Session guitarist Tim Pierce recently revealed why he wasn’t chosen to join Bon Jovi’s band despite playing on their breakthrough hit “Runaway.” He shared his perspective in an interview with Guitar World.
Pierce went on to explain how his involvement with Bon Jovi began. He also explained why he believes his appearance prevented him from joining the band permanently.
“That (‘Runaway’) happened kind of by accident, as many great opportunities do,” Pierce said.
“I was 23 and recording in New York. Jon Bon Jovi was living upstairs at the Power Station [recording studio]. Basically, his job was the janitor for his uncle, Tony Bongiovi.”
The guitarist outlined how the collaboration developed and his contribution to the song.
“They put together a master demo and he asked me to play on it,” he continued.
“I said, ‘Of course!’ I ended up doing all the guitars on ‘Runaway,’ and Jon credited me on the back of the record. That was his first Top 40 hit, and I got full credit. It was great.”
Pierce then addressed the reason he believes he wasn’t asked to join the band when Bon Jovi was forming their lineup.
“Jon and I became friends,” he said. “He came to LA when he was looking for musicians to join his band, but a couple of things happened. First, I didn’t have the image to be in the band. People forget that you couldn’t be in a rock band unless you looked a certain way. I didn’t have that image, so Jon never came out and asked.”
The guitarist acknowledged that Ritchie Sambora was ultimately the right choice for the band.
“Richie was the perfect choice,” Pierce concluded. “The way he plays, looks and sings is great. They wrote some of the most amazing songs ever. Jon didn’t ask, and it probably had to do with the fact that I had another gig – and didn’t look like a rock star.”
Pierce’s contribution to “Runaway” became more significant than initially anticipated. The song served as the foundation for Bon Jovi’s entire career trajectory.
