Bon Jovi: GIG REVIEW: Bon Jovi at the O2

Finally!!! Music info. While Richie's Fashion road trip is fun, we love Bon Jovi for the music, RIGHT???  RIGHT!!!

GIG REVIEW: Bon Jovi at the O2

It’s been way too long since I enjoyed an evening in the company of Jon & Co, so it was with great anticipation I took my seat at the O2 on night nine of their 12-night residency.

As the first chord struck I knew I wouldn’t be disappointed - it was just like we’d never been apart.

Ridiculed by the critics as inauthentic poodle rockers, Bon Jovi have proved after nearly 30 years together they can withstand the test of time, by delicately tweaking their image and adapting their style to draw in new generations along their journey.

Bon Jovi have never failed to impress on the entertainment front. As seasoned stadium performers they know how to work the crowd for maximum impact and within seconds of bounding onto the stage singer Jon is yelling to the masses to “get up out of your seats” before launching into one of their uproarious anthems.

Formed in 1983, Bon Jovi consists of lead singer and namesake Jon Bon Jovi, guitarist Richie Sambora, keyboardist David Bryan, drummer Tico Torres as well as current bassist Hugh McDonald.

The band's line-up has remained mostly static during their 26-year history, the only exception being the departure of Alec John Such in 1994, who was unofficially replaced by Hugh McDonald.

Their enduring appeal is reflected by the crowd, packed to the rafters with children, teens, parents and pensioners alike all belting out the chorus with gusto while throwing that obligatory hand into the air at the appropriate moments like their life depends on it.

Why? Because somehow, Bon Jovi have this ability to completely entrance their audience.

A critic recently likened their performance to a religious revival – with 250,000 fans expected during their residency at the O2, that’s not a bad-sized parish for one city.

The band failed to disappoint fans with a string of their big numbers – including favourites Raise Your Hands, Born to Be My Baby, Keep the Faith and an excellent rendition of Bad Medicine peppered with some of their newer tracks, with Work for the Working Man among the more memorable.

The impressive set was sophisticated yet simplistic, giving an intimate feel when necessary and transforming into a stadium platform with the help of clever split and rotating stages.

At times though all the audience could enjoy was a mere flash of white teeth at the mic as close ups were often reserved for the screens serving fans sat in the highest seats.

Playing out to their greatest hit Living On A Prayer, I was left wishing I’d booked in for the full 12-night experience.

Bon Jovi are at the O2 until Saturday, June 26.

By Rachel Bibby

Bon Jovi: More Richie Fashion stuff w/pictures

I know you want to hear about the music.... But this piece is from BRITISH VOGUE!!! YES VOGUE!!! OMG it's like the Bible of Fashion (if Jesus were into more than basic cotton & Birkenstocks) I snagged a few photos from somewhere at the bottom, including Jon's Daughter Stephanie modeling. 

White Trash Beautiful

JULIA NEEL 23 June 2010

"WE wanted to make something for strong, empowered women who are in touch with their soft, sensitive sides and who are comfortable with their femininity - who can also kick ass," said Nikki Lund when we met her and Bon Jovi's Richie Sambora at the Sanderson for a look at their new collection, White Trash Beautiful.

The clothes are exactly what you would expect the lead guitarist of one of the world's most famous rock 'n' roll bands to want women to wear: seductively revealing, often spray-on and always dramatic. Fabrics are leather, suede, silk, stretchy snake print and lots of elastane, while detailing focuses on zips - there's even a zip-crotch leotard.

Lund - who once interned for Anna Sui and Jill Stuart in New York - learned her cutting sewing skills from her mother who was, she says, "a seamstress out of necessity; she didn't have a lot of money but she wanted to have nice things."

Lund and Sambora were introduced by a mutual friend after the musician decided that a song that he had been writing for the band sounded too misogynistic - but it did sound like a good name for a fashion brand. "Three days later," he tells us, "Nikki turned up with some incredible fabrics that I'd never seen before and we just started jamming."

But this is no ordinary celebrity collaboration, insists Sambora. "We didn't want it to be JLo's perfume or Beyoncé's Cologne - this is a clothing line. It's serious and, ultimately, we will do a men's line - I already some of the WTB pieces on stage and we've made a jacket for Jon [Bon Jovi]."

Who else would they like to dress? "Jennifer Anniston, definitely, she'd look amazing in the clothes," enthuses Lund. "And Salma Hayek, she's really sexy." Sambora has other ideas: he names Megan Fox and Angelina Jolie as his ideal clientele. "Megan has a really fantastic, feisty attitude that would work really well with the collection."

Meanwhile, Lund's advice for dressing stylishly is deceptively simple: "Wear what you can get away with. But you've got to rock it. Be confident." Sambora's is more straight forward: "I like women in tight jeans, tight Capri pants or short skirts with great stockings." Sounds like the ultimate WTB girl.

Most men don't like capris.  Good for Richie.  He also hasn't gotten the I'm a fashionista smile down (meaning you don't smile cause you have nothing to be happy for since you cannot eat to stay so thin IMO [see Nikki]) he still had that shit eating I'm the luckiest guy on Earth grin.  BTW in the pictures Jon is smiling so I guess wine is the way to get him to genuinely smile not fake upturned lips.  And there's the Union Jack jacket that Jon is wearing, it looks nice.  Where are all the strategically placed zippers??????  I do like the dress Stephanie is wearing, although her hair is unfortunate (IMO).

Bon Jovi: More Richie Sambora: Bon Jovi - Richie Sambora's Stylish Mother

OK, so here's another story from contact music ( via MarnieNichole)  I actually had to do spell check!! 

MarnieNichole posted some really old school pictures where the band may be wearing Richie's Mom's clothes (Joan Sambora Rock N Roll Fashion Icon!)

Bon Jovi - Richie Sambora's Stylish Mother

Richie Sambora's mother was the inspiration behind Bon Jovi's early fashion choices as the group used to borrow items from her wardrobe to customize their outfits.

Bon Jovi used to wear Richie Sambora's mother's clothes.

The guitarist - who has launched his own clothing line, White Trash Beautiful, with designer and musician Nikki Lund - and his band mates used to borrow items of clothing from his mum's wardrobe when they didn't have much money to give their outfits a unique twist.

Speaking ahead of the UK launch of the range at the Indig02 at London's O2 Arena tonight (23.06.10), Nikki told BANG Showbiz: "When the group didn't have the money to buy designer clothes they were still fashion trendsetters with their Spandex and stuff.

"Richie told me how they would take items from his mum's closet, like a scarf or something, and then tie it around their legs and it was really cool."

Although Richie sometimes cringes at what the 'Livin' On A Prayer' hit makers wore in the 80s, he admits it worked for them at the time.

He said: "I look back at some of those pictures and go, 'What was I thinking?!' but it did work for us."

As well as his mother, Richie also revealed how ex-girlfriend Cher has had an influence on his style choices.

He said: "When I was younger I lived with Cher for a while and she turned me on to fashion - she was wild with her choices. But the funny thing now is she has been picking stuff out from White Trash Beautiful so it's come full circle!"

But Richie Cher's clothes had less zippers.

Oh Jesus now If I could turn Back time is stuck in my head.  FUCK!

Bon Jovi: Richie Sambora Mmmm Fashion

A little David Bowie Reference there in the title.

British Vogue reviewed Richie Sambora's UK debut of his fashion line (w/Nikki Lund) (Ok, I hate it when people spell their name Nikki, its like stop ripping off Nikki Sixx of Motley Crue, no one did it til he came along and now for 30 years everyone wants to be Nikki, not Nicky or Nickie, but the more I guess devilish Nikki *rant*)

Bon Jovi’s Richie Sambora Has a Fashion Line…And British Vogue Checked it Out

By LAUREN SHERMAN

We love British culture for tons of reasons, but one that is that the Brits are unabashed about their love of celebrities. Even high fashion books and blogs like Vogue UK get in on the act–not a hint of snobbery to be detected.

This time around, Vogue UK’s fashion editor Julia Neel reviewed White Trash Beautiful, a new apparel collection designed by…wait for it…Bon Jovi’s Richie Sambora.

We somehow missed that the collection was shown this past March at L.A. Fashion Week, but Neel was kind enough to fill us in: “The clothes are exactly what you would expect the lead guitarist of one of the world’s most famous rock ‘n’ roll bands to want women to wear: seductively revealing, often spray-on and always dramatic.”

Sambora and co-designer Nikki Lund say that their ideal customer is Jennifer Aniston. We think it’s a bit too…how can we put this delicately…tacky…for the likes of Aniston, but another Sambora favorite, Megan Fox, is sure to bite.

The duo are so confident about the label that they’re planning on expanding into menswear. Jon Bon Jovi himself has already worn custom jackets from the collection on stage.

Click through to see looks from the collection. And thanks again to Neel for covering something beyond the latest It designer.

My personal favorite from the WTB line:

I can just see Richie asking, "Can you add a zipper to the crotch, you know easier access..."

I'll be wearing that to my next Outback Steakhouse outing.  (after losing 100 pounds and a few ribs)

Bon Jovi: GARAGELAND

What a great song off the Box Set!  Glad to hear it played live, hopefully if you're going to a show this summer you'll hear it too.  Otherwise pull out 100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Can't Be Wrong Disc 2 Track # 1 (and if you're really feeling sassy pull out disc 3 track #1 one of my all time favorite Bon Jovi Track which they will probably never play live *sniff*)

Bon Jovi: Jesus Had Rocks thrown at Him so... We're gonna keep playing Who Says You can't Go Home

I added the last part of the title but you know he's thinking it.

Ok, a few days ago they said they wouldn't be touring as long as the Rolling Stones now it's well at least we know when we can end.

I guess I need to start saving up.  Oh yeah there's a video too!  The starting commentators comments are kind of condescending.  Click here for the video

Bon Jovi: Still livin' on a prayer

After 27 years together Bon Jovi is still one of the biggest music acts around.

ONE News Europe correspondent Paul Hobbs caught up with the band in London hours before playing their eighth concert this month and got a taste of the rock 'n' roll attitude.

Bon Jovi has been pumping out the hits since the mid-1980s and the crowds are still feverishly in love.

Richie Sambora says the band's concerts are like "having sex with 70,000 people or something every night".

Their dress and their hair have changed and predictably there are a few more lines on their faces, but despite the fame and fortune that goes with more than 120 million record sales, the boys from New Jersey are adamant they are still the working men of blue collar rock.

"It's who you are and that's where we come from. That's where we'll always be," says keyboardist David Bryan.

Sambora says playing a concert is like a "contact sport".

"If you ask me if I'm going to sit in my room by myself and play Livin' On A Prayer and Wanted Dead Or Alive for the fifth-upteen-thousandth time, I'm going to say 'no'. But in actuality when you're out there and you have contact with your audience, it becomes a beautiful experience."

The band's latest album, The Circle, entered the US charts at number one, their single Work For The Working Man hitting the right notes in a country battered by the economic meltdown.

"It captured that essence that people can relate to in New Zealand, the same way that Work for the Working Man relates to the guys that we wrote it about in Ohio," says Jon Bon Jovi

The band doesn't always get the rosiest reviews, but Jon says it doesn't faze them.

"We get incredible reviews and we get bad ones. Jesus had rocks thrown at him, you know, so it doesn't matter who you are or where you come from or what you think you are, anybody is going to be critical of anybody."

Jon Bon Jovi also says forget any talk of slowing down.

"The only barometer is the Rolling Stones, and when they call it quits, at least we know that's where the finish line is."

I guess we'll be seeing Duck Lips for a long time then, I'm hearing rumors that The Rolling Stones and Keith Richards corpse (I would have rather had them find out how Keith was alive over Ozzy myself) will be going back on tour to play to sold out stadiums, with each successive tour people think this could be the last cause you know they're all so old and decrepit they might fall apart and die on stage (God Forbid).

Bon Jovi: Richie Sambora visits Marshall

Richie few in (literally) to Marshall Amps yesterday (6/21/10), and he brought a few people with him, Bobby Bandiera and the World's Greatest Amateur Porn Filmographer Obie O'brien.

Richie Sambora visits Marshall

Yesterday (Monday 21st) was an exciting day for Marshall, as we were honoured to have a very special guest visit us. Legendary Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora took a day out of his busy schedule while on tour in the UK and flew into Bletchley via private helicopter to pay us a visit!

Accompanied by second guitarist currently on tour with Bon Jovi, Bobby Bandiera, they enjoyed a tour of the factory and got the opportunity to try out a number of different amps right here in our on-site theatre. Richie purchased two 100 Watt 1959HW heads and two 1960 handwired cabinets. We also showed him a couple of prototypes of future units that he loved so much he wanted to buy there and then! Unfortunately being prototypes we were unable to sell them, but have allowed him to borrow them for the rest of the tour. You can check out Richie's brand new backline live at any one of their forthcoming shows. Check out our gig guide for full listings.

Check out pictures from yesterday in our latest album on our Myspace or Facebook profile. For more information about Bon Jovi go to their website www.bonjovi.com 

Richie Flying in

Being Filmed by Obie

Taking pictures with some fans, Obie filming

Is a Bentley big enough to carry a "Moose"  LOL

With Bobby Bandiera

With Dr Jim Marshall OBE (Order of the British Empire) and Obie filming.

Bon Jovi: Bon Jovi To Play 70 Unique Songs At London O2 Arena Gigs

Ok, if you've checked out my handy dandy PBP abbreviations list you'll know that as of TODAY June 22, 2010 Bon Jovi is up to 70 Unique songs this TOUR (which includes the dates at the O2).  Only a few haven't been played at the O2, so far.  With the Bon Jovi catalog you'd think they'd shoot for 100 (and remove Who Says... but that's a personal opinion I still don't know why Jon loves that song so much Grammy's mean squat after they gave the Heavy metal Grammy to Jethro Tull over Metallica).

But anyway, believe Jon's lies, they never end *sigh*.

Bon Jovi To Play 70 Unique Songs At London O2 Arena Gigs

Frontman Jon Bon Jovi reveals...

June 22, 2010 by Jason Gregory

Bon Jovi have revealed that they aim to play seventy unique songs during their residency at London's O2 Arena.

The US band are currently in the middle of their 13-night run at the venue, and have already played 54 different songs.

Singer Jon Bon Jovi said that he had been inspired by bakers to continually change the band's set list.

"Would you buy yesterday's bread from a baker? These set lists are all made fresh,” he said. “Delivered every night at 7:30...the delivery men wait outside my door, patiently for its arrival.”

Bon Jovi's run at the O2 Arena continues tonight (June 22), followed by performances on June 23, 25 and 26.

Here's the Bread Jon's been getting:

Bon Jovi's US Set List Vanilla Bread

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups warm water
1 pkg dry yeast
1 tbsp sugar
1 tsp salt
3 tbsp vanilla extract
1/3 cup instant nonfat dry milk
3 3/4 to 4 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

Directions:
Stir water and yeast together in large mixing bowl and let stand for a minute to dissolve. Add sugar, salt, vanilla, dry milk and 2 cups of the flour. Beat briskly for 2 minutes. Add enough more flour to make a soft, manageable dough. Turn out onto lightly floured surface and knead a minute or two. Let rest 10 minutes.

Resume kneading, adding just enough flour to keep dough from becoming sticky, until it is smooth and elastic. Place in large greased bowl, cover, and let rise until double in bulk.

Punch down and shape into a loaf. Place in a greased 9x5x3 loaf pan, cover, and let rise to the top of the pan. Bake in preheated 350-degree oven for about 50 minutes. Remove from pan and let cool on a rack.

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.

Bon Jovi: Play By Play Abbreviations

If you're like me you look at some of the songs they don't play every night and go HUH??? So here's a List through Today. If there is a better abbreviation let me know and I'll update this list. I'll update it as they add new songs to the set lists.

Feel free to check out the other things I've posted.

Comments even the not so nice ones are appreciated.

*********************7/17/11 Lie To Me & Spanish Harlem by Ben E King were played in Udine******************

******************* 7/16/2011 Mannheim got I Get a Rush & Duffy's Mercy (they played this is Zurich as well on 7/14 *****************

********* 6/30/2011 U2's Vertigo was performed in Dublin night 2*********

***************6/29/11 Gloria Originally recorded by THEM (Van Morrison's band, very Irish) was played on day 1 of Dublin. (BTW Bon Jovi has performed this in the past check out the 1995 Red Bank Christmas show recording during Bad Medicine just like today).********************

*************6/19/2011 Fans in Denmark heard a cover of Tenth Avenue Freeze Out in honor of the passing of Clarence Clemons, originally recorded by Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band******************

**************6/12/2011  HERE I AM ROCK YOU LIKE A HURRICANE (by the Scorpions) was played in Munich today.  Kick ass!!****************


***********6/10/2011 Bells of Freedom, Bounce, and Undivided were played today.  They have been added.******************


*****ITEOTWAWKI It's the end of the world as we know it by REM since we all survived the "Rapture" on 5/21/11 has been added********


****5/7/11  So You Want to Be a Rock N Roll Star a song Jon has played at his Jon Bon Jovi & Friends shows was played at the Mohegan Sun tonight so it has been added as RNRS****

**UPDATED 2/21/2011 Rocking in the Free World (Neil Young) added **

**UPDATED 2/19/2011 Dancing in the Street was played in Montreal added **

**UPDATED 2/12/2011 In anticipation of This is Love This is Life & The More Things Change being played (as they were performed in Soundcheck today) they have been added. I am in the process of Color Coding the songs by album, please be patient. Thanks for checking this out**

Non Jovi: Happy Father's Day

I just wanted to wish all of the Dad's out there a happy Father's day.

I lost my Dad two years ago this August to Cancer (lymphoma to be exact). There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about him. My Dad & I were really close all my life; I was your stereotypical Daddy's girl.

We found out on August 1st 2008 my Dad had a brain tumor. I was at work when I found out. I was going on vacation the next day. I couldn't stop crying. To me cancer is still a death sentence and no matter what treatments they provide you are not the same person going into it as you are coming out and going into remission.

I found it horribly unfair that God was going to take my Dad away. I was closer to him than I was to my Mom & I could go to him with any problems and he would help me out. My Dad was my biggest cheerleader and celebrated all my victories no matter how small they were. 

When you lose something like that so suddenly, I can't even begin to describe how it feels. Maybe it's like having the rug pulled out from underneath you and falling into a bottomless black pit, and that's an understatement really.

I went to see my Dad for the last time on August 10, 2008, I was there with him for a few hours. I joked with him about the NY Jets they were his favorite football team and had just signed Brett "Never Gonna Retire" Favre on Friday. I asked him aren't you excited the Jets may actually win a few games this year. And he said to me, "Well, he may be Brett Favre, but he's no Joe Namath." My Dad died the next morning at 9:37 AM.

Joe Namath was my Dad's favorite player ever. However, the Jets were his team. I know he was up in heaven rooting for them all last year and into the playoffs. I'm just sad that he didn't get to see them play in the AFC Championship. My Dad is buried in one of his numerous Jets hats.

I remember a few weeks before he died we were watching the Yankees and Bobby Murcer had just passed from complications from Cancer, and the two of us were sitting there with tears running down our faces.

The last game the Yankees played in the Original Yankee Stadium they brought out Bobby Murcer's family. I could not stop crying. 

So if you're a Dad hug your kids today, because you're time with them is so valuable, and the lessons and the memories you share with them will last them a lifetime. If you have a Dad hug him because your time with him is valuable, and you never know what tomorrow holds.

I wish today I could hug mine.

 My Dad in his Jets hat at Raymond James Stadium 12/16/2007

Bon Jovi: Jon's Signs (Sunday Humor)

Awhile ago Sports Illustrated did an interview with Jon and they had him write a sign on a piece of paper.

BIG MISTAKE

Thanks to the magic of photo shop Jon can unintentionally provide signs about anything and everything.

Bon Jovi: Bon Jovi axes his manager

Interesting.

Bon Jovi axes his manager

PARTING is such sweet sorrow for Jon Bon Jovi and his longtime manager, Jack Rovner, who was fired this week after a number of snafus.

While no one will say anything unkind on the record, Rovner was seen around town crying in his beer because Jon told him, "I'm going in a different direction."

Rovner and his Vector Management were blamed for problems with the $1,000 VIP concert tickets sold in larger markets on the band's tour for their latest album, "The Circle." The VIP tickets were supposed to include a meet-and-greet with Bon Jovi and even a photo with the rock icon. But fans have been complaining they were never granted the promised access.

Rovner was also responsible for Jon doing an "artist in residence" stint at NBC, which blocked the band from promoting the album on other networks, and for the Showtime documentary "When We Were Beautiful," in which "Jon makes the rest of the band admit they are paid employees and owe everything to him," as one insider put it.

"Rovner recently sent his lawyer, Michael Guido, to ask Jon for a raise and was told he was lucky to have a job," said our source.

Bon Jovi e-mailed us: "Though I personally live for and love Page Six, I'm sorry to say that the tidbit you have received regarding the split between Vector Management and Bon Jovi is inaccurate. The boring truth is we decided to go in different directions and thanked both Jack and his team for a great job. He is and will remain a close friend and someone who I will be very grateful to for his dedication."

A spokeswoman for Vector Management said: "Jack and everyone at Vector are very proud of the work they did [with Bon Jovi] together over the last five years, including their first Grammy awards, first No. 1 chart debuts globally, and even a No. 1 on the country charts. Vector continues to represent the nation's top-selling acts, including Kings of Leon, Kid Rock, Dierks Bentley and many others."

That whole artist in residence thing was stupid and you haven't seen any other artists do it either. What a waste of time when they could have been prompting the album on many different networks til we got sick of seeing them (could you ever get sick of seeing them? Me either.)

As I told someone at the Tampa show, there better be sex acts (with the band member of your choosing) for $1200. I don't remember ever seeing meet & greets included but I know many times in the past they happened. Hey maybe if there were meet & greets it wouldn't be the "Fat club" but the fan club cause some of us would get our asses in gear and lose some weight (Me Included)

And if their manager was managing Kings Of Leon they should have gotten them to open for Bon Jovi, oh wait they might upstage Bon Jovi, no Jon that could never happen as long as you shake your ass so delightfully.