“I had no idea that that song would go out into the world and be his first single.”
Tim Pierce recalled playing the solo on Bon Jovi’s “Runaway”, admitting that he had no idea that it would be released as the band’s first single, and that it would become such a hit.
The veteran session player has worked with many rock & pop superstars throughout his illustrious career. Moreover, he helped one make their first steps in the business while being barely more than a fledgeling professional himself. That star was Jon Bon Jovi, and the song in question was “Runaway”, Bon Jovi’s debut single.
“Runaway” was originally recorded in 1981, before Jon Bon Jovi got his band together, and featured Pierce on guitar, Hugh McDonald on bass guitar, Frankie LaRocka on drums, and Roy Bittan on keyboards. Looking back on meeting the future rock superstar for the first time, Pierce told MusicRadar in a recent interview:
“Jon Bon Jovi was 19 at that time, I was 23, and Jon had the laser-focus about becoming a rock star at age 19. And I understand how he was able to do what he did, because he was completely laser-focused on being a rock star.”
“He actually knew in a business sense what he was capable of and what the business had to offer. I mean, he was a good-looking young man, talented songwriter, and he just didn’t have any distractions. It was like if you met a young talented sports kid, it was kind of like that – really good at what he did, and wanted to get out on the field and win the championship.”
He added:
“He was already connected through his family. He was just a kid who very, very instinctively knew what he wanted to do and he knew how to negotiate the business because he was working at the studio and hanging out with Bruce Springsteen and all kinds of people at the Power Station [recording studio].”
“I had no idea it would be his first single”
Tim Pierce wasn’t expecting to do the session which resulted “in Runaway”, and had no idea that the version he contributed to would end up on the band’s debut album:
“One of those songs was ‘Runaway’, and I am sure the band, when he got his record deal, tried to redo it. It just didn’t turn out. So we got full credit on the record and they put out the version that we did.”
As the veteran gun-for-hire remembers, the session was “totally improvised”, but also a wholehearted team effort from everyone working at the legendary studio:
“It was totally improvised. I had no idea that that song would go out into the world and be his first single.”
Pierce added:
“And we used the team at the Power Station, and you’re right, it was pure collaboration, everybody together. We tracked the song, then we went upstairs into a smaller room and we overdubbed the guitars and the solo, and I made up the solo. You create with the advice and the collaboration of the others, and they weigh in on what you are going to do.”
As for the gear he used and the mindset with which he approached the project, Pierce said:
“I used a Les Paul and some Marshalls, and a Schecter Stratocaster [copy]. Very simple gear. Some of it was just borrowed. Some of it was rented. In my mind, I was just trying to play the best solo I possibly could. It is a combination of thinking and not thinking, y’know.”
“You grew up playing guitar, trying to emulate your heroes, and then all of a sudden you are actually in the game doing the thing and [laughs] you’re not sure if you can do it! But you just do your best and when people respond you go, ‘Phew! I guess I can do this.'”
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