Aldo Nova

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A fit, handsome twentysomething in a leopard-print bodysuit exits a helicopter and is followed by
armed guards toward some kind of warehouse. Entry is gained via a magical Gibson Les Paul,
which, naturally, the young hero uses to fire laser beams at the door. Inside, he meets his band
onstage and performs “Fantasy,” among the earliest staples on MTV, and one of the best and
most perfect singles in rock history—a flawless balance of pop-metal craftsmanship, studio
ingenuity and hard-earned musicianship, flaunting killer guitar leads and trailblazing synth parts.
“I don’t know what possessed me to wear a stripper’s leopard-print outfit,” Aldo Nova says
today, chuckling. A remarkable record from start to finish, Also Nova can be understood in rock
history as both an icon of its era and a profound but still unsung influence on things to come.
On October 19, the guitarist, vocalist, keyboardist, songwriter and producer will release his first
new album release in over three decades. Titled 2.0 (Megaforce), it’s a collection of
supercharged reinventions of six classic songs off his self-titled smash debut, plus one new
original, “I’m a Survivor,” initially written for Foreigner singer Lou Gramm.
2.0 stands as a testament to the extraordinary integrity and continuing imagination of an
uncompromising artist who would only make his comeback on his terms. “I thought, ‘I’m gonna
become visible again when I have something to say, and when I have something that’s good
enough that I can present it to my fans,’” Nova says. “Because that’s always been my priority.”
The idea for 2.0 was set in motion in late 2016. “When I turned 60, I told myself I was going to
turn the page,” Nova says. “I realized I had to shut the book and write a completely new book.”
He wanted to celebrate his debut’s 35th anniversary in some fashion, but rather than simply
remaster and reissue the album, he thought to “bring the songs into the 22nd century.” He was
sober, calm, confident, full of faith and in the best shape of his life. As it turned out, the angst,
ego and hunger of his younger days were overrated.
A Montreal native, Nova was approached by a 15-year-old Celine Dion to producer her first
album, and released Blood on the Bricks on Jon Bon Jovi’s Jambco label in 1991. It stood as
the culmination of a long-running friendship and, as any knowledgeable rock fan might argue, a
thank-you note of sorts: the rock superstar lifting up the personal hero whose sound provided
the blueprint for his own hits.
Nova provided guitar, keys and background vocals for the demo of Bon Jovi’s first hit,
“Runaway,” and ended up playing with an assemblage of session musicians throughout Bon
Jovi’s 1984 self-titled debut. Nova’s imprint is also all over Jon Bon Jovi’s debut solo album,
Blaze of Glory—especially the chart-topping title track, on which Nova’s writing and producing
went uncredited but were absolutely essential.

Blood on the Bricks was released alongside “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” and the landscape
changed completely. “Nirvana was amazing,” he says. “Just the way Kurt Cobain could rip his
own soul out when he sang.”
Over the next three decades, Nova’s journey would take him through great professional highs
and painful personal lows, and eventually into self-discovery and spiritual contentment. He
decided again to focus on his roles as a writer, producer and session musician, capitalizing on
the goodwill he’d generated in the industry to put food on the table for his family.
During the ’90s and 2000s, in addition to tracks for popular foreign-language artists, Nova
collaborated with Jon Bon Jovi, Faith Hill and Clay Aiken (he co-wrote his hit “This Is the Night”),
and did hugely successful work with Celine Dion. In 1997, Nova won a Grammy for Dion’s
blockbuster album Falling Into You—“It’s a paperweight,” he laughs; “what I do today is what
counts”—and co-produced/co-wrote later Dion singles like the global smash “A New Day Has
Come” and “You and I,” the latter chosen as Hillary Clinton’s campaign song in 2008.
Canadian music-industry bigwig Paola Simonetto became the love of Nova’s life, as well as his
advocate and catalyst. Simonetto continues to inspire and support Nova, though not from this
earthly plane. “During the time that I was working on 2.0, my wife was diagnosed with
pancreatic cancer,” he explains. “I managed to finish the album right before she passed away
on Christmas Day. I still was able to take care of every doctor’s appointment, every chemo
treatment. I was cooking and cleaning and at night I worked on my album.
“She always had very good ears. She gave me a lot of pointers on what to do with the music
and what not to do,” he continues. “She was a big part of why 2.0 sounds as good as it does.”
“With 2.0, my goal has already been achieved, as far as I’m concerned,” Nova says. “I wanted
to beat the 1.0 to death. The second thing is to reintroduce my music to the old fans, and play to
a new generation of fans who just developed an interest. I don’t think that young generation has
heard music like this ever before. I’m on top of my game now. I’m ready for it.”