'Bon Jovi lawyers sent me cease and desist letter - over my tribute act name'

Rock fan Andy Hearn, 53, from Rotherham, has mimicked frontman Jon Bon Jovi as the lead singer of the tribute band for six years.

But he says he was hit with a cease-and-desist letter claiming 'One Jovi' was too similar to the name of the 1980s rock legends behind Livin' on a Prayer.

Worried about the legal costs of fighting a potential legal action, he has since changed it to 'Mr One Jovi.'

The engineering fitter said: "It was a shock. I told them I was disappointed that a multi-billion pound company would be bothered about someone doing pubs and clubs in northern England for a few pennies.

"I said, if you think I'm a threat, then thank you - it's a compliment."

Andy says he trademarked the name 'One Jovi' after other tribute performers began using it.

But he said a legal firm contacted him under a heading naming Bon Jovi's solicitors and ordered him to "cease and desist".

The lawyers allegedly argued that his act's name was not different enough from that of the American stadium rockers.

Andy said they claimed an altered band name had to be at least 20 per cent different from the original.

The lifelong rocker, who studied law for three years in Sheffield when he was younger, challenged their argument.

But he agreed to change how he released his own music because he did not want to upset his musical hero Jon Bon Jovi, who is worth $450m.

Andy said: "I've been a long-term fan of Bon Jovi, so I didn't want to upset them."

He said the exchange took place around three years ago and was resolved after several emails.

Andy was allowed to keep rocking Bon Jovi classics with his band - and at solo shows - under the 'One Jovi' name.

But he now releases his own songs under the tweaked moniker 'Mr One Jovi'.

Andy insists it has not soured his love for the band, whose music he first discovered as a teenager.

He said: "It didn't affect the way I feel about them. I remember listening to them when I was 14 and just absolutely loving it."

Andy is now stepping out of Jon Bon Jovi's shadow and chasing chart success with original music of his own.

He said: "I've been sitting on a couple of songs for about 20 years. They've just been on a lyric sheet in a safe in the house."

He first formed a band with his best friend at 16 and the pair played together on and off for around 30 years.

But Andy quit music after his friend died during the Covid pandemic but later took it up to create his tribute act.

He said: "I packed it in after that - I thought, I can't be doing it any more."

His wife Sonnette, whom he has been married to for 26 years, secretly entered him for ITV talent show Starstruck.

Andy says his Bon Jovi impersonation impressed producers so much that he skipped several audition stages and reached the final six.

But after rehearsing for the televised rounds, he claims he was dropped when ITV executives decided he looked "too old" compared with another contestant.

The blow nevertheless reignited his passion for performing and encouraged him to return to his forgotten lyrics.

His first single, Holiday Girl, was inspired by his first holiday alone with Sonnette after their two children had left home.

He said: "It was the first time we'd been on holiday on our own in 26 years."

His second track, Some Respect, was written following a bad day at work and also reflects his frustration at competing with scores of other Bon Jovi tribute acts.

He said: "There are loads of Bon Jovi tribute acts and everybody is battling for the gigs."

Andy, who describes his sound as "classic rock with a pinch of blues and country", now dreams of breaking into the charts.

He said: "I'd just love one song to get into the Top 40. I'd die happy if that happened."

Bon Jovi have been contacted for comment.