The man who took responsibility for starting the rumor about Jon Bon Jovi’s death last week has something in common with the still-living celebrity: he’s a singer in a rock band.
Jeffrey Goho, vocalist of the Pennsylvania band Minutia, said in an interview with the Asbury Park Press that he started the rumor because he was irritated by Bon Jovi’s involvement in non-musical activities, such as appearing in an Advil commercial.
On Dec. 19, Goho posted on a friend’s Twitter account that Jon Bon Jovi was in Jersey Shore Medical Center. Following the tweet, hundreds of reporters gathered at the hospital awaiting confirmation. The singer then posted a photo of himself holding a sign that said “Heaven looks a lot like New Jersey” to his Facebook account. That night, Bon Jovi performed at a benefit concert in Red Bank, N.J.
Goho said he didn’t anticipate the widespread retweeting of the rumor. He also said that within a day of the false tweet, he received hate mail. Goho denied he started the rumor as a publicity stunt to garner interest for his band, but he also said Minutia has gotten new fans out of it.
But Goho did express regret, and said he understands Bon Jovi’s household name status has made the tri-state area prosper and given musicians more venues to play.
