advised students to "be humble and stay humble."

"I spent years playing in bar bands, watching and learning my craft -- that was my university," Bon Jovi said.

Life lessons from handsome rock stars!
Sting and Bon Jovi give free tips for better living; Gene Simmons sells a coffin; trouble in current Madonna marriage; and sex for Material Girl tickets!

- - - - - - - - - - - -
By Amy Reiter

June 19, 2001 | I have a confession to make. Twice in the last week, I have found myself more than moderately moved by the inspirational words of aging rock stars.

First, there was Jon Bon Jovi telling students at Oxford University last week that "passion, perseverance and possibility" will take them far in life.

"Nothing is more important than passion," the persistent rocker told 60,000 screaming coeds. "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."

What's more, Bon Jovi reckons, "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."

I know, I know. Big talk from the man who brought the world "You Give Love a Bad Name," but rather touching nonetheless.

But then Monday, just as I'd recovered my rightful sense of snark, Sting picked up where Bon Jovi left off, extolling the myriad merits of risk in the U.K. Daily Telegraph. A willingness to risk it all for the sake of a well-nourished soul, says Sting, is what got him here today.

"There seems to be very little cognitive process associated with risks," he writes, describing how he left a safe teaching job to try to make a go of it as a musician. "But it was also strangely joyous -- like when you're about to dive into some very cold water and the minute before you hit the water you think, 'There's no turning back now. I've done this.' And there's a great freedom in knowing that there aren't any safety nets."

In fact, he says, if something doesn’t "make your stomach heave" or "scare the daylights out of you, it's not a real risk."

World Briefs
Tuesday, June 19, 2001

Jon Bon Jovi
Compiled from Tribune news services by Brian Mac Intyre

GRABBING THE HEADLINES:

Jon Bon Jovi Follows In Footsteps Of Kermit The Frog,
Jerry Springer At Oxford

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.