Alec John Such — the American musician known best as the original bassist and a founding member of Bon Jovi — has died. The band announced Such's passing yesterday, though a cause of death was not revealed. He was 70.
"He was an original," Bon Jovi wrote in announcing Such's passing on Twitter. "As a founding member of Bon Jovi, Alec was integral to the formation of the band ... Alec was always wild and full of life. Today those special memories bring a smile to my face and a tear to my eye."
Born in Perth Amboy, NJ, in 1951, Such played with Bon Jovi from 1982 to 1994, contributing bass guitar and backing vocals to the band's first five albums. For the uninitiated, those releases feature some of the band's best known hits, including "You Give Love a Bad Name," "Wanted Dead or Alive" and "Bad Medicine."
Such was replaced by bassist Hugh McDonald in 1994, though he reunited with his bandmates in 2018 for Bon Jovi's induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
"When Jon Bon Jovi called me up and asked me to be in his band many years ago, I soon realized how serious he was and he had a vision that he wanted to bring us to, and I am too happy to have been a part of that vision," Such said in his induction speech. "These guys are the best. We had so many great times together and we wouldn't be here if it wasn't for those guys. Love them to death and always will."
"He was an original," Bon Jovi wrote in announcing Such's passing on Twitter. "As a founding member of Bon Jovi, Alec was integral to the formation of the band ... Alec was always wild and full of life. Today those special memories bring a smile to my face and a tear to my eye."
Born in Perth Amboy, NJ, in 1951, Such played with Bon Jovi from 1982 to 1994, contributing bass guitar and backing vocals to the band's first five albums. For the uninitiated, those releases feature some of the band's best known hits, including "You Give Love a Bad Name," "Wanted Dead or Alive" and "Bad Medicine."
Such was replaced by bassist Hugh McDonald in 1994, though he reunited with his bandmates in 2018 for Bon Jovi's induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
"When Jon Bon Jovi called me up and asked me to be in his band many years ago, I soon realized how serious he was and he had a vision that he wanted to bring us to, and I am too happy to have been a part of that vision," Such said in his induction speech. "These guys are the best. We had so many great times together and we wouldn't be here if it wasn't for those guys. Love them to death and always will."
