The One Song That Started It All… and the Concert Jacket That Didn’t Survive It - Gen X Memories

Melting Superman Jacket

Growing up, I was a huge fan of Rick Springfield, Olivia Newton-John, and John Stamos. And then came 1984. Jack Wagner hit General Hospital, and - swoon - he instantly became my new obsession. That is… until the summer of ’84 when a song called “She Don’t Know Me” was released. Suddenly, everything changed.

That one song kicked off my lifelong love affair with Bon Jovi.

As I got older, their music was always there. But let me tell you about the trauma - I’m only half-kidding - when Bon Jovi showed up at a local radio station not far from where my friends and I were practicing volleyball. I begged my mom to take us. Just let us walk over there! But nope. She shut it down: “We’re here for volleyball, not chasing rock stars.” I’ll never fully forgive her (but hey, it’s kinda ironic, since many years later, we did go chase someone… just not a band. But that’s a story for another day).

That moment aside, my mom was still pretty awesome. Even though I went to a private school with uniforms, she let me buy two pairs of shoes - one pink, one purple - because Jon Bon Jovi had shoes like that. She even let me put blond streaks in my hair while I was still in junior high. She might not have let me meet the band, but she 100% supported my obsession. Appreciate your moms while they’re here. Mine helped fuel my fangirl heart.

Let’s jump ahead to the jacket.

I was lucky enough to grow up in a tight-knit neighborhood where all the kids basically grew up together. My second family lived right across the street. We were always outside, always up to something… unless I was grounded for not cleaning my room (some things never change).

By 1989 - the New Jersey era - Jon Bon Jovi had this amazing sequined Superman jacket he wore on stage. I needed one. So I DIY’d it. I grabbed a jacket, some sequins, cut out a design, and glued it on. Boom. Homemade stage wear. That night, we all went to the concert. I was ready.

And then…it rained.

Here’s a tip: if you’re going to glue sequins onto a jacket, make sure the glue is waterproof. I don’t remember if I used Elmer’s or Mod Podge, but either way - it wasn’t waterproof. The Superman symbol started melting right off the jacket. I was devastated. But now? It’s one of those stories we still laugh about. The things we do for the rock stars we love.

Remind me to tell you my Jack Wagner story sometime - the one where I stood for hours in the Rocky Mountain sun just to meet him - but he never showed. Can you say 2nd degree burns?

Over the years, I went to so many Bon Jovi concerts. If they were coming to town, I was there. Now, forty-ish years later, I’m still a fan. I don’t go to as many shows anymore—ticket prices are bananas—but I still cheer from afar. Even as the original band lineup gets smaller, the music still hits.

Some things never fade.

Until next time, keep thriving, keep surviving, and most of all, keep having fun! And keep coming back for more Gen X memories.