Jon Bon Jovi: Richie Sambora, Alec John Such say yes to a Rock Hall reunion UPDATE

Emails have been exchanged and the answer is yes.

Ex-members Richie Sambora and Alec John Such will be joining the rest of Jersey's Bon Jovi on stage at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Saturday, April 14 at the Public Hall in Cleveland.

“We’ve exchanged emails and (Sambora’s) looking forward to coming, as is Alec Such,” said Jon Bon Jovi during the  “iHeartRadio Icons with Bon Jovi” broadcast, Wednesday, Feb. 21 at the iHeartRadio Theater in New York City. “I talked to Al as well, so they been invited to not only come and celebrate but to perform with us.”

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Sambora exited the band in 2013 and original bassist Such departed in 1994.

“We took that journey together in certain times and I think it’s wonderful that we can reenact that, not only for us but for the fans,” said drummer Tico Torres of the Rock Hall reunion in a conference call with reporters on Friday, Feb. 23. Torres said he spoke with Such. “When you get together with old friends, there’s always going to be some deep emotions.”

The band's Jon Bon Jovi, Torres,  David Bryan, and Hugh McDonald will also be recognized the Rock Hall. The Cars, Dire Straits, the Moody Blues, Nina Simone and Sister Rosetta Tharpe are also going in.

“I never wanted to be in anybody’s club, but it’s a pretty cool club to be in,” said Bon Jovi in an on-stage interview with radio personality Jim Kerr on Wednesday. “Any place that Elvis, the Beatles and the Stones and all the ones who created this art form called rock ‘n’ roll. People who were our fans for the last three decades, they didn’t waste their time, energy and faith in us not to see it come to fruition, because this is as much for those who followed us as it is for us.”

Bon Jovi will also receive an iHeartRadio Icon Award during the March 11 iHeartRadio Music Awards at the Forum in Los Angeles, it was announced on Wednesday during the ICONS broadcast. The awards will be broadcast live on TBS, TNT and truTV. Fellow Jerseyan Charlie Puth along with Cardi B, Ed Sheeran, Maroon 5, Backstreet Boys and Camila Cabello have been announced as performers.

Bon Jovi played the band’s classics and new material, including the live debut of the new “When We Were Us,” over an hour for about 200 fans at the iHeartRadio Theater on Wednesday. “When We Were Us,” a soaring rocker in the classic Bon Jovi style, and “Walls” will be added to a re-release of the band’s 2016 album, “This House is Not for Sale,” on Friday, Feb. 23. A video for "When We Were Us" was released Friday, via Tidal.  

“It’s a rebirth,” said Bon Jovi about the current status of the band from the stage. “This band has been born again a few times. Whether it was the early ‘90s with ‘Keep the Faith,’ in light of what was happening in the Seattle scene, we re-found our inspiration and it came out with ‘Keep the Faith.’ In 2000 when we came back with ‘Crush,’ we found a whole new generation of fans with ‘It’s My Life.’ Then in 2005, by the time we got to ‘Who Says You Can’t Go Home,’ we expanded further into the country field.”

“So this is another of the big rebirths because of the changes that’s happened in the band and there was a lot to say after a tumultuous period, but we came through it stronger than ever.”

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On stage on Wednesday, the band was sharp and tour ready. Jon Bon Jovi hit few impressive sustained notes, including during the outro of “When We Were Us.”

“It’s always good to be playing,” Bon Jovi said.   

The North American “This House is Not for Sale 2018 Tour” begins  March 14 in Denver, concludes May 14 at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. and includes two shows, April 7 and 8, at the Prudential Center in Newark. Other area shows include May 3 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia and May 9 and 10 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Visit bonjovi.com for more information.

Reps for Richie Sambora did not reply to an email regarding this story by press time. The induction ceremony will be broadcast on HBO on a date to be announced. 

Chris Jordan: cjordan@app.com. Twitter: @chrisfhjordan

iHeartRadio Icons with Bon Jovi setlist:

This House Is Not for Sale 
When We Were Us
You Give Love a Bad Name 
It's My Life
Lay Your Hands on Me
Bad Medicine
Who Says You Can't Go Home 
I'll Sleep When I'm Dead 
God Bless This Mess