While uncertainty surrounds future of UAE favourites Aerosmith, Bon Jovi are back

With Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler reportedly set to take a permanent vacation from  singing duties with the legendary hellraisers following a recent visit here, it’s heartwarming to see another American rock band familiar to the UAE go from strength to strength.

Tyler, pictured below, has allegedly called it a day on the ageing rockers, who wowed thousands at the closing of the Abu Dhabi GP on November 1, to concentrate on ‘Brand Tyler’.

But while there’s uncertainty for Tyler, Joe Perry and Co, all seems rosy with fellow Yanks Bon Jovi.

The multi-million selling rockers are set to release new album ‘The Circle’, along with a book and DVD both labelled ‘When We Were Beautiful’.

Bon Jovi performed a storming set, including crowd favourites ‘Keep The Faith’, ‘Wanted Dead Or Alive’ and ‘You Give Love A Bad Name’ when they rocked Abu Dhabi back in May 2008. And while lead singer Jon Bon Jovi admits things look good from the outside, there has been more than the odd wobble during the band’s 26-year history.

The New Jersey pin up explained: “I’ve found my passion again. I was running off with a bunch of different distractions before: acting, solo albums and things like that, or simply not enjoying the company. It’s great to have that renewed sense of enthusiasm for something you loved as a kid.”

The latest album is Bon Jovi’s second in just over two years, following 2007’s ‘Lost Highway’, a set written entirely from sessions in Nashville.

But while that may seem prolific, the 47-year-old explained the process was a bit of a fluke.

“Initially we were just fulfilling a commitment when we writing songs that became this album.

“We were going to write two new songs for a greatest hits. “We said to our record label we’d do the greatest hits if we could go to Nashville to record.”

Anyone who caught Aerosmith earlier this month must admit the ‘Toxic Twins’, Tyler and Perry, looked at their best as they slayed ‘Rag Doll’, ‘Sweet Emotion’ and ‘Eat The Rich’.

But just days later, rumour suggest Tyler has called time on his old buddies.

Bon Jovi the band have had their problems too, with guitarist Richie Sambora recently fighting his demons and a public divorce to Heather Locklear while bassist Alec John Such was kicked out back in 1994. And after watching footage for his group’s new DVD, Bon Jovi admits things are not always as they seem on stage.

Jon was inspired by Peter Bogdanovich’s documentary about Tom Petty, ‘Runnin’ Down A Dream’. And with English director Phil Griffin at the helm, it’s an honest affair.

"We didn’t want to be completely retrospective, or for it to be just a concert movie, so I went back to our manager and said we’d tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth on film. We financed it ourselves, so no one else but us had a say in it, and it’s been very well-received so far.

“I must admit I didn’t care for watching myself so much during the editing, but I learned some things from it. All I could think was, ‘God, I wish I smiled more’.

“In the film I was either caught up in thought or the neuroses of getting out to a gig that I didn’t look happy,” he added. “Sometimes I look like I’m in turmoil even though I’m quite fine. I’m smiling on the inside.”