Cowboy Diaries - a Jon Bon Jovi fan fiction

27: Show Must Go On

16. March 1992, Jon's house

Richie's  POV

Not gonna lie, to say that I was pissed as Jon announced we had to postpone our album was an understatement. We worked so hard on it the last weeks, filing down everything to perfection and were now anxiously but excitedly waiting for its release.

And then there comes Jon, saying we had to wait for another few months for his "personal reasons". We all knew it was about Dorothea and to an extend I could understand him, they had missed out on each other so much and with promoting and then touring an album there won't be much time left for a relationship. At least when you have to work hard on it to make it last and to trust each other again.

But still, I didn't see why he just decided that for us. As far as I can remember he didn't care a bit of how I worked out my relationships when he wanted to go on tour. I know it is his band, but still he had to think of us too. At least you would expect that from a good friend.

We tried to convince him to put the album out anyway and just wait with the tour for a while, but Jon had set his mind on the glorious idea to do another motor bike tour for at least a month. As a kind of catch-up with Dorothea. 

And if that wasn't enough, he wanted to head for Europe this time. So promoting would be impossible.

I only had one thing left that could make him stay at least for another few weeks and that would at least put our name back on the screen, without us actually releasing the album.

At first I hadn't even given it a second thought, but now the idea seemed quite exciting to me and I was sure the rest of the band would love that. I wasn't sure of Jon though.

Jon's   POV

"So we're basically the substitute for Guns N' Roses?" I still didn't fully understand the idea of Richie's request. 

"Well, I wouldn't call it like that." he answered "Brian assured me that they threw Guns out. So we would be the official announced act." 

"I don't know about that. Well I for sure am willing to perform, it's for Freddie after all. I mean who didn't look up to Queen or still does? It's an absolute honor Brian May asked us to perform. He's a legend himself..." 

"So what's the problem?" Richie interrupted me. "Brian is a nice guy, you agree we had fun jamming with him on the last tour."

"Yeah, Brian isn't the problem. You know I like him, he's a great dude. And I would love to meet the rest of Queen. 

But I'm not sure about the Guns N' Roses part. They will be pissed, you know Axl already hates me for no reason, just because I am there. They will see it as if we would be taking their place, even tho it isn't like that. 

I don't have the nerves for another nasty dispute right now. I am happy there have been a few months without the papers talking shit about me. But they would quickly find a way to make up a scandal if the band tells them something about us."

Of course the boys didn't see my problem. They held the opinion that we should't care about other bands. We would do our part and that's it.

 A part of me wanted to believe it, I mean what should go wrong? We were invited by a member of Queen itself, we were wanted to be there. And if they cancelled the Gunners it was none of our business. But I just didn't want these discussions again, mainly amongst fans. 

I didn't know if there was a program out yet, showing who would perform. Maybe there would never be one. 

But if there was and the Guns fans would find out that their favorite band wouldn't perform and we were the replacement, there could be trouble. I was fed up with the disputed between fans about what band was the best. Like everything was black and white and if you did like band A you had to hate band B or you would betray your fandom and all that shit. 

I didn't want that drama. And deep down I knew there would be drama, even though everyone thought I was exaggerating.

But nevertheless I agreed. One pulling factor was that we would get to play Wembley Stadium then. We played the Wembley Arena several time, but the stadium was a whole other level for us. Like a new milestone. 

It was comparable with the excitement we had as we got to play Giants Stadium the first time. 

It's just an opportunity you wouldn't wanna miss.

Actually, there were so many good reasons to perform at the Tribute concert and Guns N' Roses left my view for a moment. I just though of the honor that we were chosen to pay a tribute to one of the greatest musicians to ever exist, Freddie Mercury. 

I thought about all the other stars that would perform there as Richie had told me. Probably there would be a big after party and I got to talk to people like Bowie or James Hetfield, who knew. I just though of it like a big version of the Moscow Music Peace Festival. 

I knew it would become gigantic. I sorta imagined it like Live Aid, with the concert being broadcast all over the world and being organized for a good cause. At least I knew raising money and making aware of aids were the slogans the concert would be staning under.

Richie told me it was planned for April the 20th which would still fit my schedule. I really wanted to leave for Europe soon but I could wait another month. There would be so much to organize and now to rehearse so we would need the time.

Having to think of the business side too the concert could be the perfect opportunity to bring our name back in for the media. Like a pre-promotion before our album promotional tour. 

The more I thought about it, the more I was convinced that this event was the perfect opportunity that we needed to take. Everything just fit perfectly.

Of course we then continued to talk about the news that actually made me call the guys to my house. The new developments in the case of Alec. No one seemed to be surprised that Corey was under suspect. 

In fact we soon started to construct wild theories about what his motive could have been. But of course we didn't come to any conclusion and we agreed that we would just have to wait. But when it would turn out that it in fact had been Corey who killed Alec, which I was pretty sure of, then he could start to say his prayers.

Last time he humbled me, but this time I wouldn't be the weak depressed man anymore. I could punch him into several parts of his body so easily and I probably would have to bring someone with me for holding me back before I could beat him to death. Cause I knew as soon as I would see his fucking face I would lose every control of my body and my sense of moral.

I had gotten myself so into rage just by the thought of that that Dave had to calm me down and then we agreed on having some beers at a local bar to think of other things for now, or to rather not think about anything.

As I returned home, it was already early morning of the next day, I was drunk out of my mind and that's why I felt great. I giggled uncontrollably, probably attempted to sing and woke up my neighbors with that and before I headed straight to the couch I looked at my own reflection in the mirror, feeling confident with myself and like the sexiest man on earth. 

I still had a stupid party hat on and did stupid poses in the mirror, feeling myself way too much before a wave of tiredness hit me what finally let me sink into the soft fabric of my new furniture and with a last moment of awareness I knew I would be in for a hell of a hangover as I would wake up.

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Wanted to bring the Tribute Concert in.  Especially cause I wanted a reason to write about GNR, one of my favorite bands too, even though it may not seem like it in that story.