Bon Jovi's New Album Will Include 'Some Different Elements': Sambora

According to Richie Sambora and Billboard.com:

Bon Jovi's upcoming "What About Now?" will mark a musical "evolution" for the band, but not to the point that might be off-putting to group's worldwide legion of fans.

Guitarist Richie Sambora tells Billboard that "Jon (Bon Jovi) and I, when we get together it sounds like Bon Jovi. It sounds like us. That's basically the way it is and what comes out comes out." But for "What About Now?," due out this spring, he says the band and co-producer John Shanks focused on dynamics, and "just basically pushing the production a bit more or lessening the production so you're a bit more naked. It goes both ways on this particular record. We've stripped it down, taken some away and added some different elements."

Meanwhile, Sambora says the album's first single, "Because We Can," which drops January 7, is indicative of the album's upbeat tone to the album. "The lyrics are very positive -- obviously 'Because We Can,' 'What About Now?,' it's all empowering and that's what we were trying to get to. We were trying to get some positive lyrics. That's kind of where we landed."

Check out the full article here.

Are you looking forward to the new single or do you think it sounds a bit "same old"?

Jon Bon Jovi on Letterman

JBJ was a guest on the Late Show with David Letterman on December 20, 2012 to promote the Stand Up Guys soundtrack.

Check out his interview:


And his beautiful performance of the Golden Globe-nominated Not Running Anymore:

Jon Bon Jovi - Stand Up Guys interview + Not Running Anymore lyrics

Jon Bon Jovi talks about his contribution to Stand Up Guys in this Roadside Attractions featurette. Check it out (via The Hollywood Reporter).
Jon's song Not Running Anymore has been nominated for Best Original Song at the Golden Globes. I never posted lyrics for it so I thought I'd give it a crack now (Corrections welcome):

Bless me, Father, I have sinned
I'm not sure where to begin
I won't name names or where I've been
But I've been there and back again

No Hail Marys will save me
You learn to live with memories
Here, slip this C-note up your sleeve
Just stay inside until I leave

I've been running
Always running
Never had both feet on the floor
But I've been running
Always running
Now I ain't running anymore

The hands of time may tick no more
Let darkness fall upon this door
No waves to wash up on this shore
I won the fight but lost the war

I've been running
Always running
Never had both feet on the floor
I've been running
Always running
Now I ain't running anymore

Yeah, there were those who I have loved
Who'd given all and given up
I pushed your patience and my luck
It wasn't love I didn't trust
It wasn't you or me or us
You've shouldered ifs and ands and buts
It's not that way, okay, I've said too much

But I've been running
Always running
Never had both feet on the floor
But I've been running
Always running
Now I ain't running anymore

Bon Jovi 12.12.12 Concert recap

As most of you probably know, Bon Jovi was one of the many acts that came together for six-hour extravaganza that was 121212: The Concert for Sandy Relief at New York's Madison Square Garden on December 12, 2012. It was simulcast on about 60 or so television networks internationally and streamed live on about 30 websites, not to mention covered extensively across social media as it unfolded (which is how I had to follow it from work on the other side of the planet!).

Jon channeled his 13-year-old self, joining Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band on Born to Run, before returning to the stage later with Bon Jovi and playing the following set:

• It's My Life
• Wanted Dead or Alive
• Who Says You Can't Go Home - feat. Bruce Springsteen
• Livin' on a Prayer

The full set list for all the artists is at Noise11 among other sites. But of course, this is a Bon Jovi blog so here is the video of Bon Jovi's set:


And here's JBJ helping Bruce close his set with Born to Run:

Jon can't wipe the grin off his face. Neither can I. He's living a 70s kid's teenage dream. Hell, he's living one of MY teenage dreams, and I grew up in the 90s. I'd say he probably got the better deal too; I'm not that much of a Who Says basher but really, Jon gets to sing Born to Run while the Boss gets Who Says You Can't Go Home? :P

Did you watch the whole concert? What did you think?

Anyway, you can revisit all the #121212concert social media highlights at 121212.mahaya.co as well as download the benefit album on iTunes. Proceeds from the album are being donated to the Robin Hood Relief Fund. Here's the track list:

1. Land of Hope and Dreams (Live) - Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band
2. Wrecking Ball (Live) - Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band
3. Another Brick In the Atlantic Wall (Live) - Roger Waters
4. Us and Them (Live) - Roger Waters
5. Comfortably Numb (feat. Eddie Vedder) [Live] - Roger Waters
6. Hallelujah (Sandy Relief Version) [Live] - Adam Sandler & Paul Shaffer
7. It's My Life (Live) - Bon Jovi
8. Wanted Dead Or Alive (Live) - Bon Jovi
9. Got To Be Better In a Little While (Live) - Eric Clapton
10. Crossroads (Live) - Eric Clapton
11. You Got Me Rocking (Live) - The Rolling Stones
12. Jumpin Jack Flash (Live) - The Rolling Stones
13. No One (Live) - Alicia Keys
14. Who Are You (Live) - The Who
15. Baba O'Riley (Live) - The Who
16. Love Reign O'er Me (Live) - The Who
17. Miami 2017 (Seen the Lights Go Out On Broadway) [Live] - Billy Joel
18. Moving Out (Anthony's Song) [Live] - Billy Joel
19. You May Be Right (Live) - Billy Joel
20. Viva La Vida (Live) - Chris Martin
21. Losing My Religion (feat. Michael Stipe) [Live] - Chris Martin
22. Us Against the World (Live) - Chris Martin
23. Helter Skelter (Live) - Paul McCartney
24. Empire State of Mind (Live) - Alicia Keys

Because We Can out Jan 7; What About Now buzz

Because We Can, the lead single from Bon Jovi's upcoming album What About Now will be released on iTunes on January 7, 2013. The song was co-written by Billy Falcon.

Jon was on VH1's Big Morning Buzz Live a couple of days after the 12.12.12 Concert for Sandy Relief to talk about Hurricane Sandy and the benefit gig, as well as the new album. In terms of the content (Anthemic but socially conscious) it's all interview soundbites we've heard before. But the band seems to be experimenting with augmented reality on the album cover and I can't wait to see how it turns out!

After the interview, Jon also performed Not Running Anymore with Bobby Bandiera and Lorenza Ponce.

You can download the Bon Jovi smartphone app (for iOS and Android) from Mobile Roadie.

Golden Globe nomination: Jon Bon Jovi - Not Running Anymore

The Golden Globe nominees were announced last week and Jon Bon Jovi is up for Best Original Song for Not Running Anymore -- one of two songs he wrote for Stand Up Guys starring Al Pacino and Christopher Walken. Congratulations, JBJ!

Also released last week was the music video for Not Running Anymore.


What do you think of the song/video?

The Stand Up Guys soundtrack is now available on the US iTunes Store, with the movie's official release due in early January along with the CD soundtrack. The Golden Globe Awards will air on January 13, 2013.

Richie Sambora on Craig Ferguson (#samboraonferguson)

Richie Sambora (along with Luke Ebbin, Aaron Sterling, Curt Schneider, Matt Rollings and David R. Harris) just wrapped up their week as the house band on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson. It was an enjoyable stint all around but I picked out a couple of musical highlights.

Seven Years Gone - So pumped that he played this after largely neglecting it on the aborted Aftermath of the Lowdown tour. It's a great track.


Sugar Daddy - Craig Ferguson took lead vocals in this and maybe it's just the novelty of his zaniness but this is probably my favourite rendition of Sugar Daddy so far. :P


You can also watch the episodes in full:

• December 3
• December 4
• December 5
• December 6
• December 7

Bon Jovi & #121212Concert for Sandy Relief

Bon Jovi will be one of the slew of big acts performing at the upcoming 12.12.12 Concert for Sandy Relief which will be streamed online.

In this video Jon talks about the effects of Hurricane Sandy on his local community:


He also did an interview recently with the Associated Press which you can check out at this link.

Stand Up Guys soundtrack feat Jon Bon Jovi

We first heard about Jon Bon Jovi's involvement in the Stand Up Guys soundtrack at a fan club gig back in August, when he debuted two original songs he wrote for the movie.

The Stand Up Guys soundtrack comes out on Lakeshore Records on December 4, 2012 and if you have access to the US iTunes Store, you can pre-order it now.

You can also listen to Not Running Anymore in full:


I don't know about anyone else but hearing the studio version suddenly made me think of Blood Money from the Young Guns II soundtrack (which I love and wish Bon Jovi would play more often but that's another thread).

Here's the official Stand Up Guys track list:

1. Hard Times - Baby Huey & The Baby Sitters
2. Old Habits Die Hard - Jon Bon Jovi
3. Bright Lights - Gary Clark Jr.
4. Not Running Anymore - Jon Bon Jovi
5. Get Down With It - Wayne Cochran
6. How Long - Charles Bradley featuring Menahan Street Band
7. Fooled Around and Fell In Love - Elvin Bishop
8. Stand Up Guys – Lyle Workman
9. Give It Back - Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
10. (I’m Your) Hoochie Coochie Man - Muddy Waters
11. When Something Is Wrong With My Baby - Sam and Dave
12. I Was Painting You – Lyle Workman
13. Love From Above - Leroy Reynolds
14. Sock It To ‘Em JB (Pt. 1) - Rex Garvin and The Mighty Cravers
15. Chew Gum Or Kick Ass – Lyle Workman

And a soundtrack sampler/preview:

Richie Sambora & Alicia Keys: I'll Always Walk Beside You

Richie Sambora has released a special edition of his song I'll Always Walk Beside You featuring Alicia Keys on the piano.

You can purchase and download it from his website, with all proceeds being donated to the American Red Cross's Hurricane Sandy relief efforts.

Bon Jovi headlining Isle of Wight Festival

Bon Jovi has been announced as the headlining act for the third day of the Isle of Wight Festival Here's the press release:

It's My Wight - Bon Jovi to Headline Sunday

27/11/2012

Following yesterday's announcement of Friday headliners The Stone Roses the Isle of Wight Festival just got hotter with the addition of Grammy Award winning Bon Jovi to its 2013 line up. Closing the Main Stage with a UK festival exclusive on Sunday 16th June the rock superstars will top off another ultimate weekend of world-class music. Tickets for what will be an unbelievable experience go on sale on Wednesday 28th November.

For almost three decades, Bon Jovi have earned their reputation on the road as the essential live rock band - having performing for more than 35 million fans at more than 2,700 concerts is over 50 countries. Along the way, the New Jersey-based band - lead singer Jon Bon Jovi, guitarist Richie Sambora, keyboardist David Bryan and drummer Tico Torres - have sold 130 million albums and have released a raft of awe-inspiring hit singles. Now they bring their anthemic live show to the Isle of Wight Festival, so make sure you don't miss out on this unforgettable and historic performance. Now Bon Jovi join Friday's Main Stage headliners The Stone Roses, as the Isle of Wight Festival 2013 shapes up to be another astounding year.

Jon Bon Jovi, says:
"The Isle of Wight Festival is legendary and we're excited to join in the long tradition of Rock 'n' Roll history. We are honoured to be the headliners on the Main Stage Sunday night. This will mark our first visit to the island and I expect it will prove to be a highlight of our tour and of 2013."

John Giddings, the Festival's promoter, says:
"I can't imagine a better rock band with more hits to close our Sunday night. The Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney and Bruce Springsteen are hard acts to follow – but I think they'll do it!"

For more info check out the Isle of Wight Festival website.

Bon Jovi Inside Out: What would you ask them?

Bon Jovi Inside Out will be screening in the US on November 27 and Canada on November 28... and on Twitter, they've invited fans to submit questions for the live Q&A by hashtagging #AskBonJovi. There are a lot of stupid ones being asked to be honest (I won't give examples) and I don't know what sort of questions will get answered, but it is cool to see the band and its "people" actually start to embrace the social side of social media in more recent times instead of only using it to hard sell merchandise and expensive packages.

If you could ask Bon Jovi any question what would it be? Tweet #AskBonJovi now & your question might be answered at the #InsideOut Q&A

— Bon Jovi (@BonJovi) November 22, 2012

Meanwhile, Inside Out executive producer John Rubey gave an interview with AL.com:

John, what does a major rock band like Bon Jovi hope to achieve with a one-night-only cinema event like "Inside Out"?

I think it's a moment for them to let their fans know what they're doing and what's next. Tell them about the new tour in 2013. Bon Jovi doesn't do a lot of interviews, and they're going to take the fans questions from the theaters. It gives you an opportunity to see the band's performance on movie theater screens that are so massive in scale – it's a really awesome experience with all the big pictures and big sound.

Tell me about the process of selecting performances, which were culled from shows at the O2 Arena, Meadowlands Stadium and Madison Square Garden, for "Inside Out"?

Well, you've got three epic performances recorded over three years. What's pretty amazing about it is how consistently the band performs from year to year, and yet at the same time every one of them is so different. MSG was on the 25th anniversary of the band, and Madison Square Garden has been such an iconic venue for so many years. Meadowlands Stadium, that was the opening of the stadium in the band's home state of New Jersey, so that's pretty special. Then the O2 in London is probably the busiest music venue at the arena level, and that was about a 15-show run there. They all sort of have their stories to them.

Which performance are you most fond of?

I love them all and it's hard to call one out. I think we open with "Blood on Blood," and that's an awesome song. So I really like that one. We close with "Who Says You Can't Go Home."

Check out the rest of the article here.

Here's a video of Livin' on a Prayer from Inside Out. Looks like this is how they're tackling the 2/3 shows in one movie thing. Hmmm.


Anyway who's going to see this?

#BecauseWeCan - Bon Jovi US tour dates

US dates have been announced for Bon Jovi's 2013 Because We Can Tour, with more to come this week. Obviously from a personal perspective I'm still waiting for Aussie tour dates but the way I see it, it's almost the end of this year, which means it's almost next year, which means it's almost close enough to taste... right? ;)

Anyway, here are the new dates:

• February 9 - Uncasville, CT - Mohegan Sun
• February 10 - Washington, DC - Verizon Center
• February 21 - Pittsburgh, PA - CONSOL Energy Center
• February 27 - Atlanta, GA - Philips Arena
• March 1 - Tampa, FL - Tampa Bay Times Forum
• March 2 - Sunrise, FL - BB&T Center
• March 5 - Charlotte, NC - Time Warner Cable Arena
• March 6 - Nashville, TN - Bridgestone Arena
• March 9 - Cleveland, OH - Quicken Loans Arena
• March 10 - Columbus, OH - Nationwide Arena
• March 13 - St Louis, MO - Scottrade Center
• March 14 - Louisville, KY - KFC Yum! Center
• March 16 - Oklahoma City, OK - Chesapeake Energy Arena
• April 7 - St Paul, MN - Xcel Energy Center
• April 10 - Austin, TX - Frank Erwin Center
• April 11 - Dallas, TX - American Airlines Center
• April 13 - Kansas City, MO - Sprint Center
• April 14 - Des Moines, IA - Wells Fargo Arena
• April 16 - Denver, CO - Pepsi Center
• April 17 - Salt Lake City, UT - EnergySolutions Arena
• April 19 - Los Angeles, C - STAPLES Center
• April 20 - Las Vegas, NV - MGM Grand Garden Arena
• April 23 - Glendale, AZ - Jobing.com Arena
• April 25 - San Jose, CA - HP Pavilion at San Jose
• July 12 - Chicago, IL - Soldier Field
• July 24 - E Rutherford, NJ - MetLife Stadium
• July 25 - E Rutherford, NJ - MetLife Stadium

The following cities have also been announced but no dates/venues confirmed yet:

• Detroit, MI
• Foxboro, MA
• Memphis, TN
• Milwaukee, WI
• Philadelphia, PA
• Portland, OR
• Raleigh, NC
• San Antonio, TX
• Seattle, WA
• State College, PA
• Vancouver, BC

Visit the Bon Jovi website for all the tour dates and info so far.

There's also a sweepstakes giving away Ultimate VIP Packages to the North American shows so if you'd like to enter that, mosey on over to Bon Jovi's Facebook page.

Which shows are you looking forward to?

Jon Bon Jovi talks about daughter's OD

I'm reluctant to say too much about Stephanie Bongiovi's recent stint in the headlines given she didn't choose to be a celebrity's child (the only reason her reported heroin overdose made international news), but Jon has commented on it for the first time:

Los Angeles Local News, Weather, and Traffic

JBJ Soul Foundation - Hurricane Sandy Relief videos

Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation has released seven videos interspersing a live JBJ performance from November 9, 2012 with images of the Hurricane Sandy disaster to encourage donations in support of relief efforts.

Here are two brand new songs Jon wrote for the Stand Up Guys soundtrack (He performed them at a fan club gig in August but they have not been officially released yet).

Old Habits Die Hard


Not Running Anymore


You can watch and share the other videos at the JBJ Soul Foundation website.

Jon Bon Jovi (THR) & Hugh McDonald (iBass) interviews

A couple of interviews I thought were worth watching.

Scott Feinberg interviewed Jon Bon Jovi for The Hollywood Reporter a while ago. In it, Jon talks about his career from its early beginnings right through to the passion he found working on the Stand Up Guys soundtrack. Probably one of the better interviews with JBJ in a long time.


Hugh McDonald is rarely seen speaking so I love it when he does. This is an interview earlier in the year with iBass Magazine. He talks about how the Beatles changed his life, playing with Bon Jovi, and being a bass player.

Richie Sambora - Seven Years Gone in LA

It took until the only American show of the abbreviated Aftermath of the Lowdown Tour, but at last Richie Sambora played Seven Years Gone for the first time ever at the Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles.


What do you think?

Check out the full set list from LA here.

12.12.12 Concert for Sandy Relief

Jon Bon Jovi will join a super lineup at the 12.12.12 Concert for Sandy Relief -- Madison Square Garden on December 12, 2012. Here's the media release:

NEW YORK, NY, November 15, 2012 –Clear Channel Media and Entertainment, The Madison Square Garden Company and The Weinstein Company announced today that the “12-12-12” concert on December 12, 2012 at Madison Square Garden will feature Jon Bon Jovi, Billy Joel, Alicia Keys, Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band, Roger Waters, Kanye West, and The Who, with other top artists to be announced.

Event producers, James Dolan, John Sykes and Harvey Weinstein issued the following joint statement: “12-12-12‟ is shaping up to be a showcase of music royalty. The response from the entertainment community to help those most affected by Hurricane Sandy has been nothing short of astounding. We expect to announce additional legendary performers in the near future and we are confident that the event will ensure those in need will not be forgotten, and vital aid will be directed to rebuilding our communities along the East Coast.”

The “12-12-12” line-up was announced earlier today with a simultaneous roadblock announcement across all 850 Clear Channel radio stations nationwide, as well as on their websites and iHeartRadio, and on Fuse, the national music television network owned by The Madison Square Garden Company. The special one night only live music event will help provide assistance to the millions of people throughout the tri-state area who have been affected by Hurricane Sandy.

More information will be released in the coming days related to tickets and VIP ticket packages; on-sale information; partners and sponsors; as well as telecast information. The most up to date information on “12-12-12” can be found by visiting www.121212concert.org.

As the tri-state region begins to recover from Sandy's stunning and acute devastation along the coastal areas of Long Island, Queens, Staten Island and New Jersey, there remains an enormous task of rebuilding both the infrastructure and thousands of shattered lives. “12-12-12” presents an important opportunity for the community and nation to come together to provide significant support to these communities as they confront staggering short- and long-term issues.

Clear Channel will promote the concert on-air and online, and will also run a “text-to-give” campaign in the weeks leading up to the event across its stations as well as iHeartRadio.com. The proceeds from the concert will go to the Robin Hood Relief Fund which is providing money, material and know-how to local organizations that are serving families and individuals in the regions hardest hit by the storm.

The concert is being produced by James Dolan, Executive Chairman of The Madison Square Garden Company; John Sykes, President of Clear Channel Entertainment Enterprises; and Harvey Weinstein, Co-Founder and Chairman of The Weinstein Company.

Richie Sambora to rock Late Late Show

Richie Sambora and his band will be the house band on CBS' Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson from December 3rd to 7th! Here's a sneak peak:

Jon Bon Jovi's daughter arrested

Reports of Stephanie Bongiovi's arrest for drug possession after a suspected heroin overdose has been the big news in Jovi Land today:

Jon Bon Jovi's 19-year-old daughter Stephanie Rose Bongiovi was arrested at her college in Upstate New York early this morning after allegedly overdosing on heroin ... TMZ has learned.

According to the Town of Kirkland Police Department, cops responded to a dorm room at Hamilton College after someone reported that Stephanie had allegedly overdosed on heroin and was unresponsive.

Along with police, emergency medical personnel also responded to the scene and found Stephanie alive.

Cops say a drug task force searched the scene and found a "small quantity" of heroin ... along with marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

You can read more at TMZ (and pretty much every other news/gossip site).

In my opinion, the news has brought out an ugly side of the Bon Jovi fan base. While I don't think the all-gushing "JBJ and family can do no wrong", "Please pray for this poor angel" types are particularly helpful, the more sinister judgmental reactions I've seen are worse. People are so often quick to judge without knowing the whole story. Even more so when it's someone like Stephanie, whom we actually know very little about except that she's the only daughter of a very wealthy rock star -- an easy person to stereotype.

Secondly, people supposedly much older and wiser make silly mistakes every day. Many are also quite open about dabbling in drugs. There is a distinction to be made between, say, smoking pot on occasion and getting into something as hard as heroin. But I still don't understand people justifying their own drug use in the same breath as they condemn Stephanie or revel in what has happened to her with holier-than-thou condescension, e.g. "Yeah I've done XYZ drugs and it was cool but I would never touch heroin because I'm not retarded". Huh?!

Then again, perhaps I'd be less confused if I wasn't a non-drinker and non-smoker who's never so much as touched a Panadol in her life. :P

ADDENDUM: Charges against Stephanie and the guy who was arrested with her have reportedly been dropped thanks to New York's 911 Good Samaritan laws which are designed to allow overdose victims to get emergency help without fear of criminal charges.

Bon Jovi Inside Out trailer

Bon Jovi's Because We Can Tour is taking on the world in 2013 but before that, Bon Jovi Inside Out is hitting the big screen for one night only... November 27 in the US, November 28 in Canada. (I don't know about other countries yet).

Check out the trailer!



You can find out more at the Fathom Events website.

Richie Sambora - Los Angeles set list 13/11/12

It was a bittersweet event when the only North American show Richie Sambora didn't cancel went ahead, with all profits being donated to the Red Cross Hurricane Sandy Fund. Fan favourite Seven Years Gone FINALLY made an appearance and a snippet of Rosie was reportedly played before the Beatles medley.

Los Angeles, US - Fonda Theatre - November 13, 2012

1. Burn The Candle Down
2. Every Road Leads Home to You
3. Nowadays
4. Stranger in this Town
5. Taking a Chance on the Wind
6. Weathering the Storm
7. Hungry Heart [Bruce Springsteen cover] / I'll Be There For You
8. Hard Times Come Easy
9. Seven Years Gone
10. You Can Only Get So High
11. Who Says You Can't Go Home / Wild Night [Van Morrison cover]
Encore:
12. Wanted Dead or Alive
13. Golden Slumbers / Carry That Weight / The End [Beatles medley]
14. Livin' on a Prayer [acoustic]
15. These Days

Was anyone in LA for this show?

JBJ on new album What About Now (out March 2013)

Jon Bon Jovi talks about the new album:

• Jon mentioned it on Skavlan but as well as being the name of the upcoming tour, Because We Can is the lead single. Hope the song is not another It's My Life / Everyday / Have a Nice Day / We Weren't Born to Follow rewrite.
• Matt Bongiovi said last month that the album title What About Now wasn't confirmed yet but presumably it is now. Four months to go!
• The album is "socially conscious", contains "big anthems" and is a "smart record for us" -- that last one is an intriguing comment. Might mean another The Circle though, which I still love but lots of people either felt alienated by it or got sick of it very quickly.

Are you looking forward to a new album next year or do you think the band should have taken an even longer break?

Jon Bon Jovi - Skavlan interview + Hurricane Sandy benefit

While in London recently, Jon Bon Jovi guested on Norwegian talk show Skavlan and talked about Hurricane Sandy, the political climate in America and his career trajectory. He also shared a bit of a bromance with Robbie Williams who was one of the other guests.


Jon cut short his planned European promotional tour in the wake of the devastation caused by the superstorm.

Backed by Lorenza Ponce and Bobby Bandiera, he performed a beautiful acoustic rendition of Who Says You Can't Go Home and Livin' on a Prayer for the Hurricane Sandy: Coming Together appeal on November 2.

Richie Sambora cancels San Francisco gig

There are a lot of angry Richie Sambora fans, especially in North America tonight after his San Francisco show joined New York City, Philadelphia and Toronto on the Cancelled Gig List. Illness was given as the reason for the three cancelled shows in October, but San Fran just got this email from the venue:

We really wish we didn't have to send this email but we regret to inform you that Richie Sambora, on Friday, November 16, 2012, at The Regency Ballroom has been cancelled.

If you purchased your tickets via credit card for this event, a refund will automatically be issued to your credit card within 7-10 days in most cases. Otherwise, refunds are available at point of purchase.

On Twitter, Richie offered little explanation other than to claim San Francisco was beyond his control but Los Angeles would go ahead as planned:

Hey guys I'm sincerely sorry about the SF show. There were circumstances beyond my control.

— Richie Sambora (@TheRealSambora) October 31, 2012

Please come to the LA show if u can.. No way I'm canceling that show. I'll sing until my throat blows up.

— Richie Sambora (@TheRealSambora) October 31, 2012

Given that the LA show is November 13 -- three days BEFORE San Francisco would have been -- and Richie has been doing other promotional and fan club meets and greets in the meantime, it seems pretty apparent now that the shows weren't really cancelled because he was ordered on "full vocal rest." Most likely it was slow ticket sales as had been speculated.

Now if sales were so poor that they were going to lose money by going ahead with the shows, I can understand why a decision might be made to cancel... Not to mention how much that would wound an artist's ego; Richie was obviously very proud of this record. Aftermath of the Lowdown wasn't expected to set the world on fire but I do wish more people had really got behind it. And maybe it wasn't Richie's decision to maintain the laryngitis/sinusitis/cold/flu ruse.

But the people who had planned to go to those shows are real diehard fans who have invested not only their wallets but their hearts and souls in him. People who may not have been able to afford expensive meet-and-greet packages but had nevertheless taken time off work, made arrangements for their families and booked flights and accommodation that they can't necessarily get refunded. Surely those fans deserve a show, even if it's a small crowd. Surely the shows could have been moved to a more intimate venue if needed. And if not, surely those fans deserved the truth? :(

The flipside is, of course, fans who adore everything about their idols no matter what -- who have begun raging against Richie's "haters" on various social media platforms. I think I saw a couple of tweets from people who said that "real fans" would just go to LA instead of bitching about cancellations. Now I know money talks and makes the world go around, but money doesn't equal love, not in my book.

And I don't think the fandom "hates" Richie. But they are certainly bitterly disappointed and it will take a long time for the hurt to subside.

ADDENDUM:
Richie has just tweeted that he'll try to reschedule some shows for January. I sure hope it happens...

Thanks for all the well wishes and kind words. Gonna do my best to reschedule some shows in Jan.. I sincerely am doin my best..

— Richie Sambora (@TheRealSambora) October 31, 2012

European dates added to Bon Jovi tour

Bon Jovi has added a string of dates in Europe as part of next year's Because We Can Tour, including headlining the Slane Castle Concert in June.

Here's Jon in Slane:


The latest shows to be announced are:

• May 14, 2013 - Sofia, Bulgaria - Levski Stadium
• May 21, 2013 - Oslo, Norway - Valle Hovin
• May 22, 2013 - Bergen, Norway - Koengen
• May 24, 2013 - Stockholm, Sweden - Olympic Stadium
• May 26, 2013 - Tampere, Finland - Ratina Stadium
• June 6, 2013 - Copenhagen, Denmark - Parken Stadium
• June 8, 2013 - Manchester, United Kingdom - Etihad Stadium
• June 9, 2013 - Birmingham, United Kingdom - Villa Park
• June 12, 2013 - Cardiff, United Kingdom - City Stadium
• June 13, 2013 - Sunderland, United Kingdom - Stadium of Light
• June 15, 2013 - Dublin, Ireland - Slane Castle
• June 30, 2013 - Berne, Switzerland - Stadt de Suisse
• July 3, 2013 - Glasgow, United Kingdom - Hampden Park

I didn't realise there was an Etihad Stadium in Manchester until I looked at these dates (There is one in Melbourne, Australia)... It's not that bizarre; obviously Etihad Airways sponsors both venues but it's funny what random things you learn through Bon Jovi. ;)

Anyway, the dates above join previously announced shows in Canada and South Africa.

Will you be heading to any shows in Europe?

Bon Jovi to tour South Africa

Bon Jovi's Because We Can Tour is hitting South Africa in May 2013! Here are the new dates:

• May 7, 2013 - Cape Town, South Africa - Cape Town Stadium
• May 11, 2013 - Johannesburg, South Africa - FNB Stadium

Any South African fans stumbling across this blog?

Canadian shows were announced a few days ago and the media release promises to tour "Europe, the Far East, Africa, Latin America and Australia"...

Where would you love to see Bon Jovi play? (Both realistic and fantasy answers welcome).

David Bryan & Elaine Kwon on Better

Bon Jovi's king of the keys David Bryan and classical pianist Elaine Kwon performing on lifestyle show Better.

Just stumbled across this video and thought I'd through the Lemma fans a bone. ;)

Bon Jovi - Because We Can Tour 2013!

It's officially official! Bon Jovi is hitting the road again in early 2013:

Announcing Bon Jovi: Because We Can - The Tour

The best just got bigger. Bringing their signature brand of rock ‘n’ roll back to the people, Bon Jovi will hit the road in 2013 to fill stadiums and arenas worldwide with Bon Jovi Because We Can – The Tour.

Blazing a trail across the globe, the tour will kick off in North America in February, just in time for Valentine’s Day, and travel throughout Europe, the Far East, Africa, Latin America and Australia. The band’s return to the road in 2013 will cap an incredible run which has secured Bon Jovi’s status as the essential live rock band – having performed more than 2,700 concerts in over 50 countries for more than 35 million fans, and earning the #1 grossing worldwide tour twice in just three years.

Because We Can – The Tour will also debut brand new songs from new album What About Now, due out in Spring 2013, loading even more ammunition into the band’s huge arsenal of hits including “Livin’ on a Prayer,” “You Give Love a Bad Name,” “Who Says You Can’t Go Home,” “It’s My Life,” and many more.

I'm not sure if "Because We Can" is a nod to President Obama (which is perfectly fine for me but might anger roughly half their American fan base), a middle finger to the band's critics or something else entirely.

But I note with interest mention of "the Far East, Africa, Latin America" -- Looks like there could be some very exciting news for some of Bon Jovi's most tour-starved fans next year?

Here are the first announced dates (all Canada so far):

• February 13, 2013 - Montreal, Quebec, Canada - Bell Centre
• February 17, 2013 - Toronto, ON, Canada - Air Canada Centre
• February 20, 2013 - Ottawa, Ontario, Canada - Scotiabank Place
• April 2, 2013 - Calgary, Alberta, Canada - Scotiabank Saddledome
• April 3, 2013 - Edmonton, Alberta, Canada - Rexall Place
• April 5, 2013 - Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada - MTS Centre

What are you hoping for on this tour?

Bon Jovi Inside Out, album and tour

Another Bon Jovi movie hitting screens, hopefully near you:

NR,1hr 50min
Genre:
Musical
Releases:
November 27, 2012
Distributor:
NCM/Fathom

synopsis:
BON JOVI Inside Out includes the iconic band's best performances from their sold-out 12-night stand in London's O2 Arena, the inaugural multi-night run at New Meadowlands Stadium and their celebratory shows at the famed Madison Square Garden. Split-screen footage will provide a unique view of the quintessential rock n' roll band performing this dream set list from multiple angles. In addition, this not-to-be-missed event will feature band members Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, David Bryan and Tico Torres in a LIVE broadcast from Times Square, in which they will answer fan questions and discuss their upcoming 2013 Tour and highly anticipated new studio album What About Now, to be released this spring.

Matt Bongiovi gave out a little more about the release, as well as the upcoming album and tour via Twitter:

“@sinahibongiovi: @matthewbongiovi the movie is gonna be about what?” Live show cuts from arenas to stadiums during same song hence the name

— Matthew Bongiovi (@MatthewBongiovi) October 20, 2012

“@lizcontreras90: @matthewbongiovi it´s going to be out worldwide or ?” Or the most part yes

— Matthew Bongiovi (@MatthewBongiovi) October 20, 2012

“@xdregina: @matthewbongiovi is it actually called what about now?” Not official. They are playing with ideas.

— Matthew Bongiovi (@MatthewBongiovi) October 20, 2012

I know I have a conference all tomorrow afternoon about it so I would expect late day. Not all dates will be announced just a few

— Matthew Bongiovi (@MatthewBongiovi) October 22, 2012

Benji vs Sam James (The Voice): You Give Love a Bad Name

Two of Adam Levine's contestants from the US version of The Voice going head to head in a screaming performance of You Give Love a Bad Name:



To be honest, I have trouble getting into the battle rounds whenever I've watched The Voice... It feels like the format forces the two singers to overcompensate in an attempt to outdo each other. Sometimes it has its moments though.

What did you think of Benji and Sam in the video?

Richie Sambora October shows cancelled

Richie Sambora has cancelled his remaining October concerts (New York City, Philadelphia and Toronto) due to laryngitis. The following statement was posted on his website:

NYC, Philly, and Toronto Shows Cancelled
October 17, 2012

At doctor’s orders, Richie’s shows in New York City, Philadelphia and Toronto over the next week are currently cancelled. All tickets can be refunded at point of purchase.

Richie unfortunately had to cancel these performances due to direction from his doctors that he go on full vocal rest, as he is suffering from a case of laryngitis following a couple months of promotion for his recently released solo album Aftermath of the Lowdown, which included a run of sold-out shows in Europe. He is incredibly disappointed to not be able to perform for his fans this month.

“I was really looking forward to getting out there and playing my new record for people.” Sambora said. “Unfortunately, things come up in life that you cannot control. I hope my fans will understand. I’ll definitely make it up to them and look forward to seeing them soon.”

Keep checking back in for updates on rescheduled shows.

Not sure at this stage whether or not the shows in California in November will go ahead.

It was a peculiar morning for me... I'd had an inexplicably sleepless night before getting up an hour earlier than I needed to with a sudden urge to check my social networks... which is when I found out about this.

Hope Richie gets well soon (I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt and assuming he is sick; however, there has been speculation that poor ticket sales are the real reason and that the Sambora camp is trying to save face). I'm pretty bummed for his fans too, many of whom were travelling to these gigs. There have been reports that the shows will be rescheduled for early 2013, but with a new Bon Jovi album and tour due then, I have my doubts. Even Bon Jovi had to cancel their Perth show in 1995 and didn't make it back again until 2008. But... fingers crossed.

Richie Sambora - London set list 16/10/12

Richie Sambora's London stopover was perhaps slightly disappointing on paper after reports the show was being filmed and some hype heading in that there might be a special guest like Jimmy Page... but I also know from experience the harshest critics are usually diehard fans who weren't actually at the gig. ;)

Besides, The Answer was played again! :D

London, England - O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire - October 16, 2012

1. Burn That Candle Down
2. Every Road Leads Home To You
3. Nowadays
4. Stranger In This Town
5. Taking a Chance on the Wind
6. Weathering the Storm
7. Sugar Daddy
8. Learning How To Fly With a Broken Wing
9. Hungry Heart [Bruce Springsteen cover] / I'll Be There For You
10. Hard Times Come Easy
11. Don't Look Back In Anger [Oasis Cover]
12. You Can Only Get So High
13. Fallen From Graceland
14. Who Says You Can't Go Home / Wild Night [Van Morrison cover]
Encore:
15. Wanted Dead or Alive
16. Golden Slumbers / Carry That Weight / The End [Beatles medley]
17. These Days
18. The Answer

Were you at the show? How would you rate it?

The Answer + Shooting Star in Berlin

Richie Sambora made a lot of fans very happy when he performed The Answer at his Berlin gig on October 13, 2012. It wasn't perfect but that's okay... Remember when Bon Jovi brought out Stick to Your Guns in Amsterdam 2008? No one cared that Jon flubbed some words and didn't know the chords; all that mattered was that they were game enough to create such a raw, magical moment for diehard fans. And The Answer was another one.

Watch the video of The Answer (followed by Livin' on a Prayer) below:


Richie also covered Bad Company's Shooting Star at the show:


The full set list for Berlin can be viewed at this link. Kuba80BJ recorded the whole show, which you can check out on YouTube.

Richie Sambora - Berlin set list 13/10/12

Richie Sambora's Berlin show was the longest and (set-wise) the most exciting of the tour so far... Granted the tour is only four shows in but I now have very high hopes for the upcoming Shepherd's Bush (London) show which is reportedly being filmed.

Berlin, Germany - Huxley's - October 13, 2012

1. Burn The Candle Down
2. Every Road Leads Home To You
3. Nowadays
4. Stranger In This Town
5. Taking a Chance On The Wind
6. Weathering The Storm
7. Sugar Daddy
8. Learning How To Fly With a Broken Wing
9. Hungry Heart [Bruce Springsteen cover] / I'll Be There For You
10. Hard Times Come Easy
11. Shooting Star [Bad Company cover]
12. You Can Only Get So High
13. Fallen From Graceland
14. Who Says You Can't Go Home / Wild Night [Van Morrison cover]

Encore:
15. Midnight Rider [Allman Brothers cover] / Wanted Dead or Alive
16. Golden Slumbers / Carry That Weight / The End [Beatles medley]
17. These Days
18. The Answer
19. Livin' on a Prayer

The Answer is right up there with my favourite solo Richie songs (and I know I'm not alone in that regard) so hopefully it makes some more appearances!

What other songs are you keen to hear on the tour?

Who was at this show? :)

Fallen From Graceland with fan + Hungry Heart / I'll Be There For You in Munich

Thought I'd highlight a couple of my favourite videos from Richie Sambora's gig at the Circus Krone in Munich (October 12, 2012).

You can check out the full set list from Munich here.

Fallen From Graceland
A fan jumped on stage to sing this. I truly LOL'd... Especially when he took Richie's microphone away.


Hungry Heart / I'll Be There For You
Richie flubbed the words a little but Hungry Heart was the first Bruce Springsteen song I ever heard as a kid and it served as a nice little intro to I'll Be There For You... which I've always enjoyed Richie singing, even though I'd prefer him doing Homebound Train at a Bon Jovi show. ;)


If you were at this show, what were your highlights?

Richie Sambora Amsterdam videos

I promised videos from Richie Sambora's concerts at the Melkweg in Amsterdam... and there's a truckload of them in this post, given they were the first two shows of the Aftermath of the Lowdown tour and there were songs were being performed live for the first time. Apologies to everyone with slow internet connections!

If you want to take a look at the set lists from both nights, links are as follows:

• October 9, 2012
• October 10, 2012

Burn the Candle Down - Every Road Leads Home to You

Includes Richie and band's entrance... Solid two-shot to open.

Fallen from Graceland

This was probably the biggest surprise of the 2nd Amsterdam show... Great track from the hugely underrated Undiscovered Soul.

You Can Only Get So High

This song pulled me in the moment I heard it and hasn't let go.

Midnight Rider / Wanted Dead or Alive

Love the Midnight Rider intro. Ride Cowboy Ride or Stick to Your Guns would be great too. ;)

Taking a Chance on the Wind

Richie looks pretty cool here. Nice to hear people singing this one back.

Stranger in this Town - Nowadays

Thought this video ended up being an interesting juxtaposition of old and new. Nowadays is no Stranger, not by a long shot, but it's grown on me.

Weathering the Storm

I know this was co-written by Bernie Taupin but this could be my least favourite song on Aftermath of the Lowdown at the moment. The performance is nice enough but it didn't move me... Would have been nice if the shouts of "Rosie" had come true. ;)

Sugar Daddy

This a bit of a polarising song among Bon Jovi fans and I've been in two minds about it since I first heard the leak. I think I like the song better live but I'm still not really sure about it.

Learning How to Fly with a Broken Wing

This was/is another grower for me.

Hard Times Come Easy

Richie is lapping up his front man role... Looks like he's having a lot of fun.

Don't Look Back in Anger - Oasis cover

Wasn't sure what to expect with this cover but I do like the song.

Richie Sambora - Munich set list - 12/10/12

Richie Sambora's Aftermath of the Lowdown rolled into Germany last night for the first of two scheduled dates. The set was similar to the previous show in Amsterdam, but for a few change-ups.

Munich, Germany - Circus Krone - October 12, 2012

1. Burn the Candle Down
2. Every Road Leads Home to You
3. Nowadays
4. Stranger in this Town
5. Taking a Chance on the Wind
6. Weathering the Storm
7. Sugar Daddy
8. Learning How to Fly with a Broken Wing
9. Hungry Heart - Bruce Springsteen cover / I'll Be There For You
10. Hard Times Come Easy
11. You've Got to Hide Your Love Away - Beatles cover
12. You Can Only Get So High
13. Fallen from Graceland
14. Who Says You Can't Go Home / Wild Night - Van Morrison cover

Encore:
15. Golden Slumber / Carry That Weight / The End - Beatles cover
16. Wanted Dead or Alive
17. These Days

Richie plays again tonight in Berlin. Would love to get more songs from Stranger in this Town and Undiscovered Soul...

Who was at the show? Reviews and comments welcome.

Richie Sambora - Amsterdam set list 10/10/12

On paper at least, the second night of Richie Sambora's Aftermath of the Lowdown tour looks decidedly better than the first!

Amsterdam, Netherlands - The Melkweg - October 10, 2012

1. Burn the Candle Down
2. Every Road Leads Home to You
3. Nowadays
4. Taking a Chance on the Wind
5. Stranger in this Town
6. Weathering the Storm
7. Sugar Daddy
8. Learning How to Fly with a Broken Wing
9. I'll Be There For You
10. Hard Times Come Easy
11. You Can Only Get So High
12. Fallen from Graceland
13. Who Says You Can't Go Home

Encore:
14. Midnight Rider - Allman Brothers cover / Wanted Dead or Alive
15. Golden Slumber / Carry That Weight / The End - Beatles cover
16. These Days

I'll post some videos from the Amsterdam shows soon.

Sambora on Les Paul; Tico on Dunhill

Richie Sambora about his friendship with the late great Les Paul in an interview on Gibson.com. Here's an extract:

Was Les Paul the same in private as he was in public?

To me he seemed the same, yes. I happened to have an extremely close relationship with Les. We talked all the time, from the time I met him in 1988. A dear friend of mine brought Les over to my house, as a surprise, for a birthday party I was having. Les brought this beautiful white Les Paul guitar for me as a gift, that evening. We became fast friends that day, and that friendship never stopped.

Did you play together often, privately and in public?

I jammed with him everywhere from Fat Tuesday’s to The Iridium, in New York, many times. And of course I spent lots of time at his house. Russ, his son, said Les looked at me more as a family member than as a peer. Oftentimes, whenever we spoke on the phone, the last thing we would talk about was music. We would talk for hours. It was an amazing relationship. He asked me to induct him into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and we played together that night. We remained very close right up to his death.

What sort of advice did he give you, about music or other matters?

His life was a model. It was almost a fatherly role. We did talk a lot about business. A lot of the advice he gave me was business advice, and a lot was about staying young, staying creative. That was the essence of his life. He stressed the importance of always keeping busy, of having things to do, and keeping your mind flexible and nimble. Of course he also stressed the importance of continuing to play. The guy played those Monday night shows until he was 93.

Read the full interview here.

And for those of you who are into golf, Tico Torres also shared a few words recently about playing in the Dunhill Links Championship. You can listen to the interview podcast here.

Richie Sambora - Amsterdam set list 9/10/12

Richie Sambora's Aftermath of the Lowdown tour officially kicked off in Amsterdam overnight. He performed most of the new album, a couple of songs from his previous two solo releases, a few Bon Jovi hits and a couple of covers.

Amsterdam, Netherlands - The Melkweg - October 9, 2012

1. Burn the Candle Down
2. Every Road Leads Home to You
3. Taking a Chance on the Wind
4. Stranger in this Town
5. Nowadays
6. Weathering the Storm
7. Wanted Dead or Alive
8. Sugar Daddy
9. Don't Look Back in Anger - Oasis cover
10. Hard Times Come Easy
11. You Can Only Get So High
12. Livin' on a Prayer
13. Who Says You Can't Go Home
Encore:
14. Golden Slumbers / Carry That Weight / The End - The Beatles cover
15. I'll Be There For You

Set list wise, digging a little deeper into the discography -- either his solo stuff or the band's work -- would have been nice.

Was anyone at the show? How would you rate it?

Ed Sheeran covers Livin' on a Prayer

A friend of mine recently alerted me to this acoustic cover of Livin' on a Prayer by Ed Sheeran.



I rate Ed quite highly and his concert at Riverside Theatre in Perth is one of the best I've ever been to... so while this vaguely Lego House-esque version doesn't necessarily showcase every ounce of his talent, I thought it was still pretty sweet.

What do you think?

LA and SF added to Sambora's Aftermath tour

Richie Sambora has announced Los Angeles and San Francisco dates on his Aftermath of the Lowdown tour, which kicks off in Amsterdam in a week's time.

Los Angeles! Solo show added November 13 at @fondatheatre! Tix on sale Saturday @ 10am vsb.li/e1FjzK

— Richie Sambora (@TheRealSambora) October 2, 2012

San Francisco! Get ready! November 16th at @regencyballroom... vsb.li/qy1Vg9

— Richie Sambora (@TheRealSambora) October 2, 2012

So the tour dates so far are:

• October 9, 2012 - Amsterdam, Netherlands - The Melkweg
• October 12, 2012 - Munich, Germany - Circus Krone
• October 13, 2012 - Berlin, Germany - Huxleys
• October 16, 2012 - London, UK - O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire
• October 18, 2012 - Philadelphia, US - Electric Factory
• October 20, 2012 - Toronto, Canada - The Danforth Music Hall
• October 23, 2012 - New York City, US - Best Buy Theater
• November 13, 2012 - Los Angeles, US - Fonda Theatre
• November 16, 2012 - San Francisco, US - The Regency Ballroom

Who's going to one of these shows? :)

Richie was also recently interviewed by Mario Lopez for EXTRA:

Memphis wins Emmy, heads to the West End & silver screen

Memphis the Musical won a Creative Arts Emmy Award for Outstanding Technical Direction, Camerawork, Video Control for a Miniseries, Movie or Special -- to add to its list of accolades.

Here's David Bryan's statement from the Bon Jovi Facebook page:

The unbelievable journey of Memphis The Musical continues! I'm very proud of this award and grateful to all the fans for supporting my work. MEMPHIS will open on the West End in London next year and we just signed a deal to make Memphis the motion picture!! And my new show CHASING THE SONG is in development and coming to Broadway in 2014. Thanx again.... David

Richie Sambora Live! with Kelly and Michael

In further Aftermath of the Lowdown promo news, Richie Sambora performed Every Road Leads Home to You on Live! with Kelly and Michael on September 21, 2012:



He also had a web exclusive chat with Kelly Ripa and Michael Strahan about the personal turmoil that led to Aftermath, life as a musician and being on tour:

Bon Jovi album in January 2013: David Bryan

David Bryan told Bon Jovi fans what they wanted to hear at the recent Best Buddies Savor Your Senses benefit kickoff in New York City:

"We have a new record that's gonna come out next year, in January, and we're gonna tour all next year."

Although he did amend that to "Januaryish" and state that it wasn't set in stone. ;)



David will be joining classical pianist Elaine Kwon at Carnegie Hall on October 23, 2012 for a concert to raise funds for Best Buddies:


For more info about the event, visit the Best Buddies New York website.

Aftermath of the Lowdown promo rolls on

Richie Sambora's album Aftermath of the Lowdown was released digitally on September 18, with the physical album to be available from this week. He has been doing some cool promotional performances, including this (electric for the first time) performance of Every Road Leads Home to You on Good Morning America.


Hath is pretty much on top of Richie's other promo appearances, and I have to acknowledge that a chunk of my traffic comes from her, so I'll just link to her blog where you can find some audio or video:

• Interview and acoustic performance of "Every Road" on The Howard Stern Show
• Radio interviews on WDVE and The Todd N Tyler Radio Empire
• Radio interview on The Rock 106.9 WCCC
• "Every Road" and "Taking a Chance on the Wind" on 93.3 WMMR
• Yet more interviews on 96.5 WKLH, 102.9 WMGK, 103.5 The Fox, and Wall Street Journal

Richie also did a Q&A with the Hollywood Reporter. Here's a snippet:

THR: Is there a marketing plan in place?

Sambora: Some of the people at Dangerbird play the record for journalists or radio people and don’t tell them who it is. It’s really cool. People are going to have a preconceived notion of what this record is supposed to be. I think it’s a great exercise because it lets people visit the music fresh, and after three songs they go: "Who the hell is that? Richie Sambora. Get the f--- out of here.” I love that people are so surprised.

THR: How was it different writing for your record than a Bon Jovi record?

Sambora: When I write songs with Jon, it’s an awesome experience, but basically there is a lot of commonality in our relationship. We grew up five miles away from each other, a couple years apart, in the same social bracket, but our styles are very different. When I write for the band, he is the megaphone for that band. So I write words that he is going to be able to sing, and I look at that as very important. With my solo stuff, I’m the guy with the mic. I’m the megaphone. … In the band, we all sit down and talk about things. Jon is the leader of this band, and I have had a lot to do with everything. I have been a guy that has co-written 90 percent of the hits, as well as many songs on every record. I also co-produced a lot of the records with Jon. We were essentially the songwriting team that moved that team forward, and on the business level, I have been his right-hand man. We were label presidents on our own label on Atlantic Records and produced Skid Row out of that, so Jon and I had done a lot of work in this organization for a lot of years, and that’s the way it’s rolling. Jon’s the leader, and there are no bones about that -- and no hard feelings. Everyone has a specific role in the caste system of what this band is, and that’s why it has lasted for 30 years.

Read the full interview here.

And finally, my friend and fellow Bon Jovi fan Adam reviewed Aftermath of the Lowdown for media-feed.com. Check it out and if you wish, leave your feedback on their Facebook page.

Jon Bon Jovi: Leveraging Fame For Good

Jon Bon Jovi talks about homelessness, philanthropy and the Soul Foundation in this interview with Steve Forbes for Forbes Media.

Check out this 30 minute video from the Forbes 400 Summit ("Leveraging Fame as a Force for Good") below.

Bon Jovi - iHeartRAdio set list + interview

Bon Jovi have finished playing at the iHeartRadio Festival after being shafted -- I mean, shifted :P -- to the Friday instead of Saturday.

Set was pretty standard as you'd probably expect:

iHeartRadio Music Festival - MGM Grand - September 21, 2012

1. Livin' on a Prayer
2. You Give Love a Bad Name
3. It's My Life
4. Wanted Dead or Alive
5. Who Says You Can't Go Home
6. Bad Medicine / Shout!

There are some pictures and a mini recap of Bon Jovi's set on the iHeartRadio website.

And here's an interview from before the show:


I missed the broadcast but from what I've read, Jon was very sick and/or sounded even worse than he did on the Tokyo 2008 WOWOW broadcast. However, I'd love to hear comments from anyone who either watched/listened to the stream, or was there live... What did you think of the show?

ADDENDUM: Hath now has audio and video links on her blog so you can judge for yourself if you missed it. Hmmm...

Richie Sambora Free at Noon live - World Cafe

Ahead of the digital release of his new solo album Aftermath of the Lowdown, Richie Sambora did a promotional gig in Philadelphia on September 14, 2012 which was broadcast on WXPN and NPR.

You can listen to it here.



It's also on YouTube if that media player isn't working for you.

The set list was as follows:

1. Taking a Chance on the Wind
2. Weathering the Storm
3. Every Road Leads Home To You
4. Wanted Dead or Alive
5. Sugar Daddy
6. You Can Only Get So High
7. Stranger In This Town
8. Livin' On A Prayer

Oh man, he sounds freaking awesome... Aussie tour, pleeeease? ;)

ADDENDUM: Hath has posted some videos from this performance on her blog... Check them out.

Richie Sambora EPK

Richie Sambora talks about making his solo album and breaking free of the Bon Jovi box and other preconceived notions about who he is.



He looks and sounds... revitalised. Hope that bodes well for the future.

Philly & NYC added to Sambora tour

The first US dates of Richie Sambora's Aftermath of the Lowdown tour have been announced:

Philadelphia & NYC shows announced! Tickets on sale this Friday at vsb.li/VZOb0l

— Richie Sambora (@TheRealSambora) September 11, 2012

The Philadelphia show will be at Electric Factory on October 18, while Best Buy Theatre will be graced with Richie's music in New York City on October 23.

Other gigs in Amsterdam, Munich, Berlin, and London were announced earlier.

Who's going? :)

Every Road Leads Home to You (Instagram lyric video)

Back in July, the call went out to Richie Sambora fans to submit Instagram photos for a lyric video of Every Road Leads Home to You.

Here's the video.



Was your pic included?

And in case you missed it earlier, the official music video for Every Road has also been released.

Garry Lyon in a Blaze of Glory

Garry Lyon is a former Melbourne Football Club player and current host of the AFL Footy Show here in Australia. Last night he performed a rather painful rendition of Blaze of Glory last night, complete with Jon Bon Jovi bull tattoo.



I believe it was in the name of charity though, so I guess I can contend with the bleeding ears. :P

Richie Sambora's hard-won road to Aftermath of the Lowdown

This feature on Richie Sambora was published by the Los Angeles Times recently. Richie talked about the lowest point of his life and opening up on his new solo record:

"When I fell off that cliff, I realized who I was, unrelated to the band," Sambora said while on a sofa in the Palihouse lounge in West Hollywood. "I'd started to clean up five years ago, but I slipped, and made those amends. I'm lucky I wasn't a guy who lost his family or relationships."

The article also discusses the unlikely marriage between the guitarist of a super commercial band like Bon Jovi and an indie label like Dangerbird Records:

"Phil told me about his friend Richie who had a fantastic record, and that he hoped we'd have some common ground," Castelaz said. "But growing up, I was a janitor and swept garbage at an arena where Bon Jovi played. They were a rock 'n' roll hit machine, and my generation railed against those guys."

But slowly, the recordings started to win him over. And though much of Dangerbird's cool-kid audience will run screaming for the fire exits at the thought of buying an album from a Bon Jovi side project, it's easy to hear what turned Castelaz into a believer. "Burn that Candle Down" kicks off with a psychedelic fuzz barrage that the Black Keys would be happy to call their own. If the piano-plaintive yearn of "Every Road Leads Home to You" got misfiled under Coldplay or Arcade Fire, radio programmers would salivate to play it.

"This is nothing like Bon Jovi," Castelaz said. "They make quality rock music, but this is vulnerable and real about his travails. When he first played 'Every Road Leads Home to You,' it blew my … mind."

Read the full article at the LA Times.

Watch new Richie Sambora video + pre-order Aftermath of the Lowdown

Richie Sambora's new music video for Every Road Leads Home to You is now streaming online thanks to The Sun.

I didn't blog about Richie's change of hair colour when he tweeted about it and sections of the online Bon Jovi commmunity went into meltdown, but you can see Blond Richie now in all his desert-swept glory. Do you like the video?


In related news, you can now also pre-order the new album, Aftermath of the Lowdown in various packages from Richie's website.

Here's the email that landed in my inbox via BonJovi.com:

Hey everyone,
Richie Sambora's new solo album "Aftermath of the Lowdown" is going to be released digitally on September 18th, with the CD version arriving in stores one week later on September 25th.

Richie has also created a limited edition deluxe album package available exclusively through RichieSambora.com. The deluxe package includes a 16-page leather-bound, foil-stamped & embossed photo book featuring images from famed photographer James Minchin. Inside the hardcover book is the exclusive 180-gram 2xLP vinyl version of "Aftermath of The Lowdown" (featuring an etched Richie Sambora silhouette), the album on CD format, and an autographed lithograph print.

Preorder the exclusive "Aftermath of the Lowdown" deluxe package from RichieSambora.com, and choose either a Richie Sambora hoodie or t-shirt to complete your bundled order. Select your preferred bundle ranging from the $200 limited edition box & hoodie, all the way down to a simple $11.99 CD & digital album download.

All packages will receive an early download of "Aftermath of the Lowdown" on September 18th, and physical products will ship to arrive as close as possible to the album's release date of September 25th.

In other news Richie is beginning to announce European tour dates in support of the new album! Keep an eye on Richie's Facebook and Twitter for U.S. tour dates to be announced soon!

RICHIE SAMBORA TOUR DATES:
- OCT 9 Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Melkweg - BUY TICKETS
- OCT 12 Munich, Germany @ Circue Krone - BUY TICKETS
- OCT 13 Berlin, Germany @ Huxley's - BUY TICKETS
- OCT 16 London, UK @ Shepard's Bush - BUY TICKETS

Jon Bon Jovi debuts new songs in Napa Valley

Jon Bon Jovi (backed by Bobby Bandiera and Lorenza Ponce) performed an acoustic fan club gig at the Castello di Amorosa in California's Napa Valley on August 28, 2012. He talked about writing songs for the upcoming Bon Jovi album as well as the soundtrack of a movie called Stand Up Guys (starring Al Pacino, Christopher Walken and Alan Arkin) and played some of these new songs. Here are videos of The Fighter, Running, and Old Habits:

The Fighter - from the new Bon Jovi album


Not Running Anymore - from the Stand Up Guys soundtrack


Old Habits Die Hard - from the Stand Up Guys soundtrack (I wasn't expecting that opening line, haha)


So... What do you think of the songs?

I also haven't been able to find a set list for this show but from what I've managed to quickly piece together from different sources online, it was reportedly something like this:

• Superman Tonight
• (You Want To) Make a Memory
• Born to Be My Baby
• Running
• Old Habits
• The Fighter
• Livin' on a Prayer
• Santa Fe
• Hallelujah

Can anyone confirm what was played?

Here's Santa Fe for good measure:

London added to Richie Sambora tour

Richie Sambora has confirmed a London date on his upcoming Aftermath of the Lowdown tour:

London show added! 16 October at Shepard's Bush! Tickets on sale Friday at vsb.li/bH2r1Q

— Richie Sambora (@TheRealSambora) August 29, 2012

So, the announced tour dates so far are:

• October 9, 2012 - Amsterdam, Netherlands - The Melkweg
• October 12, 2012 - Munich, Germany - Circus Krone
• October 13, 2012 - Berlin, Germany - Huxleys
• October 16, 2012 - London, UK - O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire

Richie Sambora is touring Europe

Richie Sambora's long-awaited third solo album Aftermath of the Lowdown is set for official release in less than a month, and for far longer than that fans have been wondering about an accompanying tour.

Well, some dates have now started to filter through in the last few days, straight from the king's mouth... The Aftermath tour will kick off on October 9 in the Netherlands!

First date of the Every Road tour... Amsterdam Oct. 9th.. It's on.

— Richie Sambora (@TheRealSambora) August 24, 2012

He will be playing at the Melkweg in Amsterdam.

For German fans, Richie also announced shows in Munich and Berlin on October 12 and 13...

Two tour dates added in Germany! 12 October in Munich, 13 October in Berlin! vsb.li/nzo4Tm

— Richie Sambora (@TheRealSambora) August 28, 2012

The gigs are at the Circus Krone in Munich and Huxleys in Berlin.

Luke Ebbin tweeted that we should "be patient" for more dates, which is always hard... but hopefully Richie is headed to your part of the world! And mine, for that matter, although I guess Australia is pretty far away...

Aftermath of the Lowdown: Q&A with Richie Sambora

Rolling Stone interviewed Richie about his forthcoming solo album Aftermath of the Lowdown... Here's an extract:

The lyrics are very heartfelt. You have, "Every heartache's a blessing/ Every knockdown was a start." I know you touched upon this with the album title, but did you intentionally set out to make a record that was so intensely personal?
What I found, interestingly enough, through the ups and downs of my life over the past decade since I made my other solo record, and all the stuff that I've gone through in my life over the past decade – this record is basically about my stuff. And what I really found out is that my stuff is pretty universal. The stuff that I've gone through isn't that alien. The stuff that I've gone through, anybody can go through in their lives and they probably will. Ups and downs and things like that. So I really felt like everybody can relate to these lyrics and make them their own. At the end of it, when I looked back on it, that's really what I've found.

You're exactly right except, perhaps, for "Seven Years Gone" because of the specific number of years. That one's about your ex-wife?
About seven years ago, life for me started to take kind of a little bit of a dip. I was getting divorced, my father was dying of cancer at that point in time, so things were definitely at a transformative period in my life. And then all of the sudden, I looked up, when I started writing this record, and I said, "Wow! Seven years gone!" It really went by very quickly. I started to think about the transference of time. My God, it's like, all of the sudden, I've been in this business for 30 years now and all the amazing stuff that's happened to me. So I guess it was kind of a reflection on all that kind of stuff, and I think anybody can relate to that.

You know what else I found during the making of the record? Pain and struggle are necessary, and challenging situations like that are necessary, for you to actually find your freedom and move on. The essential message of this record is freedom. A song like "Taking a Chance on the Wind" – about "Raising my flag/ And taking my chance on the wind" – it's all about risk. But, it's like, people ask me, "Why'd you make this record, Richie? Wasn't it a risk to make such a record?" And I say, "It would've been a risk not to make this record." I had to get this stuff out. It was a cathartic thing for me to do this album. And also, just to express my individuality away from the band.

I think that's probably why I went with an independent record company. That's why I went with Dangerbird. All this about "raising my flag" – independence. That's what I wanted, you know? I wanted independence from stuff that I knew before.

Read the full interview here.

Interestingly, Richie was also asked if Hugh McDonald was now part of the "brotherhood" and (not surprisingly) towed the Jon Bon Jovi line.