Entertainment Music Jon Bon Jovi Reacts to Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction: 'Good Things Come to Those Who Wait' "It was never pleasant on this day," the rocker admits to PEOPLE. "Good things come to those who wait." By Janine Rubenstein Janine Rubenstein Instagram Twitter Janine Rubenstein is Editor-at-Large at PEOPLE and host of PEOPLE Every Day podcast, a daily dose of breaking news, pop culture and heartwarming human interest stories. Formerly Senior Editor of music content, she's also covered crime, human interest and television news throughout her many years with the brand. Prior to PEOPLE she's written for Essence, The Cape Times newspaper and Los Angeles Magazine among others. On-screen Rubenstein can be found featured on shows like Good Morning America and Entertainment Tonight and she routinely hosts PEOPLE and Entertainment Weekly's star-studded Red Carpet Live specials. Follow the San Francisco native, Black Barbie collector and proud mom of two on Instagram and Twitter @janinerube People Editorial Guidelines and Nicole Sands Published on December 13, 2017 10:15 PM Share Tweet Pin Email Jon Bon Jovi has been livin’ on a prayer for “eight or nine years” before the announcement Wednesday that his band, Bon Jovi, will finally be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this spring. While waiting to check off this bucket list item has been “frustrating” for the ’80s icon, “there are certain things you can’t control,” he tells PEOPLE exclusively. “All through those nine years of suffering, it was never pleasant on this day,” the rocker, 55, admits. “Good things come to those who wait.” With four albums that hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200, selling a reported 130 million records and selling out just about every stadium in the world over and over again, the group only appeared on one single Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ballot before finally getting the nod for 2018 — nearly a decade after first becoming eligible. “That’s behind us and we move on,” Bon Jovi says about creating a clean slate. “I hold no animosities — it was more frustration and disappointment because there’s still so many great bands that aren’t in.” GP Images/Getty From Dire Straits and The Cars to progressive rock icons the Moody Blues and the late jazz/soul songstress Nina Simone, the rocker says “everybody who was nominated deserves to be in there,” including former Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora, who abruptly left the group in 2013 in the midst of their Because We Can tour. “I haven’t seen Richie in five years, almost,” he says. “I’ve always said publicly that there was no falling out. The guy just didn’t show up for a show and never came back, so maybe a little bit of explaining to do to the rest of us, but there’s no ill will — there never was.” Paul Natkin/Getty RELATED: Jon Bon Jovi Dances with Daughter Stephanie During Performance of Song He Wrote for Her Sambora, as well as former bassist Alec John Such, will be welcome to hit the stage with Jon Bon Jovi and his band during the 33rd Annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, presented by Klipsch Audio, on Saturday, April 14, 2018 at Public Auditorium in Cleveland, Ohio. HBO will broadcast the ceremony in spring 2018. “The current band will be performing, and Richie and Alec will not only be invited to perform, but also invited to all of the weekend’s festivities, including the acceptance because, as founding members, they’re entitled, but they were also guys who were there with me when I had this vision,” says the “It’s My Life” singer. “They deserve it.”