In a world that don't know Romeo and Juliet, boy meets girl and promises we can't forget.

Today I'm back to one of my favorite bands. I feel like I'm cheating on them when I'm so busy with all the rest. There's too many of my favorites really. And I really wanted to share something more private, a memory. But I realised I'm not ready for that yet. It means a lot to me and I wanted it written down somewhere while I still remember all the details but I'm not ready to share it with the world just yet. Someday.

I've seen a million concerts in my life. Literally. One of my mom's favorite dinner stories is about me being less then a year old and sleeping through an entire very loud rock concert. My parents dragged me to all kinds of shows since I was a kid. I remember being about 6 or 7 years old and helping a guitarist carry his gear. Or trying to at least. Then he let me sit on his guitar case and watch the show and even paid me for it. I fell in love with music really early, not that I ever had a chance not to, musicians daughter and all.

But I wouldn't have it any other way, music is my life and the most important thing in my life. There's been so many hardships in my life, so much pain, so much sorrow and to be quite honest I don't know if I could have gotten through it all without my bands. They give me that comfort nobody and nothing else can. And I know to some it's hard to understand, but really, I can't even explain it. You have to feel it to understand it.

Now Bon Jovi was the first really big important band I've seen. Biggest concert too and biggest stadium show. That was about 7 or 8 years ago I think. I already wrote a long ass report about his gig in Milan Italy, now a few words about Croatia, first time seeing him. It was something special alright and Richie Sambora was still with them then. I always loved Richie everyone knows that, sorry Phil, you're a great guy, great musician, I just don't like you in this band (personal opinion, do try and keep your hateful opinions to yourself this time okay?).

I was in Croatia for like a week then, booked a hotel and stayed there. Seen 30 seconds to Mars like 2 days after Bon Jovi too. Hah, one of the best weeks of my life. Back in the days when booking a hotel and buying several concert tickets wasn't a big deal. A lot has changed since.

You know I love Zagreb. It holds a few of my favorite museums, like the Broken relationships museum. That is so badass. Did you know it used to be the only such museum in the world till some American decided to copy the idea and he opened one in LA? Americans, always hogging ideas from someone.

I'm off topic now, I was so excited about this concert, all those posters and stickers all over town so my excitment came to a point that even a woman that was in this restaurant that I was at for lunch the day of the concert, completly freaking out mind you, remembered me about a year later when I came in again.

It was great, opening bands were great, people were great, experience was great. Though he didn't sing Always to me?! Really Jon? I was really upset. Imagine the hysterics in Milan when he did sing Always. I was a shaking sobbing mess. For those of you that don't know, I have a ton of favorite bands, top three being Simple plan, Guns n' Roses and Motley Crue, but my favorite song well two, they will always share number one, are Always and November rain, various reasons, and a story for another time.

I planned my outfit for months ahead that day you know. And I remember being frozen solid when security did a serious full body pat down before I got into the stadium, now I stand still in front of them with arms and legs spread without being told but that first time was something new and scary. Asking me if I have any weapons on me, lol, lady please, the only threath to the band is probably my obession, if I'd ever get the chance to hug one or all of the band members I'd never let them go.

Their crew stayed in my hotel, we shared a lift once and had a lovely chat about what my favorite place in the city is and fun fact, when checking into the hotel the first thing the receptionist asks me is ''are you here for Bon Jovi?'' lol, could I be any more obvious? Probably not. Fun fact when I said yes he was like ''fuck yeah, me too''. Haha.

Anyways back to the album then.

I take it we all know that this isn't the original cover right? This is their third studio album and it sold in about 28 000 000 copies. Now the original cover, I get a serious kick out of this one, what's so awful about an attractive woman with a tiny tear in her shirt showing her cleavage? Is that really such a crime? And if this is about the saying on her shirt, ''Slippery when wet'' well that's a matter of interpretation isn't it? If your mind is dirty and all because really, what isn't slippery when wet? What I find about the dumbest of all is that they released this album with this lamer cover art and it made them huge stars as we all know and how many women showed them their boobs then? At shows? In private?

Critics said that this album is a breakthrough not just for Bon Jovi but also for hair metal. Uhm…how about no? I'm having such a hard time with Bon Jovi being in the same hair metal basket as the rest of them. I mean so many people call Motley Crue hair metal (though let's be honest they are glam metal) and imagining Motley and Jovi in the same category that is just…jesus christ like peanut butter and glue sandwich.

But sure the album has a nice mix of pop, hard rock and metal that probably appealed a wider crowd. It's more mainstream I suppose. More girl friendly, I learned they mostly ignored the entire heavy metal scene. What the hell were they thinking huh? Nothing would make me happier then being this age I am now but in the 80's when all my bands were in their prime. No wait, let's think that through, that would probably end bad. I'd be a disgusting sleazy groupie. Ha ha. Moving on.

Slippery when wet didn't really try hiding their ambitions as in being a commercial album since they even went as far as hiring some third person (Desmond Child that worked on songs such as Heaven's on fire and I was made for loving you by Kiss, Save up all your tears by Cher, What it takes and Dude by Aerosmith, Alice Coopers Poison and again one of my personal favorites Ratt's Givin' yourself away, what an amazing career huh?) to help with song writing. Ironicaly that songwriter ended up working on two of their biggest songs Livin' on a prayer and You give love a bad name. Though that worked well in their favor given that this album wiped the floor with GN'R's Appetite (seriously what the fuck?) and also MJ's Bad and U2's Joshua tree. Cute story about Livin on a prayer, Jon Bon Jovi didn't like the original recordings, wanted to scrap the entire song but Richie convinced him that it was good enough. Can you imagine that? We came so close to not having their biggest ''anthem'' come on Jovi fans you feel me here right? We all know what the best moment and best song on a Bon Jovi concert is right?

I love this album, no matter if the Rolling stone wasn't the biggest fan when it first came out and if my family asks me what the fuck am I watching each time Social disease comes on. Hah. Even Rolling stone can't deny that this success is something every musician would give arms and legs and most likely kidneys too for.

Now the biggest hits aside, there's other songs on this record that are really great such as Raise your hands, critics called it a cliche ''nasty reputation, sticky situation,…'' go listen to some Bieber instead and let us enjoy what is clearly a total stadium anthem. Honestly if it doesn't make you sing and scream along and probably dance or headbang to live then nothing will. I love that song.

Social disease haha. It's amusing just like Rocket Queen by GN'R though I believe the back story on Bon Jovi albums is a bit more innocent then GN'R is. Ha ha. It's cheesy and the guitars squeel a bit too much but I like it anyways.

Never say goodbye? Uh yes please. Let me get my lighter or well cell phone since lighters are no longer allowed. I hate that by the way. A ''sky full of lighters'' is far nicer then a ''sky full of cell phones''. All biggest rock stars, toughest metal guys, all of them did love ballads in the 80's and I am so lame to actually love all these sappy stupid songs. Really honestly I do. Metal – rock ballads, they're my thing. And well who wouldn't love that one line about a girl losing more then just her keys in the backseat of Jon's car? And also which girl wouldn't want to be that girl? The girl he'd write all those sappy songs to?

Other songs on it are of course, Let it rock, You give love a band name and you do NOT want to be stuck in a car with me if this song comes on just saying. Wanted dead or alive which I usually turn down anyway, I know I know that's criminal, turning down Bon Jovi but really I don't like it, except that one rif by Mr. Sambora it's just meh. Without love (fuck yes), Wild in the streets and of course I'd die for you which is just oh my god, another song you don't want to be around me if it plays. My boyfriends band does that cover for me, purely because they love seeing me lose my mind to it, headbanging, air guitar, screaming along, hey I never said I'm a good singer did I? I just love music is all.

My family is so funny, I'd turn on this album, and they know full well it's one of my favorites and they'd be like ''no wonder she loves it it's full of references to teenage sex, sneaking around and drinking'' well…living that rock n roll lifestyle what can I say? Hah.

Sometimes I just love uncomplex music without the darkness but just easy rock with cheesy songs with lyrics about undying love (kill me I'm still a girl and a hopless romantic sometimes) and living in a world we live in now when love is so rare…well let's just say that if they really are considered metal then they're one of the few who made it big with teenage girls. I suppose their insanely good looks had a say in it too. Hah. I've been into Jon Bon Jovi for the longest time, I had a cat named Jovi you know? But that's besides the point everyone thinks I got the hots for Jon alone. Uhm no it's more like I've got 99 problems and they are all Richie Sambora, like I'm sorry but have you seen a 20 something Richie Sambora? I think I'd die for him to be honest.

We live in a hostile world where love is a miracle but listening to this album makes me feel love because I honest to god love love LOVE this band. So give it a try, put it on, play it loud because it really is an amazing album. Now all there's left to do is, Richie, for the love of everything holy please come back home where you belong. We all miss you.

Bonus;

When he walks into the room, my heart goes bang bang boom.

This is going to be one of them ''last friday night'' posts. But nothing as crazy as what you're probably imagining in your heads just now, even if there was one too many shots of Jack Daniels. Or better yet I discovered a whole new love of my life ''Jack and ginger''. It's not that it's good, it's that it's amazing. Here's the deal, local concerts are pretty much as I'd imagine open free bar events. People get so drunk, it's disgusting. I'm no saint. I like alcohol too, I like the slightly buzzed feeling but I don't understand getting so drunk at events that the next morning you don't know where you were, who with, what did you watch or even your own damn name. Or worse, wake up to a coyote ugly situation.

But this post isn't going to turn into yet another story about hating people at local shows or just people in general, which is how every single post about local events starts. Like for fucks sakes at least show the musicians a little respect if you can't show it to yourself.

Alright moving on, the concert last night was a whole new experience for me. I had VIP tickets and that was something else. A different entrance then the rest of the ''mortals'', getting a ''bracelet'' that lets you walk basically everywhere in the venue from the VIP area to the first row at the stage. There's a ''red carpet'' photoshoot going on where they took pictures of you with a couple of really pretty girls. I'm not one to be into such things but I gotta say couple of cameras clicking in front of me while I stood there was pretty much amazing.

Did I mention that the drinks were free sponsored by Jack Daniels, the floors covered in soft plush carpet and the band members were walking by me all night? First time one of them that I really like walked by I was just like ''was that...?'' I hear an ''aha'' as a reply and I was done for, nearly on the ground at his feet. Musicians. Such a weakness for me. Nevermind insanely talented and blonde musicians. Damn it.

Free booze got me in trouble as per usual. I never learn it seems. No I wasn't wasted, nowhere near it, just tipsy and ballsy. Bad. Tangling with someone I like that I shouldn't. Nothing happened, but what happened was enough for me to make my head spin. Then again his smile alone makes my head spin. Either way, as much as I don't approve drinking, I just realized that I needed a night like this, Jack Daniels taking my worries away, my favorite loud music getting me in the right mood making me forget about all the bad shit in my life at the moment. I need a get away sometimes and my mind being the way it is never lets me shut down completly. Jack Daniels helps. I hate to admit it but it does. Which doesn't mean I'd start drinking on a daily basis mind you, once every couple of months at an event to relax and have a great time is just about enough for me.

The concert though, I love my boys, Šank rock, I really do. They don't get half as much credit they'd deserve. I keep saying that and I'll keep on saying it, they are all incredibly talented musicians but the guitar player alone. Jesus christ, the man could choke you while still play the guitar perfectly with one hand. I have this theory that in a guitar battle with Slash they'd be neck to neck. Yes. He is THAT good. Slash good. This was a celebration of their 35 years as a band. I still can't quite wrap my head around that, they as a band are older then I am. Hah. Or the fact that the first time I saw them I slept through their entire set. Fine, I was only a year old but still. I have a long lasting romance going on with this band. Hah. I think they're the only band next to Guns N' Roses that I actually liked as a child and all through the years up to now, when I actually like them even more.

This was in the bands hometown. Everything is different when you listen to the band in their own hometown, the crowd is different. Better somehow, they know all the words, they scream them at the top of their lungs. And I always loved that, it's my favorite moment of any concert, when the singer sings one line and then the crowd picks up the song and they sing as loud as they can. It makes all the hairs on my neck stand up, there were a couple of such moments at the show last friday night. Some of them including my favorite songs, the crowd being really loud and it was amazing. Simply amazing. Honestly nothing makes me feel as good and as alive as that does. It's better then alcohol, it's better then drugs.

There's a song they do, that I never heard live yet and the other night they played it. It was something else. The crowd was really loud on that song, the melody, the lyrics, the voice, all of it, it just fits, it's a moment that makes shivers run up and down my spine, a moment that makes me happy and warm all over. It's about getting lost in a song, in the feeling it gives you, the emotion it makes you feel. You know what they say right, if the music you listen to makes you feel nothing, you're listening to the wrong kind of music.

I was back to kinda freaking out, oh who am I kidding, I was totally losing it. My voice was slightly broken the next morning. But, honestly, what's the point of a concert if you don't sing - scream along to your favorite songs? The problem with this band is though, that ALL of their songs are my favorite. And the problem was that they played all of them too. Not that I'm complaining of course I loved every single second of it.

It's funny that I literally wrote about them few months ago and also about another one of our locals that I also love, Peter Lovšin, remember that? Last night he was with them, came on stage way pass one am, kinda after party wibe and guess what? He still blew the roof off the place even if half of the venue was basically done for at the point *alcohol is a bitch if you don't know how to control yourself* and the rest already left. I was basically the only person in the VIP howling along to each and every song. Well except that one song ''Bandiera Rossa or Avanti Popolo'' that one seems to wake everyone up. Nostalgia or something. I love the song though, because it's provocative and most people can't stand it. You know me, always into what other people hate.

Well I'm adding this gig to my long list of concerts and also to my long long LONG list of seeing these two alone. Whatcha gonna do? True love is true love. And I do love them, maybe actually even more then some of guys you see at the side of my blog *gasps*. Yeah. Shocking but...these are bands and music I grew up with, it's different.

Also, let me point out that all the bands that played before them, Mary Rose, Prelude, Radio Jam and Monsun are great and really talented musicians. Unfortunally I only got to see Mary Rose but I know the rest and they really are good.

What was my point in this post was besides glorifying my favorite boys? That sometimes getting completly lost in the music, or anything you love really, anything that makes you forget your problems, your life, something that really weighs you down, is good. Take a breather sometimes, you deserve it. Let lose, have fun. Scream your heart out at a concert, paint your heart out, dance your heart out, whatever it is that makes you happiest. My thing is music, it's my passion, it's my air that I breathe, it's my happiness and it's the freedom I miss everyday. It's my home and a getaway from home.

Alright then, time to cut off the golden VIP bracelet and get back to the real world. Do I hate it? More then I can tell but that's the way life goes. All good things must end.

While we're at it, since it's finally January 1st...nobody is happier then I am right now, finally the world can go back to normal, no more shopping apocalypses, no more disgustingly mind numbing Christmas / New year movies. No more of that hellish music, ''Last Christmas I gave you my heart''? I will rip yours out if you play the damn song one more time. But Nikki you can't play Metallica on Christmas eve, uh? Like hell I can't. Considering Christ doesn't exist it's hypocritical to think he couldn't have been a metalhead. As if that makes any difference, I'd listen to heavy metal at the opera if I could.

What I wanted to say anyway, was, Happy New Year guys, I wish you all the happiness in the world, all the love in the world, all the kindness and patience and all the success in everything you do. Take a deep breath, you've made it this far, we've all been through some type of hell in our lives, and we got through it and we'll continiue fighting. I believe in all of you, and I'm proud of all of you, for all the things you've accomplished even if they seem like a small thing to you, they may seem impossible to someone else. But still, for all our sakes I hope 2018 treats us better then 2017 did.

And to all my metalheads, rockers, musicians, music lovers, here's a piece of advice from the man himself, Billie Joe Armstrong;

"Dear young rock n rollers. Be brave. Be tough. Spit your anger. Piss people off. Don’t be normal. Don’t be trendy. Be loud. Live out loud. Cuss. Swear. Be offensive. Tell the truth. YOUR truth. Fuck authority. Spray paint the walls with your song titles. Be dirty. Smash glass. Make a statement. Don’t be a wimp. Don’t be a follower. Unhinged. We need more young rebel heroes with loud guitars."

Did I mention that I love him lately? Because I do. Either way guys, have a great time celebrating your New years, whether you're somewhere having a great time or at home having a great time by yourself. Like I am, alone with my record collection and honestly having a better time then I could of being cold and annoyed outside. Hah. Have fun and stay safe.