Bon Jovi’s first bassist Alec John Such dies at age 70: Bandmates pay tribute ‘wild’ rock icon

Bon Jovi’s first bassist and founding member Alec John Such has died at the age of 70. 

Former bandmates of the rock icon paid a tribute on Twitter to Such, who departed from the band in 1994. His death was first reported by Variety.  

‘We are heartbroken to hear the news of the passing of our dear friend Alec John Such,’ Bon Jovi tweeted. 

The latest: Bon Jovi’s first bassist and founding member Alec John Such has died at the age of 70. He was snapped in 2018 at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

See also  England vs France - Six Nations: Live score and updates from Twickenham

‘He was an original. As a founding member of Bon Jovi, Alec was integral to the formation of the band. … To be honest, we found our way to each other thru him.’

The tweet continued: ‘He was a childhood friend of Tico [Torres] and brought Richie [Sambora] to see us perform. Alec was always wild and full of life. Today these special memories bring a smile to my face and a tear to my eye. We will miss him dearly.’ 

John Such was the rock band’s bassist from 1983 to 1994. No details on when or how he died were immediately available.

The Yonkers, New York-born John Such was a veteran figure in the thriving New Jersey music scene that helped spawn Bon Jovi.

Former bandmates of the Rock icon paid a tribute on Twitter to John Such

John Such was snapped in his Colts Neck, New Jersey home in June of 2004

Bon Jovi credited John Such for bringing the band together, noting that he was a childhood friend of drummer Tico Torres and brought guitarist and songwriter Richie Sambora to see the band perform. 

As manager of the Hunka Bunka Ballroom in Sayreville, New Jersey, John Such booked Jon Bon Jovi & The Wild Ones before joining the singer-songwriter’s band.

He played with Bon Jovi through the group’s heyday in the 1980s. John Such had also played in a band called the Message with Sambora.

John Such departed from the band in 1994  

Bon Jovi credited John Such for bringing the band together, noting that he was a childhood friend of drummer Tico Torres and brought guitarist and songwriter Richie Sambora to see the band perform

See also  Real Betis vs Man United - Europa League: Live score, team news and updates

John Such departed the band in 1994, when he was replaced by bassist Hugh McDonald. 

He later rejoined the band for its induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2018.

‘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,’ said John Such at the Hall of Fame induction. 

‘And I am only too happy to have been a part of that vision.’

(L-R) Richie Sambora, Jon Bon Jovi and John Such were seen performing in Japan in 1984 

Sambora, Bon Jovi and John Such were seen in June of 1985 in Detroit 

(L-R) Tico Torres, Bon Jovi, Sambora, David Bryan and Alec John Such were seen in a 1992 shot