Live4MusiC

You can download Bon Jovi songs on iTunes, but don't expect the band to be too happy about it.

Rocker Jon Bon Jovi, whose band soared to prominence with its 1986 album Slippery When Wet, reminisced in the Sunday Times Magazine about his days as a kid in New Jersey, falling in love with music -- and ripped Apple CEO Steve Jobs for taking that opportunity away from a new generation of listeners.

"Kids today have missed the whole experience of putting the headphones on, turning it up to 10, holding the jacket, closing their eyes and getting lost in an album; and the beauty of taking your allowance money and making a decision based on the jacket, not knowing what the record sounded like, and looking at a couple of still pictures and imagining it," he said (via MSN), thinking back to his record buying days. Then came the less fanciful: the blame.

"God, it was a magical, magical time. I hate to sound like an old man now, but I am, and you mark my words, in a generation from now people are going to say: 'What happened?' Steve Jobs is personally responsible for killing the music business."

Interestingly, his criticism isn't about illegal downloading or any skewed road to success; instead, Bon Jovi is complaining about the actual experience of listening to music, which he thinks has been downgraded by iTunes downloads and iPods.

Apple's iTunes Store has become the number one music vendor in the country; on February 24th, itsold its 10 billionth song download. Of course, most downloads come in single song form, not a full album, and album art work certainly is less prominent. For his part, the rocker's band has released special editions of albums with bonus songs on the service (such as 2009's The Circle), though that may be in order to keep up with the times, not so much a celebration of online downloading.

- HuffingtonPost 

Jon Bon Jovi has hinted his band could be planning a hiatus from rock when their current world tour ends next year.

The frontman of one of the world's biggest rock bands has admitted he's exhausted from touring and needs a rest.

"It's time. We have to go to bed," says the 48-year-old, who is due in Australia early next month for concerts in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane.

In Sydney, the band will also perform a private gig expected to be attended by another visiting star, Oprah Winfrey, and the 300 guests she's bringing to Australia, as well as other international acts and VIPs.

Bon Jovi are currently on a two-year world tour to promote their 11th studio album, The Circle, and their latest offering Greatest Hits, a double album released this month featuring four new songs.

But the sheer magnitude of the tour, which began in the US in February this year, has forced the rocker to stop and take stock.

"When you're going to places that they don't have their own electricity and you say, 'Don't worry, we'll bring our own', it's time to take a break."

But fans need not fear that the move away from the stage could be more permanent, with the singer insisting he's not ready to retire anytime soon.

"For an old man who has no plastic surgery, still has all his own hair and wears a 30-inch waist, I'm doing OK," he says.

With a career spanning almost three decades, Bon Jovi have sold more than 120 million albums and performed more than 2,600 concerts around the world.

Australia is one of 30 countries the band will visit during their current world tour, and guitarist Richie Sambora has promised local fans a great concert experience.

"We're bringing the most amazing production, there's going to be a high-definition screen behind us that's 55 feet (16 metres) high and 115 feet (35 metres) long so everybody gets very close and personal to the band and it becomes an intimate kind of experience," he told AAP in July.

Bon Jovi's Australian tour kicks off in Perth on December 8, before heading to Melbourne on December 10 and 11, Brisbane on December 14 and Sydney from December 17-19. Most of the concerts are sold out, but a small number of tickets are still available for the Sydney shows.

The private gig at Sydney's Star City will be held on December 15.

- NineMSN 

MADRID — Americans cleaned up at the MTV Europe Awards in Madrid, as Lady Gaga picked up three top prizes and awards crowned Katy Perry, Canadian teen idol Justin Bieber and half a dozen US outfits.

US megastar Lady Gaga received each of her trophies, best female artist, best pop act and best song for "Bad Romance", from a stage in the Hungarian capital Budapest where she was performing to a packed concert audience.

"This means so much to me -- Europe I love you," Lady Gaga, who switched between sets from a giant-shouldered purple jacket with spangled shades, to a leopard-skin bodice and last a see-thru nurse outfit, told fans via a live link.

The Canadian-born Bieber, who shot to stardom after his songs were spotted on YouTube, was named best male act at the awards ceremony, based on a vote of 46 million people and hosted live by "Desperate Housewives" star Eva Longoria.

"It's a big achievement for me," said the 16-year-old, who was up against established rivals including Eminem and Kanye West. "All the other artists in this category are such an inspiration."

Katy Perry, who like Lady Gaga was nominated in five categories, picked up the best video award for her hit single "California Gurls".

Best rock went to US band Thirty Seconds to Mars, the best new act prize to the US singer Ke$ha and best alternative to the US pop-punk outfit Paramore.

The best hip hop award was for Eminem, who offered his thanks in a video beamed from Brazil, and best live went to the Americans "Linkin Park" -- who were performing in downtown Madrid at the same time.

Longoria presented US rockers Bon Jovi, who have sold over 125 million albums worldwide, with a Global Icon prize.

"Thanks for making us icons," frontman Jon Bon Jovi said upon receiving the award. "I want to thank you fans for this unbelievable ride over a quarter of a century."

And a "Free Your Mind Award" rewarding social responsibility went to Shakira for her campaigning for education for disadvantaged children -- most recently using the proceeds from the "Waka Waka" World Cup anthem.

The MTV Europe Awards are held each year in a different European city, with past hosts including Copenhagen in 2006, Liverpool in 2008, Lisbon in 2005, Rome in 2004, Paris in 1996 and Barcelona in 2002.

Bon Jovi, Alice Cooper and Neil Diamond have landed nominations to be inducted into the prestigious Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as the class of 2010.

The stars join fellow first-time nominees Dr John and Donovan, while Donna Summer, Tom Waits and rap acts LL Cool J and the Beastie Boys will be keeping their fingers crossed once more to be recognised as music royalty with the industry's highest honour.

The contenders for the 2010 Hall of Fame accolade were announced on Tuesday (28Sep10), but the artists will have to wait until December (10) to learn if they have been selected to go down in history, and the ceremony will take place in March (11) in New York.

We've sold a lot of records and influenced another generation of fans, and the music has got staying power

The nomination will be a dream come true for Bon Jovi - last year (09),frontman Jon Bon Jovi insisted the hitmakers deserved to be honoured beside Elvis Presley and The Beatles after rocking out for 26 years.

He said, "I would really like to be (inducted). I intend to be, because, in all honestly, I would like to be a part of Elvis and the Beatles andThe (Rolling) Stones' history. We've sold a lot of records and influenced another generation of fans, and the music has got staying power".

To qualify for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame recognition, acts must have released its first songs at least 25 years ago.

- FemaleFirst 

What’s more important than being rich? Everyone knowing that you’re rich.

New Jersey rocker Bon Jovi is apparently upset that he failed to make it onto the 2010 Forbes magazine top celebrity lists, reports TheSilverTongueOnline.com.

According to a report in the NY Post, "Jon kicked up a huge fuss and got his people to complain. He couldn’t understand why he didn’t make the musicians list since Bon Jovi has been touring nonstop since February. Their contemporaries U2 and Bruce Springsteen were on the list. Even Britney Spears was No. 5, and she hasn’t done anything this year."

A Forbes rep confirmed the report stating, "Forbes estimated each act’s earnings between June 2009 and June 2010 and included revenue streams such as concert dates, merchandise sales, licensing fees, music sales, and publishing royalties. Bon Jovi didn’t tour for eight of those months."

But a rep for Bon Jovi denied the report, calling it "ridiculous" and pointing out that the band took an eight-month break from touring, so there was no expectation that they would rank on this year’s list.

"Next year, different story — their current tour is No. 1 in North America right now and No. 2 worldwide."

U2 was the top earner with an estimated $130 million worldwide. They were followed byAC/DC with $114 million and Beyoncé Knowles with $87 million. Springsteen came in fourth with $70 million.

In other news, Bon Jovi have slammed a former tour manager after he published photos from 1985 of singer Jon Bon Jovi, then 22, in bed with topless women.

Rich Bozzett has used the explicit photos, revealed by TMZ, in a book which he says tells the background story of his life on the road.

In Sex, Drugs And Bon Jovi, Bozzett tells how the pictures were taken with the intention of using them as promo shots. But the band quickly had a change of heart, fearing the photos would damage their image.

Bon Jovi have announced that they will stream the first four songs of their sold-out show at Dallas’s American Airlines Center this Sunday, April 11, on the band’s website.

The sold-out April 11 Texas show will begin at 8pm ET. The Webcast will be powered by Ustream and fans will get to see the first four songs, as well as a pre-recorded footage ofKid Rock joining Bon Jovi on stage.

While Bon Jovi have been mum on which songs will be streamed, the show in St. Paul featured the opening running order:

01. Happy Now
02. We Weren’t Born To Follow
03. You Give Love A Bad Name
04. Whole Lot Of Leavin’

Other recent sets have included "Wild In The Streets," "Blood On Blood" and the 1989 Top 10 hit "Born To Be My Baby" in the opening quartet.

For more information on the show, as well as other band news and tour dates, visitBonJovi.com.

Thanks for the repor to Gibson.com.