Bon Jovi - Lay Your Hands On Me

What this video is

Released in May 1989, 'Lay Your Hands On Me' was the fourth consecutive top-10 single from Bon Jovi's New Jersey album, arriving at the commercial zenith of arena hard rock's MTV dominance. The live-performance video format—shot during The Jersey Syndicate Tour—reinforced the band's identity as a working-class stadium act rooted in physical connection with massive crowds. The dark arena backdrop, pyrotechnics, and…

Why it matters

Archetypal late-1980s arena rock live-performance video, exemplifying the genre's reliance on concert spectacle over narrative fiction. Directed by Wayne Isham, who defined the visual language of arena rock MTV videos during this period, the clip functions as a document of peak-era Bon Jovi…

The director

Wayne Isham (born December 2, 1958, Vinita, Oklahoma) is an American music video and film director. A UC Santa Barbara alumnus, he cited David Bowie's 'Ashes to Ashes' as career inspiration. He helmed over 150 videos for artists including Bon Jovi,…