Bon Jovi: Almost three decades in, the band is still more loved than respected

The headlines in late December neatly summed up the career of Bon Jovi. The band was passed over as a first-ballot Rock and Roll Hall of Fame act. Two weeks later, it was declared that Bon Jovi's Circle Tour, which hits town Friday and Saturday, was the highest-grossing tour of 2010 with sales topping $200 million.

In microcosm, the fans love 'em. The rock 'n' roll elite, not so scared. Count guitarist Richie Sambora among those not astonished by the slight."You know what?" he says during a recent teleconference. "individually, I think it's a boys' club over there. I don't know what they're doing. And, you know, they're looking for ratings or, what are they doing? I have no idea ... It has nothing to do with our legality because our legality comes with the people and the fans. And, you know, you sell 125 million records and have the two largest tours in the last three years, I'll take that. If I would protest, nobody would listen."