Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora Honored at UK Awards Ceremony

Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora were honored at the U.K.’s prestigious Ivor Novello Awards Tuesday (Sept. 21) in London as they were presented with the Special International Award for songwriting.

Sambora was on hand to accept the award, which shone a spotlight on the duo’s musical achievements writing the Bon Jovi hit songs “Livin’ on a Prayer,” “You Give Love a Bad Name” and “Wanted Dead or Alive.”

 “Everybody needs a great song so they can go out and play live to the people and entertain and do that; you need a great song, something that touches somebody in the heart,” Sambora told Sky News. “You know, ‘Livin’ on a Prayer,’ part of that song is something that happened to me — my Uncle Sal got laid off at the docks, my dad was laid off — so there’s a time period of authenticity of a story.”

“And I think that’s what we’re here to celebrate, all the girls and guys and men and women that try real hard with a lot of courage,” Sambora added. “Because songwriting is harder than it looks.”