Bon Jovi title track tells of bitter label split

Bon Jovi have split with record label Mercury after 32 years – and frontman Jon Bon Jovi has told the whole bitter story in their song Burning Bridges.

It’s the title track of the band’s “fan album,” which has come ahead of their next fully-fledged studio release, expected next year.

Burning Bridges include the lyrics “After 30 years of loyalty, they let you dig the grave / Now maybe you can learn to sing or strum along / Well I’ll give you half the publishing / You’re why I wrote this song.”

Bon Jovi tells Billboard: “It fulfills a commitment to Mercury Records. We’ve parted ways. I f you listen to Burning Bridges, the song, it’s clearly spelled out.”

He adds: “This hits it right in the head and tells you what happened. Listen to the lyrics. That’s that.”

And he insists the change bodes well for the band’s next album. “I have a lot to write about,” he says. “Believe me, the new record is good. It’s pointed – it’s something we’re going to be very proud of when we put it out.”

The follow-up to 2013’s What About Now will be Bon Jovi’s first without any input from guitarist Richie Sambora, who left soon after its release. The band launch a run of tour dates next month.

Not only is one-time online news editor Martin an established rock journalist and drummer, but he’s also penned several books on music history, including SAHB Story: The Tale of the Sensational Alex Harvey Band, a band he once managed, and the best-selling Apollo Memories about the history of the legendary and infamous Glasgow Apollo. Martin has written for Classic Rock and Prog and at one time had written more articles for Louder than anyone else (we think he's second now). He’s appeared on TV and when not delving intro all things music, can be found travelling along the UK’s vast canal network.