Free Republic

Doc McGhee has responded to Jon Bon Jovi’s recent claim that the 1989 Moscow Music Peace Festival was organized as part of a plea deal to keep the manager out of jail. McGhee – who represented Bon Jovi, Motley Crue, Skid Row and Scorpions throughout the ‘80s – was busted in 1982 for his involvement with drug smugglers bringing tons of marijuana into America. The manager was facing up to 30 years in prison but was able to avoid jail time. In a recent interview with Conan O’Brien, Bon Jovi insisted the concert was part of the deal. “To keep...

In February 1989, the Replacements appeared on the cover of Musician Magazine with a headline crowning them “The Last, Best Band of the ‘80s.” The unofficial title didn’t sit well with one of the era’s biggest stars: Jon Bon Jovi. The Replacements had developed a strong following throughout the ‘80s thanks to their pioneering alt-rock style. With earnest lyrics and the raw vocals of frontman Paul Westerberg, the group carved themselves a distinctive niche among underground rock fans. They weren’t scoring platinum albums or chart-topping hits, but they were highly respected by the “cool kids.” At the other end of...

On Wednesday, the governor is expected to sign a package of bills approved by the Democrat-controlled Legislature — a few of which received wide support from Republicans. The following bills are sitting on Murphy’s desk: * A1217, which will create restraining orders in the state allowing family members and others to ask a judge to have a person’s guns seized and ban them from buying weapons for up to a year. * A1181, which will mandate law enforcement in the state to seize a person’s guns if a mental health professional determines they pose a threat to themselves. * A2758, which will strictly define that state residents need...

New Jersey already had among the toughest gun laws in the United States when Gov. Phil Murphy took office, but the new Democratic governor didn’t waste any time to crack down even further amid a contentious national debate over gun control. Murphy is expected on Wednesday to sign a package of bills further tightening the regulation of firearms in the Garden State. The actions are once again putting New Jersey on the front lines when it comes to gun control, a debate that has taken on a even higher profile following school shootings in Florida and Texas.

PHILADELPHIA -- The effort to save Benjamin Franklin's damaged gravestone received a hefty boost from a New Jersey rocker.

Another chapter in the never-ending love/hate relationship between New York and fracking. The former has banned the latter, as we’re sure you know. First, let’s go back to 2010. East Resources, which is a privately held independent oil and gas company operating in the Marcellus, among other areas, sells a vast amount of acreage in the Marcellus and other areas to Royal Dutch Shell for $4.7 billion. Then go back to earlier this year. Ralph Wilson, the only man who ever owned the Buffalo Bills, dies in March. So his heirs put the Bills–who haven’t made the NFL playoffs since...

Looks like all those years of performing for Democratic candidates has paid off: President Obama is tapping rocker Jon Bon Jovi to serve on a new presidential advisory council. The White House announced Tuesday that Bon Jovi (or is it just Jovi?) will join the new 25-member White House Council for Community Solutions, a panel established to provide advice on "the best ways to mobilize citizens, nonprofits, businesses and government to work more effectively together to solve specific community needs."(continued)

... The most talked about Democratic fund-raiser before the convention was at Radio City Music Hall, featuring Whoopi Goldberg, the comedian and former Slim-Fast pitch person. ... Linda Ronstadt stopped an innocent gig in Vegas to make a demented pitch for "Fahrenheit 9/11." Hollywood's become a town of Demophiliacs. ... Hyper-politicized Hollywood is the new bed Bill Clinton made for the Democrats, and now the party is going to have to lie in it.... Mr. Kerry has raised $47.5 million in California. Al Gore raised only $5 million. Isn't it becoming harder by the day to take the Democrats seriously...