SLIPPERY WHEN WET

[Let It Rock] [You Give Love A Bad Name] [Living On A Prayer] [Social Disease]
[Wanted Dead Or Alive] [Raise Your Hands] [Without Love] [I'd Die For You]
[Never Say Goodbye] [Wild In The Streets]

"Slippery when wet" is a warning that you see at the side of swimming pools in America, but that is not where Jon and his buddies got their inspiration from when their new album needed a title. David: "During the recording of the record we frequently wound up in a striptease club where incredibly good looking girls were putting water and soap on each other. They became so slippery because of that, that you couldn't hold on to them even if you wanted to really bad. "Slipper when wet!" one of us yelled out and the rest of use immediately knew: that had to be the title of the new album! Originally we were going to put a picture of some huge brests, the really big ones, on the cover; but when the PRMC (a moral board under command of Tipper Gore, the wife of the current vice-president of the United States, ed.) found out we were in big trouble. So we made it into a very descent cover."

When they recorded the first versions of 'Slippery when wet', they went over to the nearest Pizza Hut to 'recruit' some kids to listen to the music, see what they thought. Jon: "We wanted to hear what they thought of it, being representative for the record-buying public".

The ruling British metal magazine Kerrang! described the music on 'Slippery' back then as 'perfect adult oriented rock for the late eighties'. See, that's a lot better than the 'teenybopper band' label!

"Slippery when wet" made it to the first slot on the American album charts. World wide they sold about 8 milion copies. But we're not completely sure since we haven't counted the sales slips of the Free Record Shop of this pas month.
Because of they amazing amount of sales of 'Slippery when wet' the respected paper The Times was talking about 'the Beatles of th eighties'.
To promote 'Slippery when wet' our new superstars did a monster tour of 130 shows! They picked the correct name for the tour: 'Tour Without End'.

The superstar status, that the band earned after "Slippery", was confirmed in the summer of 1987 when the band after Cinderella, W.A.S.P., Anthrax, Metallica en Dio climbed the stage as the main act at the 'Monsters of Rock' festival in Donington, England. The party started with a smile but ended with angry, unhappy faces. In his enthusiasm Jon went up to Lars Ulrich and James Hetfield (Metallica) back stage with the words: "Let's jam together, we'll do 'We're an American Band' from Grand Funk Railroad." But instead of a friendly answer the New Jersey cowboy got yelled at. Later he found out why. To enjoy the view of some many metalheads the Bon Jovi's had circled above the stadium for minutes in helicopters. Metallica, the band that was playing at the time, didn't really appreciate the constant noise, to say the least.

After the 'Tour without end' was over the wallets were filled and the heads empty. Physically and mentally exhausted the rockers went to bed. At the same time Bon Jovi manager Doc McGhee was arrested for possesing an amount of drugs that were definitely not for personal use (to be exact: twenty thousand kilo pot). So that was for dealing, which is still illegal. The unfortunate business man was sentenced to five years of prison but got out by setting up the 'Make a difference foundation', a fund that would help out with alcohol- and drug abuse. One of the first initiatives of the MADF was organizing the Moscow Music Peace Festival, an enormous heavy metal party in the 'Lenin stadium' in the Russian capital. Other than headliner Bon Jovi they had acts like Ozzy Osbourne, Motley Crue, Skid Row, Cinderella, Scorpions and eh, eh, Gorky Park. (By Peter Oberc)

LET IT ROCK

The weekend comes to this town
Seven days too soon
For the ones who have to make up
What we break up of their rules

Well I saw Captain Kidd on Sunset
Tell his boys they're in command
While Chino danced a tango
With a broomstick in his hand
He said: It's alright (alright) if you have a good time
It's alright (alright) if you want to cross that line
To break on through to the other side

Let it rock, let it go
You can't stop a fire burning out of control
Let it rock, let it go
With the night you're on the loose
You got to let it rock

We go down to the Broadway
Where everybody goes
To get on their rockin' horse
And blast that radio
Well I saw Roxie on the table
Her girlfriend down below
They'll give it to the king of swing
Before it's time to go

They said: It's alright (alright) if you have a good time
It's alright (alright) if you want to cross that line
To break on through to the other side

Let it rock, let it go
You can't stop a fire burning out of control
Let it rock, let it go
With the night you're on the loose
You got to let it rock

[Back to Top]

YOU GIVE LOVE A BAD NAME

An angel's smile is what you sell
You promise me heaven, then put me through hell
Chains of love got a hold on me
When passion's a prison, you can't break free

You're a loaded gun
There's nowhere to run
No one can save me
The damage is done

Shot through the heart
And you're to blame
You give love a bad name
I play my part and you play your game
You give love a bad name
You give love a bad name

You paint your smile on your lips
Blood red nails on your fingertips
A school boy's dream, you act so shy
Your very first kiss was your first kiss goodbye

You're a loaded gun
There's nowhere to run
No one can save me
The damage is done

Shot through the heart
and you're to blame
You give love a bad name
I play my part and you play your game
You give love a bad name

[Back to Top]

LIVIN' ON A PRAYER

Once upon a time
Not so long ago
Tommy used to work on the docks
Union's been on strike
He's down on his luck...it's tough, so tough
Gina works the diner all day
Working for her man, she brings hom her pay
For love - for love

She says: We've got to hold on to what we've got
'Cause it doesn't make a difference
If we make it or not
We've got each other and that's a lot
For love - we'll give it a shot

We're half way there
Livin' on a prayer
Take my hand and we'll make it - I swear
Livin' on a prayer

Tommy got his six string in hock
Now he's holding in what he used
To make it talk - so tough, it's tough
Gina dreams of running away
When she cries in the night
Tommy whispers: Baby it's okay, someday

We've got to hold on to what we've got
'Cause it doesn't make a difference
If we make it or not
We've got each other and that's a lot
For love - we'll give it a shot

We're half way there
Livin' on a prayer
Take my hand and we'll make it - I swear
Livin' on a prayer

We've got to hold on ready or not
You live for the fight when it's all that you've got

We're half way there
Livin' on a prayer
Take my hand and we'll make it - I swear
Livin' on a prayer

[Back to Top]

SOCIAL DISEASE

You can read it in the papers
In some places it comes in thirty-two flavors
But you wouldn't tell no one
Your favorite if you could

From the White House to the alleys
From the President down to Long Tall Sally
Can't live with it but
You'll die without it - yes you would

Senorita's in the kitchen
She's a fistful of dynamite
You call 911 but you
Can't stop the fun tonite, it's alright

You can't start a fire without a spark
But there's something that I guarantee
You can't hide when infection starts
Because love is a social disease

Where you look you can find it
Try to run but you're always behind it
So you play hide and seek like a blind kid
Till you're caught - yeah you're caught

So you'll say that you had some
But they took it and held it for ransom
Were they tall, dark, skinny or
Handsome - you won't talk

So you telephone your doctor
Just to see what pill to take
You know there's no prescription
Gonna wipe this one away

You can't start a fire without a spark
But there's something that I guarantee
You can't hide when infection starts
Because love is a social disease

So full of high grade octane
She could run the bullet train on 38 double d's
Now you know for sure, you know the cure
To make a blind man see

[Back to Top]

WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE

It's all the same, only the names will change
Everyday it seems we're wasting away
Another place where the faces are so cold
I'd drive all night
Just to get back home

I'm a cowboy, on a steel horse I ride
I'm wanted dead or alive
Wanted dead or alive

Sometimes I sleep, sometimes it's not for days
And people I meet always go their separate ways
Sometimes you tell the day
By the bottle that you drink
And times when you're all alone all you do is think

I'm a cowboy, on a steel horse I ride
I'm wanted dead or alive
Wanted dead or alive

I'm a cowboy, on a steel horse I ride
I'm wanted dead or alive
Wanted dead or alive

I walk these streets, a loaded six string on my back
I play for keeps, 'cause I might not make it back
I been everywhere, still I'm standing tall
I've seen a million faces
And I've rocked them all

I'm a cowboy, on a steel horse I ride
I'm wanted dead or alive
I'm a cowboy, I got the night on my side
I'm wanted dead or alive
Wanted dead or alive

[Back to Top]

RAISE YOUR HANDS

You - you got a nasty reputation
We're in a sticky situation - it's down to me and you
So tell me - is it true ... they say there ain't nobody better
Well now that we're together
Show me what you can do
You're under the gun
Out on the run
Gonna set the night on fire
You're out on the run
Under the gun
And playin' to win
Raise your hands
When you want to let a feeling show
Raise your hands
From New York to Chicago
Raise your hands
From New Jersey to Tokyo
Raise your hands

I - I've been out on the front line
Where you'll go down if you waste time
They'll walk all over you
But I - I ain't here looking for surrender
I'll raise the flag if you'll defend her
It's up to you
You're under the gun
Out on the run
Gonna set the night on fire
You're out on the run
Under the gun
And playin' to win
Raise your hands
When you want to let it go
Raise your hands
When you want to let a feeling show
Raise your hands
From New York to Chicago
Raise your hands
From New Jersey to Tokyo
Raise your hands

[Back to Top]

WITHOUT LOVE

She was so young, but still a child
There still was innocence
In painted smiles
She called to me as I passed her by
Lady of the night looked in my eyes
She said: I been through some changes
But one thing always stays the same

Without love, there's nothing without love
Nothing else can get through the night
Nothing else feels right without love

I saw a man down on lonely street
A broken man who looked like me
And no one knows the pain that he's been living
He lost his love and still hasn't forgiven
He said: I've been through some changes
But one thing always stays the same

Without love, there's nothing without love
Nothing else can get you through the night
Nothing else feels right without love
There's nothing without love
Nothing else but love can burn as bright
And nothing would mean nothing without love

I see my life
There's some things I took for granted
Love's passed me by
So many second chances
I was afraid
But I won't be afraid no more

Without love, there's nothing without love
Nothing else can get you through the night
Nothing else feels right without love
There's nothing without love
Nothing else but love can burn as bright
And nothing would mean nothing without love

[Back to Top]

I'D DIE FOR YOU

If you could see inside my heart
Then you would understand
I'd never mean to hurt you
Baby I'm not that kind of man

I might not say I'm sorry
Yeah, I might talk rough sometimes
And I might forget the little things
Or keep you hanging on the line

In a world that don't know Romeo and Juliet
Boy meets girl and promises we can't forget
We are cast from Eden's gate with no regrets
Into the fire we cry

I'd die for you
I'd cry for you
I'd do anything
I'd lie for you
You know it's true
Baby I'd die for you
I'd die for you
I'd cry for you
If it came right down to me and you
You know it's true, Baby I'd die for you

I might not be a savior
And I'll never be a king
I might not send you roses
Or buy you diamond rings

But if I could see inside you
Maybe I'd know just who we are
'Cause our love is like a hunger
Without it we would starve

In a world that don't know Romeo and Juliet
Boy meets girl and promises we can't forget
We are cast from Eden's gate with no regrets
Into the fire we cry

I'd die for you
I'd cry for you
I'd do anything
I'd lie for you
You know it's true
Baby I'd die for you
I'd die for you
I'd cry for you
If it came right down to me and you
You know it's true, Baby I'd die for you

[Back to Top]

NEVER SAY GOODBYE

As I sit in this smokey room
The night about to end
I pass my time with strangers
But this bottle's my only friend

Remember when we used to park
On Butler Street out in the dark
Remember when we lost the keys
And you lost more than that in my backseat

Remember when we used to talk
About busting out - we'd break their hearts
Together - forever

Never say goodbye, never say goodbye
You and me and my old friends
Hoping it would never end
Never say goodbye, never say goodbye
Holdin' on - we got to try
Holdin' on to never say goodbye

Remember days of skipping school
Racing cars and being cool
With a six pack and the radio
We didn't need no place to go

Remember at the prom that night
You and me we had a fight
But the band they played our favorite song
And I held you in my arms so strong

We danced so close
We danced so slow
And I swore I'd never let you go
Together - forever

Never say goodbye, never say goodbye
You and me and my old friends
Hoping it would never end
Never say goodbye, never say goodbye
Holdin' on - we got to try
Holdin' on to never say goodbye

I guess you'd say we used to talk
About busting out
We'd break their hearts
Together - forever

[Back to Top]

WILD IN THE STREETS

Joey comes from a sacred part of town
Where sometimes you talk so tough
That your feet don't touch the ground
And the sidewalk soldiers sing their midnite blues
While the old men recite their story lines
About when I was young like you
They say: Oh yeah
We were cruising to the backbeat
Oh yeah, Making love in the backseats
We were wild, wild in the streets
Wild, wild in the streets

A member of the boy's brigade
Had a date with the girl next door
You know it made her daddy crazy
But it only made her want him more
They weren't looking for trouble
You know that boy didn't want a fight - not tonight
So she headed out thru her bathroom window
What her daddy didn't know was gonna be alright
They said: Oh yeah
We were cruising to the backbeat
Oh yeah, Making love in the backseat
We were wild, wild in the streets
Wild, wild in the streets
Wild, wild in the streets
Wild, wild in the streets

Sometimes this town ain't pretty
But you know it ain't so bad
Just like a girl who looks so happy
When inside she's so sad
In here we got this code of honor
Nobody's going down
You don't walk in vain
Through the kid's parade
'Cause this is my hometown

[Back to Top]

Pedro Sampaio Sousa Marques, 2005/10/22
pedrossmbj@gmail.com