Bon Jovi Disclose Having a Psychiatrist in New Documentary

Posted on Oct 28th 2009 2:30PM by Jen Guyre Comments

Metallica were definitely not the first to bring in a psychiatrist to keep the band together, and though some fans frown upon their depiction of it in 'Some Kind of Monster,' that hasn't stopped Bon Jovi from discussing their turn to psychiatry in their new documentary, 'Bon Jovi: When We Were Beautiful.'

Though the documentary follows the band on their 2008 Lost Highway World Tour, the 25-year-running rockers divulge in the film that they hired premier 'rock shrink' Lou Cox in 1991, right after the band finished up a long, trying tour and fired their manager Doc McGee.

Jon Bon Jovi discusses the decision, saying, "Aerosmith's manager ... told us about this guy named Lou Cox; he had no ulterior motive, no commissions [were] involved. He came in and got us to just speak [to each other] better than anyone else could have." He goes on to credit Cox with keeping the band intact, exclaiming, "He was our saving grace and that was our big secret for years and years ..."

While it wasn't easy to get everyone on board with the plan, keyboardist David Bryan and drummer Tico Torres affirm that Cox kept the band together. Bryan recalls his reluctance, explaining, "I looked at it and said, 'F--ing shrink, that's for sick people ...' but he was just trying to get everyone to communicate and that's what he did, and it really helped us to be honest enough to go on," Torres insists. "He helped us a lot as a group, to be able to deal with each other ... It was almost over."

'Bon Jovi: When We Were Beautiful' premiered on Showtime on Oct. 24 and will be running to promote the band's upcoming new album 'The Circle,' which is set for a Nov. 10 release.

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