Bon Jovi: Jon and Richie send their condolences to Japan

I know this should be a serious topic.  Richie looks good, but OMG Jon.  Your should wear that shirt on stage.  I'm sure it would turn 6 shades of green darker due to sweat but holy moly.  (I am a sucker for Jon's chest).

Bon Jovi: Vancouver Night 1 reviews and photos

HIS NAME IS TICO!!! NOT RICO. Fact Checking is important.

Review: Bon Jovi's touring machine rocks Rogers Arena in Vancouver

UBC students experience first-hand New Jersey rockers' bright lights and big sound

BY FRANCOIS MARCHAND, VANCOUVER SUN MARCH 26, 2011

Jon Bon Jovi delights his audience from the stage of Rogers Arena for the first of two shows in Vancouver, B.C., on Friday, March 25, 2011.

Photograph by: Ian Lindsay, PNG

BON JOVI

With Ryan Star

When: Friday night (again Saturday night, 7:30 p.m.)

Where: Rogers Arena

- - -

A springtime Friday night in Vancouver: What could be better than hanging out with your favourite New Jersey boys, Bon Jovi, hammering out hit after hit at Rogers Arena?

Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, Rico Torres and David Bryan have been doing their thing for close to 30 years, and they’re not showing signs of slowing down any time soon.

Their touring machine is huge, raking in $146 million in 2010 and making Bon Jovi the highest-grossing touring band worldwide last year according to Billboard magazine.

So this had better be one hell of a show, right?

But before assessing the band’s performance, we should mention Bon Jovi’s mentorship initiative on this tour. In every city, a group of students is invited to witness the ins and outs of setting up a Bon Jovi concert from the ground up: From the unloading stages to sound check to the final tweaks, right before the band is to take the stage.

In Vancouver, a group of UBC students was lucky enough to have been hand-picked for the program, learning some valuable lessons about the complex process Friday afternoon.

Considering Bon Jovi’s extensive stage production, it must have been quite an experience: You don’t earn close to $150 million doing things halfway.

Opener Ryan Star, of Rock Star: Supernova fame, kicked things off with a few heartfelt rock numbers of his own.

The New York City-based rocker and his Kings of Leon-style tunes fared well, even if many were still waiting in line to snag a $45 Bon Jovi T-shirt or a drink (or two).

Star didn’t seem too lost on Bon Jovi’s big elliptical stage, which opened up the whole arena’s seating.

(Note to Saturday concertgoers: Star will not be performing Saturday night. Bon Jovi will be the sole performer for a slightly different show, “An Evening with Bon Jovi.” The band goes on at 7:30 p.m.)

As soon as the four boys from Jersey took the stage around 8:35, you could see just how slick the production was: A massive light display popped up behind the stage and the front display split into multiple sections as Sambora kicked into the opening riff of Blood on Blood. Jon Bon Jovi sauntered onto the stage with his acoustic guitar and a huge grin on his face.

“I’m still the same as I was back then,” Bon Jovi sang as the crowd answered the call.

It was a night where it was more than okay to feel young again and let loose like you did way back when.

“This ain’t television, baby! Get up out of your seats!” Bon Jovi told the audience right before the band kicked into You Give Love a Bad Name.

Bon Jovi may be an aging rock band, but digging up the best from classic ’80s albums New Jersey and Slippery When Wet, throwing in Runaway, Blaze of Glory, Bad Medicine and many more for good measure? Instant time warp.

Jon Bon Jovi’s best asset remains his playful attitude, with Sambora, Torres on drums and Bryan on keys (as well as a touring bassist and an extra guitar player) happy to follow his lead.

Speaking of leads, Sambora can still shred it with the best of them.

Sure, the band can come across as a bit corny at times (We Weren’t Born to Follow, Lost Highway or any of their “country-rock” hits), but Bon Jovi’s earnest, positive attitude (especially over the past 15 years) has been a big part of its successful recipe.

And anthemic, feel-good singalongs (20 or so in all) strung together without skipping a beat are always good for a crowd.

Add some good, crisp sound levelled perfectly, good lighting, that big shape-shifting screen, as well as a heartfelt shout-out to Vancouver (where the band worked on some of its biggest hits with the likes of Bob Rock), and you have a pretty spot-on arena rock show.

Bon Jovi:Two Universities get to do the backstage thing

I'll just put these articles together.

I want to go to Bon Jovi University. 

A backstage look at Bon Jovi

March 24, 2011 by Pashtana Usufzy 

Rare behind-the-scenes glimpse of rock ‘n’ roll legends

Walking onto the stage of the MGM at 4 p.m., surrounded by bright lights and loud noises, every seat in the room is empty. In five hours, the stadium will be filled with screaming Bon Jovi fans.

As I shadowed eight UNLV students behind-stage for the Bon Jovi concert on Saturday, I had several once-in-a-lifetime experiences and got a sneak peak at a hidden world.

Seeing all the goings on before a major concert is like going down a rabbit hole –– for a day, I was Alice and backstage was Wonderland.

The students, who were offered the chance to video the concert and tour the setup by AEG, were there for hours, preparing equipment and helping to decorate the VIP room.

I arrived just before the tour of the facility, sitting back as a member of the crew explained the technical equipment.

Not understanding most of it, I focused more on the students (mostly journalism majors), their experiences and their interest in the band.

Joking about needing to look busy in case we ran into the band, you can imagine my surprise when a few minutes later, glorious frontman Jon Bon Jovi and lead guitarist Richie Sambora walked by.

Jaws dropped and more than one “oh my gosh” was uttered when Sambora passed by a second time, heading for the stage.

The evening was a bit of a blur with students running back and forth. I followed closely, carting my notepad and camera.

Finally resting inside the arena, a worn-out group sat listening to the main attraction warming up.

We waited it out, listening to the band practice until the students headed backstage to finalize their equipment needed to record the show. A scare earlier in the day due to a missing wire made everyone even more on edge. Having fixed this little problem, everyone could now relax and have some fun.

Following was a pre-show VIP party, where the unmistakable buzz of excitement grew as the concert got closer.

It’s hard not to get caught up in the excitement at a concert. It’s even harder to do so when you’re a few feet from the stage.

The band played the opening chords of “Livin’ on a Prayer,” and our group of students had withered down to two. Bon Jovi, the Jersey boy, was rocking out in a leather number that had female fans in a frenzy.

By the time we went to grab food, we could hear the crowd singing along to “It’s My Life.” The band also ran through “Bad Medicine,” “Have a Nice Day” and “I’ll Be There for You” with even more hip-shaking action.

The wonder of every element made it a perfect ending to the night.

Journalism students got their footage and a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I got my story and a trip through a strange, strange world.

Students learn about concert production, get backstage passes for Bon Jovi

Thu, 03/24/2011 - 21:12

Photo by Luke Hansen. Jon Bon Jovi rocks a sold-out
EnergySolutions Arena on Tuesday.

By Kayla Franson and Caitlin Orton

Loaded with cameras, notebooks and backstage passes, a dozen BYU students toured the underbelly of the EnergySolutions Arena on Tuesday to experience concert production from beginning to end. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity; it’s not everyday someone gets close enough to see the scuffs on Jon Bon Jovi’s leather shoes.

The students, studying communications and media arts, first sat down with management VIP coordinator, or in his words, the “schmooze specialist,” for the Bon Jovi tour, Mike Savas.

“We were the highest grossing tour in the world last year,” he said. “We beat out U2, AC/DC, Justin Bieber and Lady Gaga.”

Savas emphasized musicians’ need for tours since album sales are dropping, forcing revenue to generate elsewhere.

“Everyone wants to tour because that’s where the money is,” Savas said. “You may not think Bon Jovi is No. 1, but they are at the top of their career right now.”

Two media arts students and one broadcasting student toted around their cameras and filmed the entire experience, down to the last chair being set on the arena’s concrete floor.

“I’m looking at it as if I’m making this into a documentary,” said Kelsie Moore, a media arts student focusing in documentaries. “It’s about getting coverage and talking to interesting people.”

Bon Jovi started this internship program to give students a chance to spend a day in the middle of the action and explore various departments of tour production. The sound booths were especially fascinating to Nick Perucca, studying sound recording technology.

“I’m involved with the [Young] Ambassadors’ audio crew,” he said. “This is obviously a huge setup compared to that, but I’m just kind of learning how it all fits together, what they do and how it relates to what I do. It’s just cool to soak everything in.”

Additionally, the crew took advantage of the young and fit students and put them to work decorating for the VIP party and setting up floor seating.

Nick Barnes, studying communications and public relations, said the experience was invaluable — the cherry on top of his classroom education.

“This screams what public relations is all about,” Barnes said. “It was really cool to see how we can relate to interests of all those who are attending the event tonight, to be able to get them to be happy about what they paid their money for.”

It seemed the collective opinion, however, that the paramount moment of the day was standing on stage in the spotlight the legendary Bon Jovi would occupy in a few hours. They rotated between sitting at the drum set, admiring the worn guitars and photographing each other.

“Being on the stage is absolutely the coolest thing,” Barnes said. “I’m standing right next to Bon Jovi’s drum set and Richie Sambora’s guitars.”

Dear Nick Barnes, that's TICO TORRES'S drum kit. HIS NAME IS TICO!!!

Bon Jovi: Happy Thursday

Here's a little something I found.  a 1998 show from Hamburg, Germany featuring the one & only Mr Richie Sambora.

Set list is:

Intro

Made In America

If God Was A Woman

Stranger in this Town

Fallen From Graceland

Bad Medicine

I'll Be There For You

Shooting Star

In it for Love

Undiscovered Soul

Get Back

Papa was a Rollin Stone

Hard Times Come Easy

Midnight Rider

Wanted Dead or Alive

With a Little Help from my Friends

Intermezzo

Livin' on a Prayer

Alright Now

Here's the folder:  http://www.mediafire.com/?6dhnnyjirar1u

Enjoy!

Bon Jovi: Pictures Part 2 Las Vegas

The following are pictures I took.  Please do not use on any other website without my permission.  All rights reserved by DeBee1015

Las Vegas

 Oops.

 The rest are located here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/debee1015/5552116572/in/set-72157626204965443/

Bon Jovi: Some pictures I took Part 1 San Antonio

The following are pictures I took.  Please do not use on any other website without my permission.  All rights reserved by DeBee1015

San Antonio

 

Jon is slowly morphing into Mick Jagger.  Please stop that Jon!

The rest are located here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/debee1015/sets/72157626300566488/with/5540261362/

Bon Jovi: Kings of the rock 'n' roll road

Nice story on the band from Vancouver, doesn't mention their time in Vancouver recording Slippery When Wet or New Jersey (shower strippers anyone?).  Also that picture is from Saturday Night in Vegas.

Kings of the rock 'n' roll road

Led by 'beautiful' frontman, New Jersey foursome continues to sell out arenas

BY TOM HARRISON, THE PROVINCE MARCH 24, 2011 2:06 AM

Bon Jovi has sold 130 million albums, made $70.4 million last year and debuted its latest album at No. 1 in the U.S.

Photograph by: Getty Images, The Province

IN CONCERT

BON JOVI

Where: Rogers Arena

When: Friday-Saturday, 7: 30 p.m.

Tickets: $23.75-$519.50 at Ticketmaster, Livenation.com

A woman was asked why Jon Bon Jovi is back on top. "He's beautiful," she gasped.

Of course, that should have been obvious.

Yet a male might have scoured a round looking for another reason: Bon Jovi's songs have stood the test of time, the group has been well managed, it's been true to itself. Anything.

But there is truth to what she said. It's not for nothing that Jon Bon Jovi has become a staple celebrity on Entertainment Tonight. As superficial and trivial as that TV show is, it follows Bon Jovi more than any other rock 'n' roll celeb.

This in turn can be traced all the way back to 1986 and the album Slippery When Wet, Bon Jovi's breakthrough album. The lead vocalist's explanation for its success might have been simplistic then, but seems to ring true still. He reasoned that women had discovered the band and that discovery automatically doubled its fan base.

"And where women go," he rationalized, "the men follow."

Evidently, the top touring band of 2010 has found a way to keep that fan base. It's been to the band's advantage that Jon Bon Jovi is a selfconfessed workaholic. Even during the band's two hiatuses, dictated by overwork and a need for rest, he has recorded solo albums, maintaining a continuity of nearly 30 years. Also, the band personnel has changed only once in that time, with the replacement of Alec John Sutch with Hugh McDonald in 1994, which has contributed a consistency that fans have come to trust.

Bon Jovi hasn't been fashionable except around the time of Slippery When Wet, when it was the fashion. Every record label wanted a Bon Jovi. For a few years, the band continued to lead. Then, it took a break in 1990 and slipped out of step. In a perverse way, this has meant freedom for Bon Jovi. Instead of chasing after fashion, the band has concentrated on more important things.

This has enabled it to outlast a contemporary such as Cinderella, the grunge movement led by Nirvana, hair bands like L.A. Guns, gossip, or diminishing CD sales, while freeing Bon Jovi to dabble in country-rock or acoustic versions of its hits, expand its range of touring worldwide, promote itself by exploiting new technology, and position itself anywhere it wants. Not trapped by image or time, Jon Bon Jovi has had an acting career and can appear on duet albums with Bruce Springsteen, The Kinks' Ray Davies and others.

The participation in Davies' See My Friends only adds to Jon's profile, while being in the company of Bruce Springsteen underlines his roots. Both Springsteen and Bon Jovi, as well as Springsteen associate Southside Johnny, come from and, pay tribute to, New Jersey. Both got their start in rhythm and blues bar bands but, while the two have diverged, there is still a strong element of R&B showmanship in how they produce a concert or what they do onstage.

The band -Richie Sambora, Tico Torres, David Bryan and McDonald -has built a legacy and been around long enough to witness reassessment.

Glee, a TV show that has become a cultural monitor, this season did a routine based on an early Bon Jovi hit, "Living On a Prayer." By casting the song in a different light, it fostered a renewed appreciation.

Bon Jovi formed in 1983 and was just another big hair and spandex band until 1986 when hits including "You Give Love a Bad Name," "Living On a Prayer" and "Wanted Dead Or Alive" catapulted it to fame and made Slippery When Wet the biggest seller of 1987.

It took a break in 1990 but formed a self-management company in 1991. That was a bold move at the time, but has proven astute by giving Bon Jovi maximum leeway. The band has been able to build itself back up, develop a new audience with the single "It's My Life," take another break with confidence, refresh itself with the acoustic album This Left Feels Right, subtly explore modern country with Lost Highway, and take advantage of new media and technology.

Possibly the only other act that has been so good at promoting itself is the Black Eyed Peas.

Now 130 million albums sold later, Pollstar, a magazine devoted to the touring business, had Bon Jovi netting $70.4 million dollars last year, Billboard magazine placed it at No. 9 of the top touring acts of the decade and current album, The Circle, debuted at No. 1 in the U.S.

In 1992, Bon Jovi released Keep The Faith. It's been true to its word.

Bon Jovi: Shore musician finds his hero

So not surprising who he meets.  Not to knock Jon, OK well it is, Jon wouldn't help anyone unless he could personally financially benefit (see Skid Row).  Bruce has always seemed more altruistic in regards to up and coming musicians.

Shore musician finds his hero

‘Jerseyboy Hero’ premieres April 7 in Red Bank

BY ANDREW DAVISON Staff Writer

Chris Vaughn set out to promote his music and found an ally in rock icon Bruce Springsteen. Chris Vaughn set out to promote his music and found an ally in rock icon Bruce Springsteen. For Red Bank musician Chris Vaughn, making music was the easy part. But getting it out there would require the help of one of his idols.

Vaughn chronicled his musical journey along the Jersey Shore in his narrative documentary “Jerseyboy Hero,” to premiere in Red Bank on April 7.

“It’s a documentary about a local New Jersey musician trying to get his music made and into the hands of one of his two biggest hometown heroes, [Bruce] Springsteen or [Jon] Bon Jovi,” Vaughn explained.

“It’s about seeing which local legend would help out a Jersey boy.”

Vaughn said that he had four goals: to record a debut album; get that music to Bon Jovi or Springsteen; and finish a film about his quest and distribute it.

“I’ve gotten three out of four,” he said, adding that the Red Bank premiere at Clearview Cinema is part of that final goal.

Vaughn said he made the film as a creative approach to the challenges record labels and aspiring musicians face.

Due to the Internet’s rise and the paradigm shift currently facing the music industry, labels no longer have promotional budgets.

“Unless you develop your own [fan] base and following,” Vaughn said, record companies are not interested.

“They don’t have the funds to get into the radio, TV, film and print marketing without a huge budget.”

Vaughn said that he also noticed the popularity of reality TV.

“I saw a trend in people being really interested in a story,” he said, referencing shows like “American Idol,” where contestants often share biographical stories .“ They always want to know the story, so I thought it would be an interesting approach to document the journey,” Vaughn said.

“I figured ‘Hey, [Springsteen and Bon Jovi] are both right here, it’s worth a shot.’

“I couldn’t believe nobody had thought of it yet.”

The West Long Branch native’s primary background is in music, so Vaughn had to teach himself film techniques and video editing.

Vaughn said his friends played a huge part, providing help and financial assistance when necessary.

“People helped me out. I got it done with my friends’ help, and here we are,” Vaughn said.

Vaughn, who sings and plays guitar, said his music has been described as radio rock, hard rock, alternative rock, grunge rock, and pop rock.

“I just call it rock,” he said.

Ultimately, Vaughn did meet Springsteen and enlisted his help.

“It’s really not a big secret who’s in it,” Vaughn said, “All it would take is one Internet search [to find out].”

“The way it came about was a mystical experience.” According to Vaughn, he had accepted that he was not going to meet either musician and had begun filming the end of the movie.

However, he stumbled on a last chance while performing in Asbury Park.

“By some miracle, [Springsteen] was practicing across the street,” he said, and after some encouragement, Vaughn gave it one more shot

“In my head, it was over, and then we go and actually get him,” he said.

Vaughn said that Springsteen came back later to finish filming and sit down for a drink with him.

“He’s just a real person; [success] didn’t go to his head,” he said.

Vaughn said that making the film was an extraordinary experience. “It was really difficult at times, and there’s a lot of things that I would do differently, but I learned a ton,” he said.

“I learned so much about how to make music and make an album.”

Beyond creating the film, Vaughn scored it, appropriately, with all his own music.

“It’s a story of self-reliance and coming from nothing and working toward your goal,” he said.

Vaughn said that everyone he encountered in the area during the four-year process was eager to help and support him.

“Everybody is pretty community oriented in this area,” he said.

“Jerseyboy Hero” will premiere at 8 p.m. April 7 at Clearview Red Bank Art Cinemas, 36 White St. Tickets are available at www.jerseyboyhero.com.