# Alec John Such
**Alec John Such** (full name Alexander John Such) was an American musician, born in 1951 in [Yonkers, New York](https://www.edgepedia.org/yonkers-new-york), best known as a founding member and the original bassist of the rock band [Bon Jovi](https://www.edgepedia.org/bon-jovi), a role he held from 1983 to 1994.[1](https://catalog.rockhall.com/rrhof-ais/Details/archive/110001054) • [2](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2022-06-05/former-bon-jovi-bassist-founding-member-alec-john-such-dies) He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with the band in 2018 and died on June 5, 2022, at the age of 70.[2](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2022-06-05/former-bon-jovi-bassist-founding-member-alec-john-such-dies)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born / died | Born 1951 in Yonkers, New York; died June 5, 2022, aged 70[1](https://catalog.rockhall.com/rrhof-ais/Details/archive/110001054) • [2](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2022-06-05/former-bon-jovi-bassist-founding-member-alec-john-such-dies) |
| Role in Bon Jovi | Founding member and bassist, 1983 to 1994; also sang backing vocals[2](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2022-06-05/former-bon-jovi-bassist-founding-member-alec-john-such-dies) • [3](https://obits.dallasnews.com/news/alec-john-such-1951-2022-founding-bassist-for-bon-jovi) |
| Albums played on | The band's first five studio albums: *Bon Jovi* (1984), *7800° Fahrenheit* (1985), *Slippery When Wet* (1986), *New Jersey* (1988), and *Keep the Faith* (1992)[4](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/alec-john-such-death-reason-70-bon-jovi-b2094562.html) |
| Role in forming the band | Childhood friend of drummer Tico Torres; brought Torres and guitarist Richie Sambora, with whom he had played in the band Message, to Jon Bon Jovi[2](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2022-06-05/former-bon-jovi-bassist-founding-member-alec-john-such-dies) |
| Departure | Left in November 1994 and was replaced by Hugh McDonald[2](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2022-06-05/former-bon-jovi-bassist-founding-member-alec-john-such-dies) • [5](https://www.bonjovi.pl/zespol/alec-john-such/) |
| Reunions | Guest appearance at Giants Stadium in 2001; rejoined for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction on April 14, 2018, playing "Livin' on a Prayer"[5](https://www.bonjovi.pl/zespol/alec-john-such/) |
| Death | Heart attack in Aynor, South Carolina, according to the Bon Jovi Portal fan site; the band's announcement gave no cause[5](https://www.bonjovi.pl/zespol/alec-john-such/) • [2](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2022-06-05/former-bon-jovi-bassist-founding-member-alec-john-such-dies) |
## Before Bon Jovi
Such was a veteran figure in the New Jersey music scene that produced Bon Jovi.[2](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2022-06-05/former-bon-jovi-bassist-founding-member-alec-john-such-dies) He had played in the bands The Cellar Dwellers, Phantom's Opera, and The Message; Phantom's Opera included the future Bon Jovi drummer [Tico Torres](https://www.edgepedia.org/tico-torres), and The Message included the future guitarist [Richie Sambora](https://www.edgepedia.org/richie-sambora).[5](https://www.bonjovi.pl/zespol/alec-john-such/) • [6](https://igormiranda.com.br/2022/06/alec-john-such-bon-jovi-razao-saida/)
His connection to [Jon Bon Jovi](https://www.edgepedia.org/jon-bon-jovi) began as a club manager. As manager of the Hunka Bunka Ballroom in Sayreville, New Jersey, Such booked Jon Bon Jovi & the Wild Ones before joining the singer-songwriter's band.[2](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2022-06-05/former-bon-jovi-bassist-founding-member-alec-john-such-dies)
## Bon Jovi, 1983 to 1994
In 1983 Jon Bon Jovi recruited Such as his bassist, and Such brought in Torres and Sambora; the lineup also included keyboardist [David Bryan](https://www.edgepedia.org/david-bryan), who had first played with Bon Jovi in the band Atlantic City Expressway.[7](https://njhalloffame.org/hall-of-famers/2009-inductees/jon-bon-jovi/) The band signed with [Mercury Records](https://www.edgepedia.org/mercury-records) and released its first two albums in 1984 and 1985.[7](https://njhalloffame.org/hall-of-famers/2009-inductees/jon-bon-jovi/)
**The breakthrough.** The third album, *[Slippery When Wet](https://www.edgepedia.org/slippery-when-wet)* (1986), spent eight weeks at No. 1 on the [Billboard](https://www.edgepedia.org/billboard-magazine) albums chart, and the No. 1 singles "You Give Love a Bad Name" and "Livin' On a Prayer" helped drive sales past 10 million copies.[7](https://njhalloffame.org/hall-of-famers/2009-inductees/jon-bon-jovi/) Such played on the band's first five studio albums, through *New Jersey* (1988) and *Keep the Faith* (1992), singing backing vocals as well as playing bass.[4](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/alec-john-such-death-reason-70-bon-jovi-b2094562.html) • [3](https://obits.dallasnews.com/news/alec-john-such-1951-2022-founding-bassist-for-bon-jovi)
Such was considerably older than his bandmates, a difference the record company tried to hide. In a 2000 interview for the Asbury Park Press he said, "The record company used to lie about my age. I was 31 when I joined. I was a good 10 years older than the rest of the band."[3](https://obits.dallasnews.com/news/alec-john-such-1951-2022-founding-bassist-for-bon-jovi)
## Departure in 1994
Such left the band in November 1994 and was replaced by bassist [Hugh McDonald](https://www.edgepedia.org/hugh-mcdonald-american-musician), who had previously worked with Bon Jovi on "Runaway" (1983).[2](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2022-06-05/former-bon-jovi-bassist-founding-member-alec-john-such-dies) • [5](https://www.bonjovi.pl/zespol/alec-john-such/) • [8](https://unitesi.unive.it/retrieve/3a0b4501-9ce0-40cc-9922-a1c2181c0413/962348-1172947.pdf) The reasons given have varied. In the 2000 interview Such blamed burnout: "It felt like work, and I didn't want to work. The reason I got into a band to begin with is because I didn't want to work."[9](https://www.thedailybeast.com/alec-john-such-founding-bassist-for-rock-band-bon-jovi-dead-at-70) The Bon Jovi Portal fan site states the departure was driven by the band, which was troubled by Such's playing errors during concerts.[5](https://www.bonjovi.pl/zespol/alec-john-such/)
After leaving, Such managed local New Jersey bands and ran his own motorcycle shop.[5](https://www.bonjovi.pl/zespol/alec-john-such/)
## Reunions and later years
Such made two one-off appearances with the band after his departure. In 2001 he took the stage for several songs at Bon Jovi's Giants Stadium show during the One Wild Night tour.[5](https://www.bonjovi.pl/zespol/alec-john-such/) He then rejoined the band for its induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, performing "Livin' on a Prayer" at the ceremony on April 14, 2018.[5](https://www.bonjovi.pl/zespol/alec-john-such/) • [2](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2022-06-05/former-bon-jovi-bassist-founding-member-alec-john-such-dies) At the induction he said, "When Jon Bon Jovi called me up and asked me to be in his band many years ago, I soon realized how serious he was and he had a vision that he wanted to bring us to. And I am only too happy to have been a part of that vision."[2](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2022-06-05/former-bon-jovi-bassist-founding-member-alec-john-such-dies)
He otherwise stayed out of public view after 2001, appearing in fan photographs on social media in April 2018 shortly before the Hall of Fame gala.[5](https://www.bonjovi.pl/zespol/alec-john-such/)
## Death
Jon Bon Jovi announced Such's death on social media on June 5, 2022, without giving a cause; the band's statement read in part, "He was an original. As a founding member of Bon Jovi, Alec was integral to the formation of the band."
[2](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2022-06-05/former-bon-jovi-bassist-founding-member-alec-john-such-dies) The Bon Jovi Portal fan site reports that he died of a heart attack in Aynor, South Carolina, and that his body was cremated with his ashes scattered according to his wishes.[5](https://www.bonjovi.pl/zespol/alec-john-such/) Jon Bon Jovi added, "Alec was always wild and full of life. Today these special memories bring a smile to my face and a tear to my eye. We will miss him dearly."[9](https://www.thedailybeast.com/alec-john-such-founding-bassist-for-rock-band-bon-jovi-dead-at-70)
## References
1. [Alec John Such Photographs, Library and Archives, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame](https://catalog.rockhall.com/rrhof-ais/Details/archive/110001054)
2. [Former Bon Jovi bassist, founding member Alec John Such dies, Associated Press via Los Angeles Times](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2022-06-05/former-bon-jovi-bassist-founding-member-alec-john-such-dies)
3. [Alec John Such (1951–2022), founding bassist for Bon Jovi, Legacy.com](https://obits.dallasnews.com/news/alec-john-such-1951-2022-founding-bassist-for-bon-jovi)
4. [Alec John Such death: Founding member of Bon Jovi dies aged 70, The Independent](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/alec-john-such-death-reason-70-bon-jovi-b2094562.html)
5. [Alec John Such – Always, Bon Jovi Portal](https://www.bonjovi.pl/zespol/alec-john-such/)
6. [Por que Alec John Such saiu do Bon Jovi em 1994, Igor Miranda](https://igormiranda.com.br/2022/06/alec-john-such-bon-jovi-razao-saida/)
7. [Jon Bon Jovi, New Jersey Hall of Fame](https://njhalloffame.org/hall-of-famers/2009-inductees/jon-bon-jovi/)
8. [Bon Jovi thesis, Università Ca' Foscari Venezia](https://unitesi.unive.it/retrieve/3a0b4501-9ce0-40cc-9922-a1c2181c0413/962348-1172947.pdf)
9. [Alec John Such, Bon Jovi's Founding Bassist, Dead at 70, The Daily Beast](https://www.thedailybeast.com/alec-john-such-founding-bassist-for-rock-band-bon-jovi-dead-at-70)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Music › Musicians and ensembles › Individual musical biographies › Rock, metal, and popular-band musicians › Hard rock and glam metal › Hard rock bassists*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license