Bon Jovi: Bon Jovi fans rewarded for keeping the faith

Ok, so Richie's telling people look at the set lists & make a request, I guess that only applies when they're outside the US!!! I swear sometimes I don't know why I'm a fan it's so frustrating. Many of us stuck around and loved These Days, but since then it's like since These Days wasn't a big seller here in the US as it was everywhere else, the US fans get treated to Vanilla set lists and garbage. ARGH.

Bon Jovi fans rewarded for keeping the faith

By SIMON SWEETMAN and TOM CARDY - The Dominion Post

Fans of Bon Jovi no longer have to live on a prayer that the band will ever play Wellington.

The United States rockers, who have sold more than 120 million albums with hits including Livin' on a Prayer, will perform at the capital's Westpac Stadium on December 4.

The band, formed by frontman Jon Bon Jovi, has been playing a series of concerts at London's 02 Arena. Its New Zealand tour also includes a date in Auckland.

Lead guitarist Richie Sambora, a member of the band since its 1984 debut album, told The Dominion Post from London that Wellington should expect a first-rate show as Bon Jovi "gives good stadium".

"We are there to play the songs people want to hear, so that's what we do. Of course, we'll do material from our new album, because we like it and fans do too. But we play all the hits too."

Bon Jovi last played New Zealand in 2008 with a one-off show at Christchurch's AMI Stadium. A 10-metre-high, 120m-wide wall of 40 shipping containers was built to contain the noise created by the rockers.

"We are one of the great live bands to see these days," Sambora said. "There's us and U2 doing the big stadium shows, from our era. And we give the fans a great show."

Fans could also have a say on what the band would play.

"Go on to our official website and check the set lists. They're all there and, by all means, leave us an instruction for what you want to hear.

"We care about our fans, we read the website. We cannot accommodate every single person's choice but we will do our best to play the songs you want to hear."

He said they had around 200 songs to draw from nightly.

*Bon Jovi will play Westpac Stadium in Wellington on December 4 and Auckland’s Mt Smart Stadium on December 5.

Tickets go on sale on July 8.