Lucky be the ones who bore witness to the spectacular personalities of the six men. The six men who, when at will, set their feet on the stage, ready to give the world their best and all, going through breaks with laryngitis. The laughing coming from the back of the tour bus to some joke made, sure enough to be immature, but in a cute way. Endless nights of two of them locked in a room together, beat up guitars, notebooks, and worn pencils and pens at the ready to rewrite the history of the melodies made. Toasting to each other during birthdays and celebrating the marriage of one or the welcoming of a new little one into the world. Being a stronghold for the others through bad times. Swearing up and down that they were brothers and nothing less. That they'd be there for the other no matter what was going on in their lives. The closeness that each had felt around the others. The chemistry between the six was like no other group of men alive. It was crazy how well they knew each other and how they could sense every emotion and thought. Best friends. Brothers. When one was let go from the group and replaced with the other, it wasn't to make the man angry. It was to keep that bond alive between all of them. They couldn't risk it. The man was very forgiving of it despite selling all memorabilia from everything they've ever done. He was allowed one more time on the stage with them and it was like old times. Near the end, they were all tighter than ever. They all reformed and it was amazing what they had done. Now, all six stood together for all of eternity, in a world of forgiveness and peacefulness. Each name laid out in front of all to see. All to grip onto. Even in the end, nothing could ever break them apart. When the curtain closed for the final time, they all took hands and bowed together. That was real friendship. Brotherhood.
Alexander "Alec" John Such
November 14, 1951 - July 19, 2019
When the news came of Alec's cancer, they all flocked to his side to support him. He may not have been in the group until the very end, but he was still a brother to them all. He put up a hell of a fight for a year and a half before the dreaded disease finally took over and won. They hadn't seen his face relaxed since the 80s. Finally at peace, he could now be stress-free.
Richard Stephen Sambora
July 11, 1959 - March 17, 2023
King of Swing
Who knew he would die due to one person's mistake? A drunken friend claimed the man's life after skidding across the road, the car flipping multiple times. No attempt by the desperate paramedics were able to bring him back, feeling as if they had gotten there just a little too late.
Hugh John McDonald
December 28, 1950 - October 14, 2030
Hugh had passed peacefully in his sleep at the age of 80. When the others heard, it broke their hearts, but they knew it'd come some day. It saddened his children, who all huddled to their spouses for comfort.
Tico Torres
October 7, 1953 - November 18, 2036
Man with the rhythm forever
Tico didn't pass from old age or any disease, but it came through a fire while he slept on. Definitely hard for the remaining member to grasp. Despite having to have surgery twice in his early 60s, Tico was a healthy man. He could've fought any battle. But, it proved that even the toughest don't have the strength to fight everything. Especially fate.
David Bryan Rashbaum
February 7, 1962 - August 2, 2037
King of the Keys
David met his demise due to complications during surgery. They had tried to restart the old heart, but it was of no use. He was gone. Long gone.It was really hard on the remaining member. Who would've known?
John Francis Bongiovi Jr.
March 2, 1962 - August 3, 2037
Captain Kidd
The youngest member was found in his hotel room, a bottle still clenched in his now since long-cold hand. Too much to drink way too fast. That's what was the end of this man. It tasted too good against his lips, warming every inch of his seemingly dead soul. Too much loss. Too much pain. He couldn't handle it. After the final drink, he felt himself slipping into unconsciousness as he leaned his head back against the bed, never to open the once glowing blue orbs that everybody knew him for again. On his laptop was an email David had sent to him two days before his surgery. We're the last men standing.
It was like they were young again. No wrinkles. No grey hair. No eyesight trouble. No trembling hands or aching backs and knees. They were the mirror images of themselves in the 80s. That's how they would always be portrayed, for that was the beginning of all that had made history. The brotherhood that had been commonly known between the six. The same thing kept echoing in their heads.
I'll be there for you. These five words I swear to you.
And that was the truth.
