There was nothing in my head worth writing about, so there was no alternative but to break free of the madness and reacquaint myself with normality.' 'Forget the physical side, at the end of the New Jersey tour, I'd have been mentally incapable of going back into the studio and recording another album. Your best option is to make it as painless as possible and that's why we're insisting on taking regular breaks and maybe three rest days a month rather than one or none at all. You're sacrificing the other 22 hours of the day for the two you spend on stage but that's the deal, that's the way it works. Tour for 16 months and the only things you know how to do properly are pack your suitcase and 'phone through to room service. To tell you the truth, there's nothing that can happen anymore which I haven't already seen. 'That whole phase of our career got pretty heavy towards the end but at least we learnt from the experience.

After all, what was euphemistically referred to as 'road fatigue' is the main reason they took a three year sabbatical after 1988's New Jersey album and very nearly threw the towel in altogether.

With Bon Jovi barely half-way through a world tour that's set to take them right up to Christmas, it's just as well that their leader is on a major health kick. It's great waking up the next morning without an explosion going off in your head.' It's easy to do - especially on the road where there's always someone, usually Richie (Sambora), saying 'let's go check out the bar.' I still do that occasionally but last night, for instance, I went straight back to my hotel room after the gig, had a bite to eat, called home and then went to bed. I've got to confess there was a time, not that long ago, when I was partying too hard and starting to burn myself out. 'You'll have to give up on the liquid lunches and start looking after yourself a bit. 'I reckon being a journalist is even more unhealthy than playing in a band,' laughs Jon who, true to form and much to my disgust, is looking the personification of effortless cool this afternoon. We're both thirtysomething but whereas Jon's rich, successful and disgustingly slim, your's truly is brassic, works for Hot Press and has a spare tyre that's in dire danger of turning into the Michelin factory. I'm amongst friends now, so I don't mind admitting that the main reason for my antipathy towards the singer is the sharp contrast in our lifestyles. I tell you, I've never had so many people offering to hold my tape machine or act as my Biro roadie for the day. 2', has crap skin and the breath of a rancid sewer rat,' was my rather acidic retort to those female acquaintances of mine who went all wobbly at the knees when I mentioned I'd been granted an audience with King Rocker Jon Bon Jovi.

Bon jovi first album