Jon Bon Jovi Recalls Hanging Out With Michael Jackson’s Chimp: ‘Bubbles Partied Like a Rock Star’

Jon Bon Jovi didn’t get to party with Michael Jackson in the ’80s, but he did get to hang out with the next best thing: the King of Pop’s beloved pet chimp, Bubbles. 

While chatting on Jimmy Kimmel Live! Wednesday night (April 10), the 62-year-old musician recalled one of the crazier days of his rock-star past, which involved meeting Jackson at a hotel in the middle of Bon Jovi’s Slippery When Wet Tour. The “Livin’ on a Prayer” musicians invited the late pop icon to party with them that night, but things didn’t go quite as planned. 

“He didn’t come,” Bon Jovi told Kimmel, laughing. “But he sends Bubbles the Chimp as his representative. That was big. Bubbles comes down and wreaks havoc. Bubbles partied like a rock star.” 

To the frontman’s memory, Bubbles spent much of the evening “jumping on the bed, putting on a show.” “I don’t remember who brought him down, or if he just came down on his own with a cigar,” he added. “Bubbles showed up, man — he hung hard. Hotel management threatened to throw us out.” 

The new interview comes a few weeks ahead of the April 26 release of the documentary Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story on Hulu. The band’s 16th studio album, Forever, will arrive just over a month later on June 7. 

Bon Jovi also spoke about his friendship with Bruce Springsteen, album cover woes and buying back his first guitar 40 years after selling it on Jimmy Kimmel Live! Watch the full interview above.