Rock | Hair Metal | United States

Alec John Such

Such, the original bass player of the rock band, Bon Jovi, passed away on June 5th of 2022. Such was 70 years old.

Hailing from Perth Amboy, New Jersey, Alexander John Such was an accomplished bass player best known for his time in Bon Jovi. What was significant at the time of his joining was that he was roughly a decade older than the other guys in the band.

Alec John Such and Jon Bon Jovi playing on stage
Jon Bon Jovi (left) and Alec John Such (right) | Photo Credit to Consequence of Sound

That would kind of make him the Mick Mars of the band, no?

Such's basslines are all over some of the biggest hair metal hits of all-time, including Living on a Prayer, You Give Love a Bad Name, and Runaway. He was the type of guy who made playing in an unbuttoned denim vest with no shirt on seem cool. Alec was also a Grammy nominee in 1997.

Alec John Such's Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction with Bon Jovi

As a founding member of the glorious hair metal band, Alec was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame alongside Jon Bongiovi, Richie Sambora, Tico Torres and David Bryan.

A quote from such at the induction went as follows, "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,"

Bands he played in

  • Bon Jovi
  • The Message

Bon Jovi albums he played on

Bass Gear

According to Equipboard, Alec John Such used this gear.

  • Warwick Thumb bass
  • Guild Pilot bass
  • Fender Precision bass
  • Guild Flying Star SB608 bass
  • Ampeg Dan Armstrong Lucite bass
  • Aria Pro II WL Custom bass

Post Bon Jovi Music Career

Such was let go from Bon Jovi for poor live and studio performance. He was replaced by Hugh McDonald.

However, it's possible that an interview he gave was the culprit, as it's rumored that Alec divulged more information than necessary from the outstandingly tight-lipped camp of Bon Jovi.

It's the Dave Ling interview for those wondering.

In his post Jovi days, Such owned a motorcycle shop and managed a few bands. Not a bad life for an ex-touring musician of a world-class, arena rock band.

Reviews of Alec John Such Albums

All Albums

References & Sources

  1. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1138285/
  2. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/alec-john-such-bon-jovi-bassist-dead-obit-1363317/
  3. https://equipboard.com/pros/alec-john-such
  4. https://www.last.fm/music/Alec+John+Such/+wiki
  5. https://www.songfacts.com/facts/bon-jovi
  6. https://consequence.net/2022/06/alec-john-such-bon-jovi-dead/