R.I.P. - Alec John Such (Bon Jovi founding member / ex-bassist)

(Tico Torres, David Bryan, Jon Bon Jovi, ALEC JOHN SUCH, Richie Sambora)

ALEC JOHN SUCH Read More Bon Jovi Still going after some thirty-four years in the business, Bon Jovi returned to town, playing (surprisingly) to over 18,000 at a sold-out Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul for a two-and-a-half hour set that pleased both longtime fans...

BON JOVI (credit Getty Images)

(Read more Musicians who died in 2022 )

Alec John Such, founding member and ex-bassist of Bon Jovi has passed away at the age of 70 (cause currently unknown).  

Band leader Jon Bon Jovi has posted the following via social media: "

“We are heartbroken to hear the news of the passing of our dear friend Alec John Such. He was an original. As a founding member of Bon Jovi, Alec was integral to the formation of the band.

To be honest, we found our way to each other thru him — He was a childhood friend of Tico [Torres] and brought Richie [Sambora] to see us perform. Alec was always wild and full of life. Today these special memories bring a smile to my face and a tear to my eye. We will miss him dearly.”

Such was born in Yonkers, NY on November 14, 1951 and became a veteran presence on the NJ/NY rock circuit of the late 70s and joined future bandmate Richie Sambora  in a band called The Message, prior to helping found Bon Jovi and was responsible for bringing Sambora and drummer Tico Torres into the fold.  

After building their fan base and popularity with their self-titled debut and follow up, 7800 Fahrenheit, the band's third album, Slippery When Wet, sold some twelve million copies. Their next album, New Jersey, was also very successful and catapulted the band to stadium status.  

The US Slippery When Wet Tour actually started in 1986 with the band opening for .38 Special, but it became very clear, very quickly, that they were headliners in their own right (they became so popular we saw them in Kansas City twice in 1987, in Feb and June arena shows that both sold out immediately). 

Anyone growing up in the mid 80s/early 90s no doubt had their music as part of their life's soundtrack, as their radio hits were inescapable. The bassist would depart Bon Jovi in 1994 but did reunite with his bandmates when the group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018. 

We last caught the band live in 2017 in St. Paul, and though Such's tenure was long over, the crowd without question responded the most, to the songs that Alec John Such was a part of. 

John ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com