“Music and sports documentaries aren’t that different – both athletes and rock stars are performers”: Gotham Chopra on Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story

If you’re of drinking age and haven’t more than once found yourselves singing Livin’ on Prayer at the top of your lungs on a dance floor somewhere, then I can only assume you’re from outer space. It’s just one of many mega hits from one of the most iconic bands in music history, alongside You Give Love a Bad Name, It’s My Life, Always, etc, that are ubiquitous on top music tracks of all-time playlists.

In a brand new docu-series, the band – and the man – behind the music are taken down memory lane to chart the beginnings and heyday of one of the world’s biggest rock groups, complete with all the outrageous costumes and more outrageously voluminous hair-dos, humble beginnings in New Jersey, false starts with the industry and the highs and lows of relentless touring (I’ll leave you to decide if the line “We were better looking that most of the women we got with” counts as a high or low…). The blast from the past is cut through with following Jon Bon Jovi in the present, battling issues with his voice and an uncertain future for his ability to perform live.

While some music documentaries can easily slip into vanity project territory, or pure indulgence in a tribute to a band’s success, Thank You, Goodnight presents its story with surprising honesty and frankness, with Jon, in particular, showing raw vulnerability about his thoughts and feelings about potentially accepting the height of his talent for singing is behind him. It’s a full-hearted look at a much-loved band’s history, while also presenting a universal story of the power of optimism and tenacity in following your dreams, and the reality of ageing for all of us.

The Upcoming had the chance to chat with the series’ director Gotham Chopra (Kobe Bryant’s Muse) about making the shift from sports documentaries to music, and how he was drawn by the band’s history and the parallels between athletes and rock stars in terms of performance and overcoming physical and mental obstacles. Working closely with Bon Jovi, Chopra aimed for authenticity, capturing the band’s 40-year journey, including vulnerable moments and the importance of teamwork and resilience.

 

Sarah Bradbury

Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story is released on Disney+ on 26^th April 2024.

Watch the trailer for Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story here: