'Bon Jovi's lawyers came after me – now I'm chasing the charts with my own music'

Andy Hearn, 53, from Rotherham, is best known as One Jovi, one of the UK's leading Bon Jovi tribute acts.

But after decades performing someone else's music, he has now stepped out with original material released under the name Mr One Jovi.

Some of the songs have been waiting to be heard for more than two decades.

"I've been sitting on a couple of songs for about 20 years," Andy said.

"They've just been on a lyric sheet in a safe in the house."

Music has been part of Andy's life since he was 16, when he formed his first band with his best friend.

The pair played together on and off for around 30 years before tragedy struck when his friend died during the Covid pandemic.

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

It was his wife, Sonnette, who encouraged him to carry on.

Without telling him, she entered him for ITV's Starstruck, where his Bon Jovi tribute impressed producers so much he skipped several audition stages and went straight through to the final six contestants.

Producers tipped him as one of the favourites to win, but after rehearsing for the televised rounds, Andy says he was dropped after ITV executives decided he looked "too old" compared with another contestant.

Despite the setback, it reignited his passion for music. With encouragement from his band, Andy dusted off the lyrics he had written years earlier and finally began turning them into songs.

The experience renewed his confidence and encouraged him to revisit songs that had been sitting untouched for years.

Andy describes his music as "classic rock with a pinch of blues and country", although he admits he couldn't resist writing "a fun summer song" for his first release.

His first single, ‘Holiday Girl’, is a light-hearted summer anthem inspired by a holiday with Sonnette after their two children had grown up and left home.

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

"We were sat on the beach and the song just came into my head. It was about us becoming a couple again."

His second release, ‘Some Respect’, has a much more personal meaning.

Although written after a bad day at work as an engineer in Sheffield, Andy says the song reflects his frustrations with life as a tribute artist.

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

"I just wanted a bit of respect. That's what the song is about."

Andy writes his lyrics before composing the melody – the opposite of many songwriters – and says ideas often arrive unexpectedly.

"The words just pop into my head first and then the tune follows."

His musical journey has not been without controversy.

After trademarking the name One Jovi to stop another tribute act using it, Andy received legal correspondence from solicitors acting on behalf of Bon Jovi.

"They sent me a cease and desist," he said.

"I remember thinking, 'Why is a billion-dollar band bothered about a tribute singer doing pubs and clubs in northern England?'"

The dispute ended with a compromise that allows him to continue performing as One Jovi, while releasing original music commercially under the name Mr One Jovi.

Despite the legal wrangle, Andy said he was later told representatives from the band liked what he was doing.

Throughout it all, Sonnette has remained by his side. The couple have been married for 26 years, she travels across the country with him to gigs every weekend and even joins him on stage for parts of the show.

"You need that support behind you, she's always been there," he said.

Away from the stage, Andy describes himself as naturally quiet and admits he has struggled with anxiety.

"Normally I wouldn't get on a stage and sing," he said.

"But as Mr One Jovi, I just turn on the rock star switch and I'm absolutely on it. People who know me can't believe how different I am."

Now, after waiting 20 years to share his own music with the world, Andy has one simple ambition.

"I'd just love one song to get into the Top 40," he said.

"I'd die happy if that happened."

His music is available now on Spotify, YouTube, Amazon Music and other major streaming platforms.