Rock icon Jon Bon Jovi has revealed how his music career could be ‘done’ if he is unable to recover from a vocal injury.

The American singer, 62, has been recovering from vocal cord surgery following an injury that he sustained two years ago.

 

‘I really gave myself no choice – it was do it or don’t do it. It’s either get the surgery or retire, because I couldn’t go on with the emotional and physical struggles of trying to do what I know how to do so well,’ he said.

However, his future as a singer remains in doubt, with the star admitting that he could be finished if his voice remains diminished.

‘This is the first time I’m saying this – if the singing is not great, if I can’t be the guy I once was… then I’m done,’ he told the The Sunday Times. ‘And I’m good with that,’ he added.

Jon Bon Jovi on his career and health battle

The star recently made a comeback at the MusiCares gala in Los Angeles, California, where he performed this February.

The rock icon’s battle with vocal injury is documented in the upcoming Disney Plus series Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story, which picks up with the band in February 2022.

The series finds the star and his band contemplating their future after four decades spent working in the industry.

‘There is a big difference between being in a studio and going out on the road,’ the legendary frontman said.

‘We have just recorded a new album. I sing in vocal therapy every day. But I want to perform for two and a half hours a night, four nights a week – and I know how good I can be, so if I can’t be that guy… put it this way, I don’t ever need to be the fat Elvis.’

Bon Jovi is worried about his future (Credits: Rob Latour/Shutterstock)
Formed in 1983, the band are best known for rock anthems Livin’ On A Prayer, It’s My Life, You Give Love A Bad Name and Thank You For Loving Me.

Among their many nominations, the band won a Grammy Award in 2007 and a Brit Award for best international group in 1996. They were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2018.

Led by Jon Bon Jovi, the titular band consists of lead guitarist Phil X (replacing original star and Masked Singer baked potato Richie Sambora), bassist Hugh McDonald (replacing the late Alec John Such), drummer Tico Torres and David Bryan.

The band are known for hits such as Livin’ On A Prayer and It’s My Life (Picture: Getty)
Earlier this year, the band announced that their newest album will be released on June 7. This, their 16th studio album – which is named Forever – marks 40 years in the industry for the band.

The album features 12 new songs from the band, including the hit single Legendary.

‘This record is a return to joy. From the writing, through to the recording process, this is turn up the volume, feel good Bon Jovi,’ the musician previously said.

The rocker has welcomed Stranger Things Star Millie Bobby Brown to the family (Picture: Shutterstock)
Despite his health woes, the singer has shared his ambition to perform at Glastonbury in the near future.

He told Metro.co.uk: ‘I never went to it. But I heard about that legend slot. I’m aware of the festival obviously. But I never went…

‘I feel like it would be pretty legendary. Let’s think about it, for next year.’

Outside of the band, Jon Bon Jovi shares four children with wife Dorothea Bongiovi – Stephanie, 31, and sons Jesse, 29, Jake, 22, and Romeo, 20.

On his son Jake’s marriage to Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown, 20, the singer said: ‘They’re great, they’re absolutely fantastic. It was a very small family wedding and the bride looked gorgeous, and Jake is happy as can be. Yeah, it’s true.’