B is for Bon Jovi, an inspirational muse

How to tie together Muse Avatar Monday with the A-Z blogging challenge? Easy. Just pick Jon BON JOVI, perhaps the only hairband frontman to have aged with such grace.

Jessica Bell and I have teamed up for the A-Z blogging challenge this year to talk about our musical muses - a band/artist or song that has inspired, or affected us in some way. Like I said, expect a lot of 80s cheese from me.

Including Bon Jovi.

Though, a case could be made for anti-cheese. Sure they swirled their hair around and once looked like this:

But hey, a lot of guys wore make up back then. 

Considered the softer of the rockers, Bon Jovi had their biggest success with Slippery When Wet, pumping out hit after hit including Living on a Prayer, Bad Medicine, Wanted Dead or Alive, and You Give Love a Bad Name.

Now these are songs that are still on my iPod. I've only been to two Bon Jovi concerts, not because I wouldn't shell out the cash, but because their concerts sell out in record time! Somehow, these New Jersey rockers have managed to stay relevant by producing new music that appeals to a new crowd, and appeases a loyal fan base - including millions of women everywhere.

Of course, it's not hard to understand why when the lead singer now looks like this:

For all of their inspiration - from their muse-worthy front man to a musical work ethic that continues to rock on - Bon Jovi has definitely made an impact on me. 

This week, I lean on Jon and this song (an oldie but a goodie) for writerly inspiration:

So dish, who's your musical "B" man/woman?

Now, go check out some of the other blogs taking part in the A-Z Blogging challenge, including my Dawn Dalton blog where I'm talking about awesome YA books, and the Most-Wanted Monsters blog where Judith and I are writing poems and talking smack about some creeptastic beasties.

- Dawn

The Book in My Bag Today: Rot & Ruin, Jonathan Mayberry