We're going to try something a little different starting today... and start from the 8th show of this Bon Jovi tour. Assuming the 9th show goes ahead as scheduled, I'll post about that, then start working my way back to the second - I already blogged about the first Forever Tour show.
In case you missed it, I've been away on a Muay Thai camp. I did watch some videos and read comments about the shows as they happened, but I didn't have time to sit down and gather my thoughts in any coherent fashion in between training for up to four hours a day in Thailand. But I'm back in Perth now, and... yeah, shit got real with show 8 ending abruptly, and Jon telling fans to hold onto their tickets for a rescheduled date.
New York City, NY, USA - Madison Square Garden #8 - 23 July 2026
The official line was sinus infection, but I spoke to some long-time fans who were there, and they're of the view that Jon's voice just gave out. Either way, I hope he's okay. I have genuinely worried about this tour and its impact on his health, especially after they announced nine shows at MSG alone, with a short turnaround.
Set list #8:
With a Little Help from My Friends - The Beatles cover
Beautiful Drug
We Weren't Born to Follow
Lost Highway
Who Says You Can't Go Home
You Give Love a Bad Name
Born to Be My Baby
Legendary
Let It Rain
Whole Lot of Leavin'
Bed of Roses
Have a Nice Day
It's My Life
Livin' on a Prayer - featuring Pat Monahan
Selected videos from #8:
Livin' on a Prayer - This ended up being the final song of the night, with Train front man Pat Monahan getting the call-up from backstage to take on unplanned lead vocals. I actually used to be a big Train fan back in the day, right up until 2014 (just could not connect with anything on the Bulletproof Picasso album, and then they fell off my radar... sorry Pat). From what I recall from my fangirl days, Pat's actually got a hell of a voice and is a great performer, and that didn't come through at all here -- but to be fair, he rocked up to the gig thinking he was going to be watching it, not performing.
Bed of Roses - Jon started sounding really stuffed from about 4:00 onwards, or basically the second chorus. He turns around to look at his bandmates, and later needs the crowd to finish the song for him.
Later, he joked about how he was proving he wasn't lip syncing. But... ouch. 😟
Thinkin' on a prayer
Look, for any critiques and grievances I may have had over the years... I love Jon. Fingers crossed he hasn't done any further damage to his vocal cords. It was a heartbreaking end to the show, and... hopefully, just this show. I hope he hasn't pushed himself too far.
The fact that Jon kept saying he "felt great" sounds more like he was confused about why his voice was misbehaving like that, rather than battling an illness. Personally, when I have a sinus infection, I most certainly do not feel great, but your mileage may vary.
Anyway, get well soon, Jon. I'm in your corner on the other side of the globe.
And we're back! We as in this blog, but also we as in Bon Jovi the band.
I'm actually away on a Muay Thai camp at the moment, doing two two-hour sessions a day in the heat, which is why my published thoughts on the comeback shows are delayed by several days. Training like this, plus showering and doing laundry ASAP after each session, is tiring and time-consuming, y'all!
Anyway. Jon Bon Jovi's vocal issues, and his subsequent vocal cord surgery in 2022 have been fairly well documented at this point. There was a certain buzz and trepidation about their closest thing to a tour since then.
Jon has performed live here and there over the last few years... but to be perfectly honest, it's been a bit heartbreaking and underwhelming most of the time. So while I'm sure I would have bought tickets if they'd announced a show in Australia, I can't say I've been expecting much from this run of shows.
But here's what they played:
New York City, NY, USA - Madison Square Garden - 7 July 2026 setlist
With a Little Help From My Friends - The Beatles cover
Beautiful Drug
We Weren't Born to Follow
Lost Highway
Who Says You Can't Go Home
You Give Love a Bad Name
Born to Be My Baby
Legendary
Whole Lot of Leavin'
In These Arms
Have a Nice Day
It's My Life
Livin' on a Prayer
Lay Your Hands on Me
Blood on Blood
Living Proof
This House Is Not for Sale
Keep the Faith Encore:
I'll Be There for You
Wanted Dead or Alive
Bad Medicine
Selected videos from MSG
With a Little Help from My Friends - including the video intro. With lines like "What would you do if I sang out of tune?" and "I'll try not to sing out of key", it may seem a little on the nose to open with it. And it's not exactly a high energy rocker. But in this case, it felt fitting somehow, especially with everyone coming together to sing the chorus.
Living Proof - finally, the neglected single! Actually sounds pretty decent, if I do say so myself. I can't turn back time but I so wish this had been the song that got any promotion from Forever, rather than "Legendary". In These Arms - Jon honestly sounded way better than I was expecting here and I'm so weirdly proud of this man who doesn't know me from a bar of soap and whose achievements I have absolutely nothing to do with.
Blood on Blood - Hmm he's trying, but this sounds pretty fragile. I
don't know if we can maybe bump Everett Bradley up in the mix? I know Everett's
not Richie Sambora, but Richie left of his own accord and Everett does make the current lineup sound better vocally than they otherwise would.
Livin' on a Prayer - between the click track and the entire venue always singing along, "Prayer" has arguably been spared to a large extent as Jon's vocals declined, despite being a painfully difficult song to sing. But I do think he sounds a bit better here than he has in recent times?
Final thoughts
It was a solid return, not perfect but I don't think anyone's expecting that anymore. Though I do really hope Jon gives me the finger and surprises us all. The set list could be stronger but I guess it's okay. Hopefully we get some deep cuts during this short run of shows.
I honestly don't know how much of a future my beloved band has. Or how I feel about it all. A lot has been made of Jon's voice but I'm also considering the band as a whole -- no one's getting any younger, and it's probably Phil X and Everett bringing the bulk of the animation and energy on stage. I still rate Jon as a songwriter but people don't buy music the way they used to.
Anyway, what did you think of the comeback show? Were you there, or watching from somewhere in the world?
And which Bon Jovi song should be my walkout song if I could pick one for a hypothetical fight? 😉
