Moshtalgia - Episode 02 - Bon Jovi - Slippery When Wet

This is Moshtalgia. A podcast about albums we love, albums that were important to us growing up.

Stumble down memory lane to revisit one of the most iconic albums of the 1980s: Bon Jovi's "Slippery When Wet." Released on August 18th, 1986, this powerhouse of an album not only catapulted Bon Jovi into the stratosphere of rock superstardom but also left an indelible mark on the music industry and fans alike.

In this episode of our podcast, we delve deep into the grooves of Slippery When Wet, exploring the stories and the energy behind hits like 'Livin' on a Prayer,' 'You Give Love a Bad Name,' and 'Wanted Dead or Alive.' These anthems became more than just songs; they were the battle cries of a generation, the soundtrack to countless memories, and the hymns of rebellious youth.

We discuss the album's inception, the genius of producer Bruce Fairbairn, and how Bon Jovi's New Jersey roots influenced their sound and lyrics. The episode also pays tribute to the late Fairbairn, whose production credits include not just Slippery When Wet but also Bon Jovi's follow-up New Jersey and AC/DC's Razor's Edge.

But it's not just about the music. Come back to a time when rock radio was king, and magazines like Kerrang were the bibles of rock fandom. We reminisce about tuning into the Friday Rock Show on BBC Radio, presented by Tommy Vance, and how these media shaped our experience of discovering Bon Jovi across the Atlantic.

Our journey doesn't stop there. Presenters Taylor and Bourney share personal anecdotes of growing up in Ireland, the thrill of catching radio signals on a good day, and the cultural phenomenon that was Bon Jovi in the British Isles. We even dive into the critical reception of the album, discussing Rolling Stone's snarky review and contrasting it with our own teenage perspectives.

Slippery When Wet sold over 28 million copies, and its legacy endures. It's a testament to the timelessness of great rock music and the enduring appeal of Bon Jovi. So whether you're a die-hard fan or a newcomer to the classic rock scene, this episode is a must-listen.

There's absurdity, snark, and blistering twin-microphone facts from Taylor and Bourney, fully harmonised with double-tracked wailing and complaining. We men do play on ten, to Valhalla and back.

Best served with beer and a side of silliness. Lie back and enjoy it. Come join us on a review of those now-vintage LPs we loved in the 1980s from the bands that parted us from our money.

It isn't just two friends chatting in front of microphone about their long-haired heavy metal days. Well it is, but also it's much more.

Dive deep into the spurious subconsious of two middle-aged metallers regaling the days of their youth with squirming stories, analogue anectodes, and antsy accusations from the east coast of Ireland. We name and shame, mostly ourselves.

Remember that first metal album? First concert? The rock ballad you first copped off to on a disco dancefloor with nervous hands and dry lips? Yeah, you do.

We let the hair on down the back, steal tapes, photocopy covers, and even buy a bullet-belt. We deftly sew patches on our denim jackets, and pilfer magazines in the shop.

Offering our metal heroes no quarter. We praise and prosletyse, we ridicule and rile. We spar with each other and the teenage illusions we had when hearing these masterpieces.

Armed with a sonic scalpel, we cleave our way through track by track, appraise hits and filler a generation on. Who dared battle the Saracen? Who gave love a bad name? Who danced on glass? Listen and find out.

Tune in to rock radio again, hear it as it was, all entombed by fat and freckled guitar segues brought to you by our resident riffer, that man from Annamoe; Pat 'The Fingerer' Shaughnessy!

We rifle through the pages of once-mighty UK rock organ Kerrang for hot takes of the late Eighties. Hear the words of Malcolm Dome, Dante Bonutto, Sylvie Simmons, Howard Johnson, Chris Watts, Alison Joy, and Mick Wall as they gurn over the news, interviews, and reviews of the day.

Moshtalgia exposes many a metal mistake, a misheard lyric, and as much madness as your mind can muster. You will hear the voices of the bands giving comment directly here on our podcast. Their voices voiced through our own larynxes that is.

Hear the doyen of UK rock radio, Tommy Vance, along with producer Tony Wilson, deliver rock and metal weekly for a scant-yet-prescious two FM hours on the UK's BBC Radio One.

If you know it, you're in for a treat on this show. If you don't, you're still in for a treat on this show. Rock on Tommy! It doesn't matter what age you are.

We absorb musician autobiographies and gorge on metal authors to skull it back, slurp it down, and regurgitate back up for your listening pleasure.

Moshtalgia is a delirious day trip to the past with a gimlet wince and a black-toothed grin...