VH-1 Backyard BBQ:
featuring Jon Bon Jovi and Robin Leach in Myrtle Beach
by Tim Bullard

Forestbrook Road was temporarily transformed into the imaginary utopian paradise of Shangri-la on Labor Day when it became the site of a VH-1 Backyard Barbecue with Jon Bon Jovi and Robin Leach won by House of Blues Employees, Delcie Stitt.

On this particular Labor Day afternoon I set out to find this Shangri-la of champagne wishes and Myrtle Beach dreams sans directions. It was a secret location which only the guests, talent and security knew. So after combing the streets of Ocean Drive, Cherry Grove and Crescent Beach, I drove by Fast Eddie's, a new lounge on Restaurant Row, and noticed a sign that advertised an "after" party. Putting on my thinking cap, I figured that the most exclusive set of accommodations near this location was Kingston Plantation just down the road toward the ocean. So I drove there, discovering buses lined up to transport Stitt's guests to Forestbrook Road. Following the bus, I discovered satellite dishes, a Record Plant recording truck and Horry County Police officers directing traffic in front of two homes. There were two large blue VH-1 figures in a backyard and a crowd of folks. Even though finding a secret VH-1 party and crashing it is harder than getting a Darlington race fan to change his mind on the flag issue, I had succeeded.

At the credentials booth a friendly VH-1 employee approved my credentials, and I was "In Like Flint" with a V.I.P. All-Access Pass. There, sprawled across tables of white linen, were fruits, ribs and treats along with lemonade and tea all prepared by the staff of Planet Hollywood. No alcoholic beverages were served. "They've been working on this thing all week," said neighbor Gail Wells. Four and a half million fans pay to see Bon Jovi sing, but this evening was free. There was Horry County Sheriff Teddy Henry, who turned down a dove shoot to see what the fuss was about. Mary Anne Moore of Time-Warner Cable and Cox Communications said she knew about the location on Friday.

When Bon Jovi took the stage, the crowd enjoyed the ghostly, western ballad "Wanted Dead Or Alive." "This one's for Richie (Sambora). If he's out there watchin' TV," said the singer. His hits include "Living on a Prayer" and "Bad Medicine. With 75 million records sold, this man's band has rocked the land.

Thirteen years ago his band formed in his home state of New Jersey with their single "Runaway", then they signed with Mercury/PolyGram Records. With Mercury/PolyGram Bon Jovi has had the six-million-selling #1 album "New Jersey," the 1992 double-platinum "Keep The Faith" that sold eight million worldwide, the 1994 greatest hits collection, "Cross Road," that sold more than 12 million international and last year's million-selling, Top Ten "These Days," that produced the band's Top-20 hit single, "This Ain't A Love Song." Other include "You Give Love A Bad Name," "Livin' On A Prayer," "Wanted Dead Or Alive," "Bad Medicine," "I'll Be There For Your," "Lay Your Hands On Me," "Living In Sin," "Bed of Roses" and "Always."

He wrote and performed the sound track for "Blaze of Glory", netting the Golden Globe Award in 1991 and an American Music Award, as well as a Grammy and Oscar nominations. His "Please Come Home for Christmas" track for the Special Olympics benefit album, "A Very Special Christmas II," featured a steamy kiss.

Bon Jovi was also selected for the Motion Picture Club's Premiere Performance Award honoring his debut in "Moonlight and Valentino," a Gramercy Pictures film directed by David Anspaugh and starring Whoopi Goldberg, Elizabeth Perkins, Kathleen Turner and Gwyneth Paltrow.

Bon Jovi's second film project features him in the lead role of the John Duigan film, "The Leading Man," a contemporary thriller co-starring Anna Galiena and Thandie Newton. Bon Jovi portrays Robin Grange, a charismatic young Hollywood actor making his London theater debut.

Bon Jovi also took part in this year's Rain forest Benefit Concert with Elton John, Jessye Norman, Bruce Springsteen, Sting, James Taylor and Geoffrey Oryema. Bon Jovi and his wife, Dorothea, have two children, Stephanie Rose and Jesse James Louis.

Continue on for more VH-1 Backyard BBQ