People are embaressed to like The Beatles too,which is something that ive never been able to understand.I think if any band becomes huge commercialy,it will be hated by a certain section of people very strongly.The same probably applies to Bon Jovi too.Liking The Beatles or Bon Jovi would be considered embarassing for a few,but liking the Rolling Stones or Guns n Roses wont.I think the fact that bands that end up having a massive female following probably ends up putting male listeners off.Dont know if thats entirely correct though.
Yeah, I think you got it pretty much spot on. The problem is also in the labelling of music, Bon Jovi is supposedly "Sweet Metal" or "Sweet Rock". I mean what the fuck is that? It's rnr, just because it's targeted towards females a little more it doesn't take anything away from the music, it's still rnr. What, just because he doesn't sing about bashing someone's head in doesn't mean its not good.
I remember watching a Bruce Dickinson interview not too long ago, after the new album came out. He was asked how he feels on the impact Iron Maiden had on Heavy Metal during the years. He got pissed and answered something like this; "I didn't know we are Heavy Metal, I never saw us that way. Back in the day when we were young, even before we started out, it was all Rock n' Roll, there was no divisions, from the Beatles to Black Sabbath. We still feel like we're making good old rock n roll."
I like to look it that way too.