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