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>> Stephen: HEY, EVERYBODY!
WELCOME BACK TO OUR ONGOING COVERAGE OF JON BON JOVI.
SO WE'VE GOT A NEW ALBUM HERE.
IT IS YOU IT'S BON JOVI, IT'S THE BAND, "2020".
THAT'S A BOLD NAME FOR AN ALBUM.
A LOT HAPPENED THIS YEAR.
>> YEAH.
>> Stephen: WHEN DID YOU COMPLETE THIS ALBUM?
HOW COULD YOU POSSIBLY CAPTURE?
BECAUSE EVERY MINUTE OF 2020 IS LIKE A WHOLE NEW YEAR.
>> YEAH, BUT BY MID JUNE I WAS STILL ADDING SONGS TO IT.
IN MARCH OF '19 WE WENT TO NASHVILLE TO RECORD WHAT I
THOUGHT WAS THE ALBUM.
IN RETROSPECK IT WAS JUST THE FIRST BATCH OF SONGS.
I CAME OUT OF THE ROOM AND SAID I WANT TO CALL THE ALBUM "2020".
IT WAS A TONGUE-IN-CHEEK WITH RECORD SALES OF T-SHIRTS.
AND I THOUGHT WE HAVE CLEAR VISION OF WHAT'S GOING ON, GOING
FORWARD.
AS THE SONG WRITING CONTINUED, I REALIZED THERE WERE SO MANY
THINGS GOING ON THAT WERE TOPICAL.
SO THE TITLE TOOK TON A MUCH -- TOOK ON A MUCH DIFFERENT
MEANING.
IN MARCH WHEN WE DELAYED THE RECORD AND OUTRIGHT CANCELED THE
TOUR SIMPLY BECAUSE I THOUGHT WE SHOULD REFUND PEOPLE'S MONEY SO
THEY COULD PAY CREDIT CARD BILLS AND RENT, OPPORTUNITIES WERE
ARISING TO THE RIGHT, i.e. THE FOOD KITCHEN AND WASHING DISHES.
DOROTHEA WAS ASKING FOR THE HOURS OF THE DAY AND THE WEEK,
BUT WHAT I SAID WAS IF YOU CAN'T DO WHAT YOU DO, YOU DO WHAT YOU
CAN.
I WOKE UP THE NEXT DAY AND SAID, THERE'S A SONG TITLE.
THEN WHEN WE WERE ALL ON LOCKDOWN AND WATCHING THE NEWS
24-7, THE GEORGE FLOYD DEATH HAPPENED AND THE B.L.M. MOVEMENT
STARTED, SO I GRABBED MY GUITAR AND WROTE IT DOWN.
I WORKED HARD ON A SONG CALLED "AMERICAN RECKONING," AND ONCE
THAT WAS RIGHT AND I RECORDED BOTH OF THEM, "2020" TOOK ON A
MUCH DEEPER MEANING.
IT'S A TOPICAL RECORD.
I'M JUST A WITNESS TO HISTORY.
I DON'T TAKE SIDES THOUGH EVERYTHING IS PRETTY POINTED, I
DON'T COME DOWN ON THE LEFT OR THE RIGHT SIDE, BUT I POSE THE
QUESTIONS, WHICH IS PRETTY MUCH WHAT YOU DO ON A NEWINGLY BASIS.
POSE THE QUESTIONS, LEAVE IT UP TO THE PEOPLE TO DECIDE.
>> Stephen: COVID IS A HUGE PART OF THE YEAR.
IS THE BAND INFECTED?
I UNDERSTAND A COUPLE OF THE GUYS GOT IT.
>> TWO GUYS HAD IT BAD.
DAVID BRYAN, THE KEYBOARD PLAYER, HE GOT IT EARLY AND
RATHER SEVERE.
HE'S GOOD NOW, HE'S FINE NOW, AND THE PERCUSSIONIST, THE SAME
WAY.
THE ONE THING THEY SAID THAT'S UNIQUE TO A SINGER SITUATION IS
HOW IT AFFECTED THEIR LUNGS, REALLY HAD AFFECTED THEIR
SINGING AND IT'S TAKEN THIS SIX, SEVEN MONTHS TO FEEL JUST STRONG
ENOUGH.
>> Stephen: JON, WHAT SONG ARE YOU GUYS DOING TONIGHT?
>> I HAVE TO DO THE SINGLE, DO WHAT YOU CAN.
AND I'LL LEAVE YOU WITH THIS, MY WIFE SAID IF I JUST LEARN HOW TO
VACUUM AND FOLD THE LAUNDRY, IT COULD BE A DOUBLE ALBUM.
I DON'T KNOW IF SHE'S RIGHT BUT WASHING DISHES BRINGS ON HIT
SONGS, STEPHEN.
>> Stephen: "2020" IS AVAILABLE NOW.
JON BON JOVI, EVERYBODY.
BACK WITH A PERFORMANCE BY BON JOVI.