ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

‘Blaze Of Glory’: How Jon Bon Jovi Shot To Kill With His Debut Solo Album

A runaway success, Jon Bon Jovi’s solo debut, ‘Blaze Of Glory,’ was a film soundtrack that pointed the way towards his group’s next album, ‘Keep The Faith.’

Published on

Jon Bon Jovi Blaze Of Glory Album-Cover web optimised 820
Cover: Courtesy of Island Def Jam Music Group

Originally released on August 7, 1990, Jon Bon Jovi’s solo debut, Blaze Of Glory, proved to be a runaway success. Eventually earning a double-platinum certification, it quickly rose to No.3 on America’s Billboard 200 on the back of its million-selling, US chart-topping title track.

Not a bad result, bearing in mind that Bon Jovi hadn’t even intended to make a solo LP at this juncture. In fact, “Blaze Of Glory”’s origins lay in Hollywood Brat Pack actor Emilio Estevez’s request for permission to use (the band) Bon Jovi’s US Top 10 hit “Wanted Dead Or Alive” as the theme song for Young Guns II: the second in a series of westerns in which Estevez portrayed legendary outlaw Billy The Kid.

Listen to Blaze Of Glory now.

When Estevez reached out, Bon Jovi’s crew were on a much-needed hiatus following the grueling 16-month tour in support of their multi-platinum fourth LP, New Jersey. Jon Bon Jovi was, however, intrigued by Estevez’s proposal, even though he reputedly felt that “Wanted Dead Or Alive”’s lyrics were inappropriate. Instead, he quickly sketched out an impassioned new song, “Blaze Of Glory,” and performed it acoustically for Estevez and film producer John Fusco, who was then on location in New Mexico on the Young Guns II shoot.

Suitably impressed, Estevez, Fusco and his production team agreed that “Blaze Of Glory” should be the film’s theme song. A vivid slice of rootsy blues-rock further accentuated by fork-tongued slide guitar, jaw harp, and a gutsy Bon Jovi vocal, the track quickly captured the wider American public’s imagination and topped the Billboard Hot 100 when it was released as a single in June 1990.

Inspired by Young Guns II’s overarching themes of redemption and betrayal, Bon Jovi penned a new batch of songs that quickly morphed into a full-length LP. Overseen by producer Danny Kortchmar (Neil Young; Don Henley), the Blaze Of Glory sessions were a star-studded affair, with living legends such as Jeff Beck and Little Richard sprinkling stardust on tracks such as the hard-driving “Billy Get Your Guns” and the bluesy “You Really Got Me Now,” while Elton John duetted with Bon Jovi on the show-stopping, piano-framed “Dyin’ Ain’t Much Of A Livin.”

Jon Bon Jovi - Dyin' Ain't Much Of A Livin'

Click to load video

Blaze Of Glory yielded a second US Top 20 hit courtesy of the potent, Tex Mex-flavored “Miracle,” and it went on to enjoy sustained Transatlantic success: the LP scooping a gold disc in the UK, while its titular single netted a Golden Globe at the 1991 American Music Awards. Stylistically, the record’s content also proved to have a lasting influence, with not only “Blaze Of Glory,” but also the swaying “Santa Fe” and the world-weary, Bob Dylan-esque “Blood Money” pointing the way to the widescreen ballads and intense rawk epics that would dominate Bon Jovi’s agenda when they reconvened for 1992’s Bob Rock-produced Keep The Faith.

Listen to Blaze Of Glory now.

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Billy Idol - Rebel Yell LP
Rebel Yell (40th Expanded Edition) (Marbled Limited Edition) 2LP
ORDER NOW
Def Leppard - Pyromania 2LP
Def Leppard
Pyromania 2LP
ORDER NOW
The Who - Live At Shea Stadium 1982 3LP
The Who
Live At Shea Stadium 1982 3LP
ORDER NOW
Keane - Hopes And Fears 20th Limited Edition 2LP
Keane
Hopes And Fears 20th Limited Edition 2LP
ORDER NOW
Abba - Waterloo 50th Anniversary
Abba - Waterloo 50th Anniversary (Limited Edition 3 x 7" Box Set)
ORDER NOW
Bob Marley - Songs Of Freedom Limited Edition 6LP Box Set
Bob Marley - Songs Of Freedom Limited Edition 6LP Box Set
ORDER NOW
uDiscover Music - Back To Top
uDiscover Music - Back To Top