(Originally ran May 2)

For the record, I don’t really care for the music of Bon Jovi.

To be honest, I’d be happy to never hear another note of the band’s music. In fact, I’d be happy to have never heard a note of the band’s music. Or even be aware of their existence.

This may not have been apparent in the review I wrote of Bon Jovi’s Sunday night concert at the Forum. I just tried to describe the band’s music and the show.

This is either being fair-minded or being cowardly.

I don’t like getting hate mail and nasty phone calls from irate fans. But more than that, I think, as best I could tell, it was a good show if you’re a Bon Jovi fan.

Not that I am. But what’s the point of trying to convince 20,000-plus people that they didn’t really have a good time?

I’ve written negative reviews of lackluster performances, both of acts I’m fond of and those I’m not. A performer who’s not giving their all, who obviously doesn’t want to be there or who doesn’t care about the audience, is inexcusable.

But Bon Jovi didn’t do that. The band was energetic and tight. It knows its audience and gives them what they want. And the crowd loved it.

(Not me, of course, but if the worst thing about my job is having to go to a concert I wouldn’t attend otherwise, I don’t have much to complain about.)

Actual conversation with a friend of mine which has been repeated time and time again:

Him: Hey, I read that review of the (insert band name here) concert. Sounds like you really liked it.

Me: What?! God no! I hated it!

Him: (Rolled eyes, disgusted look).

There are venues for going off on music I don’t like. Here, for example. Here I can say that I think Bon Jovi’s lyrics are greeting-card bland, its music is bloated and bombastic, and the songs a shallow mockery of everything good rock ‘n’ roll should be.

But you know, the show was OK. If you’re a Bon Jovi fan.