I have always enjoyed BJ as an opener but umm............Bon Jovi were my first ever arena gig at the age of around 17yo. New Jersey tour with an Aussie hair band called Roxus opening. Great concert although I he was already struggling with his range (non-existent "these days"). Juno Roxus actually made Bon Jovi seem underwhelming in the vocal department.
Sadly New Jersey was the last album of theirs that really interested me. I was fully on board up to including that one though. Slippery When Wet was number one forever in Australia. Good times.
Bon Jovi were an early favorite of mine. I remember when Slippery came out. I was 10, and I remember kids at school having all these wild, disgusting rumors about Jon Bon Jovi.
But I didn't care. Slippery was great, and I remember my mother going grocery shopping one day, and they used to (back then) have these cases where they locked up cassettes to buy. She picked me up that and 7800, and man, they rocked. I don't remember when I got the self-titled, but it was probably a year after that, and I wasn't as impressed (since then, I appreciate it more).
New Jersey was just crazy good. After that, I do have Keep the Faith, although it wasn't as good (Dry County absolutely slayed, however). I do have an affinity for These Days, however. The title track, Hey God, This Ain't a Love Song, and the killer "Guitar Lies Bleeding in My Arms" are all excellent. The rest of the album...not so much.
After that, Bon Jovi went total pop with Crush in 1999, and that's when I stopped being a fan. A couple good songs after that, but they albums weren't worth it for me.
I saw them on the These Days tour at Jones Beach in 1995. Great set, although the image seared into my brain was the two gigantic blow-up hula dancers on either side of the stage, who were topless with huge tits.
re: TESLA
>>>>>>>>>>Tesla was a huge favorite through the comeback record Into the Now. After that, once they booted Tommy, they lost their metal edge. Dave Rude, who replaced Tommy in 2006 (I saw the last show with Tommy, which was an animal rights benefit show, I believe), is a hell of a nice guy and an incredible player. But he's more into the same vibe as Frank Hannon -- that hippy heavy rock thing. As a result, all the records after Into the Now, while OK, are more mellow to a degree. The last one, Simplicity, just sounded like old men playing classic rock songs. It just bored me to tears.
BUT, back in the day, from the beginning through Into the Now, Tesla absolutely slayed. SO many great songs and good records. The Great Radio Controversy was the big one for them, and it is amazing. But I think some of their best stuff appeared on Psychotic Supper and Bust a Nut (thinking Freedom Slaves and Shine Away.