Alec John Such, who played bass in Bon Jovi for the band's first decade, has passed away at the age of 70.
Jon Bon Jovi announced his death Sunday via social media, writing that the band is "heartbroken to hear the news of the passing of our dear friend." He calls Such "an original" who was "always wild and full of life," and says that "as a founding member of Bon Jovi, Alec was integral to the formation of the band." He adds that "to be honest, we found our way to each other thru him."
Bon Jovi explains that Such "was a childhood friend of [drummer] Tico [Torres] and brought [original guitarist] Richie [Sambora]" to see them perform, and that "today these special memories bring a smile to [his] face and a tear to [his] eye. He says the band will "miss him dearly.”
I was lucky enough to meet Alec John Such during Bon Jovi's 'Keep the Faith' tour in the early '90s.
More on Alec John Such:
- Born in Yonkers, New York on November 14, 1951.
- Of Hungarian descent, he grew up in a Hungarian neighborhood in Perth Amboy, New Jersey.
- A childhood friend of Bon Jovi's drummer, Tico Torres, he'd previously played in Phantom's Opera with Torres and The Message with guitarist Richie Sambora.
- Managed a Sayreville, New Jersey club where he booked Jon Bon Jovi & The Wild Ones in the early 1980s.
- When Bon Jovi was forming a new band with David Bryan, the keyboardist suggested adding Such and Torres, and Such suggested adding Sambora.
- Such was over a decade older than Bon Jovi and Bryan and eight years older than Sambora, but the record company lied about this age.
- Left the band at age 43 due to what he described as "burnout."
- Maintained a low profile after leaving Bon Jovi -- in 2000, he auctioned most of the contents of his Colts Neck, New Jersey home. Said at the time that he hadn't picked up his instrument since leaving the band.
- Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the band in 2018, he gave an upbeat speech about his time with them.
- No cause of death has been announced.
Source: and Premiere