Christmas is nearly upon us and it’s that time of year when we travel to be with loved ones, laugh with friends and gather round the tree to sing that 1980 holiday classic – ‘R2-D2 – We wish you a Merry Christmas‘ with Jon Bon Jovi.
I’m kidding, of course, but who could forget that Jon Bon Jovi (or John Bongiovi as he was credited back then) made his recorded debut on ‘Christmas in the Stars‘ before he became the frontman of Bon Jovi, who next year celebrate their 40th anniversary. Much has been said about this album and its now infamous standing, but that’s not why I’m writing today.
There’s plenty out there about the Star Wars Christmas album and you can still listen to the song if you wish. (I’m sure Bon Jovi doesn’t) and the album will fetch you a pretty penny on the secondary market. For the real story, however, about Bon Jovi and Star Wars, we have to flashforward about three decades. I knew of the following tale way-back-when but I’d recently been reminded of it and just can’t stop smiling about it.
So the story goes:
A long time ago….well – about 2007, stadium rockers Bon Jovi were set to release their next studio album. For this one, however, the band had taken a different creative approach and released a self-proclaimed country influenced record entitled LOST HIGHWAY. The album had been recorded in Nashville and featured a few different collaborations. One of those songs was titled We Got It Goin’ On and featured country duo Big & Rich. Album released. Mammoth world tour ensues. We flash forward again.
This time we’re in 2012. Pre-Disney acquisition. It’s mid-year and Big & Rich are finishing their next record. Jon Bon Jovi and guitarist Richie Sambora are featuring on the album. The album is as of yet untitled. During a vocal session, the musicians begin to rib each other. At some point in the afternoon, Bon Jovi says “Well, if I ever saw a couple of Hillbilly Jedis – then it’s you pair of knuckleheads.”
“Wow – that would be a great album name! – Hillbilly Jedis”
The rest is history? No, not quite. Big & Rich propose the name but their label quickly shut it down. “Think of something else. George Lucas owns Jedi’s. We don’t want the headache or paperwork from Lucasfilm.”
Slightly deflated, Big & Rich turned to Bon Jovi. “Leave it with me. I’ll phone George.”
“George who?”
“George Lucas,” replied Jon.
And so he did. Right there and then. At the time of the phone call Lucas was at a racecar event in Morocco (of course he was) and Jon mentioned his friends and the predicament they were in. Could they use the word in question for their album title? Would that be cool?
Lucas responded in fabulous Lucas fashion; they could use the word, no problem at all, but there was one condition to using it; It had to be Jedi, not Jedis. Lucas explained that Jedi was both singular and plural, much like the word deer.
And following that the rest was then indeed history. Warner Music were handed the legal paperwork from Lucasfilm the very next day and the album was released in that September and was titled – Big & Rich – Hillbilly Jedi
It seems clear that Bon Jovi and Lucas have a friendship of sorts as a short while after this, Jon attended the premiere of Lucasfilm’s Red Tails but quite how the two came to have each other on speed dial will remain a mystery, however, a safe bet would be the connection between the pair’s philanthropic work. So, the next time you hear a Bon Jovi song on the radio – don’t think “Ah, there’s a man who’s wanted dead or alive” instead maybe think – “that man’s midi-chlorian count must be off the charts.”
- Audio CD – Audiobook
- Wea/Atlantic/Rhino (Publisher)
