Bon Jovi on Flood Relief album

Bon Jovi will appear on a Sony Music Australia compilation album to raise money for the floods that have devastated Queensland:

The response from both Australian and international artists wanting to lend their support has been so overwhelming that an additional disc was added making it a special 3 CD set. “FLOOD RELIEF – Artists For The Flood Appeal” features 59 tracks over three CD’s and features Aussie artists including Midnight Oil, Jessica Mauboy, Guy Sebastian, Tommy Emmanuel, Lee Kernaghan and Crowded House together with international artists such as P!nk, Keith Urban, Sting, Bon Jovi, Kings Of Leon, Beyonce, Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, Foo Fighters, John Mayer, Bob Dylan and Jeff Buckley.

Sony Music proceeds from the sale of the CD will go to the Salvation Army Flood Appeal through the charitable arm of the Australian Sony Group of Companies, The Sony Foundation to support young people affected by the tragic floods.

Read the full media release on BonJovi.com.

The album will be in stores from January 24, 2011. You should be able to order it online from Sanity or JB Hi-Fi.

CD1
1. Midnight Oil - My Country
2. Powderfinger - Burn Your Name
3. Billy Joel - All About Soul
4. Bruce Springsteen - Human Touch
5. The Script - For The First Time
6. Foo Fighters - My Hero
7. Train - Hey, Soul Sister
8. P!nk - Sober
9. Sting - Fields Of Gold
10. Lee Kernaghan - People Like Us
11. Keith Urban - Better Life
12. Savage Garden - Affirmation
13. Birds Of Tokyo - Plans
14. Grinspoon - Minute By Minute
15. Ben Lee - Were All In This Together
16. Kate Miller-Heidke - Our Song
17. Jeff Buckley - So Real
18. Troy Cassar-Daley - Sing About This Country
19. Tommy Emmanuel - Countrywide

CD2
1. Kings Of Leon - Use Somebody
2. Crowded House - Something So Strong
3. Beyonce - Irreplaceable
4. John Mayer - Waiting On The World To Change
5. John Williamson & Shannon Noll - Island of Oceans
6. Go-Betweens - Streets Of Your Town
7. Bob Dylan - Shelter From The Storm
8. John Farnham - A Touch Of Paradise
9. Adam Brand - It's Gonna Be OK
10. Adam Harvey - That's What You Call A Friend
11. The Verve - Bitter Sweet Symphony
12. Delta Goodrem - In This Life
13. Pete Murray - You Pick Me Up
14. The Hollies - He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother
15. Tom Petty - I Won't Back Down
16. Jessica Mauboy - Because
17. M People - Search For The Hero
18. The Screaming Jets - Helping hands
19. Melinda Schneider Featuring The Australian Girls Choir - Courageous
20. Mark Vincent - You Raise Me Up

CD3
1. Bon Jovi - Who Says You Can't Go Home
2. Guy Sebastian - Taller, Stronger, Better
3. Washington - Clementine
4. Alan Jackson - Small Town Southern Man
5. Tim McGraw - Last Dollar (Fly Away)
6. Hoodoo Gurus - Bittersweet
7. Daryl Braithwaite - Higher Than Hope
8. Tears For Fears - Mad World
9. Johnny Cash - Five Feet High And Rising
10. Human Nature - People Get Ready
11. Solange - 6 O'Clock Blues
12. Stan Walker - Choose You
13. Katie Noonan And The Captains - Page One
14. Amy Meredith - Young At Heart
15. Altiyan Childs - Beautiful Day
16. Lifehouse - You And Me
17. David Campbell - You'll Never Walk Alone
18. Damien Leith - To Get To You
19. Straalen McCallum - Sometimes A Prayer Will Do
20. Bachelor Girl - Permission To Shine

Bon Jovi returns to Jazz Fest

Bon Jovi is returning to the New Orleans Jazz & Music Heritage Festival in 2011 after making its Jazz Fest debut in 2009. Other headlining acts this year include Arcade Fire, Sonny Rollins, Kid Rock, Wilco, Willie Nelson, Lauryn Hill, John Mellencamp, the Strokes, Jimmy Buffett, John Legend & the Roots, and Robert Plant.

"The 2011 Jazz Fest lineup will deliver an unprecedented balance of the traditional and the contemporary, in all of the many music categories the Festival presents," said Quint Davis, producer/director of Jazz Fest in a statement. "This lineup reminds us that the artists we grew up with are now the icons of today, and that today's new heroes are tomorrow's heritage. We're honored to be able to once again celebrate the soul of America as only New Orleans and the Jazz Fest can."

Read the full article here.
The festival will take place over two weekends (April 29-May 1, then May 5-8) at Fair Grounds Race Course. For tickets and more details visit the New Orleans Jazz Festival site.

Bon Jovi coming up on Oprah; Poll almost over

I've just finished watching the second of four Oprah's Ultimate Australian Adventure specials, which have been screening at prime time here in Oz instead of its usual noon slot. Apparently Bon Jovi will be on the third episode which airs tonight in the US (January 20) and tomorrow night in Australia (January 21). Check local guides. I'll probably be watching the cricket tomorrow so I'll have to remember to flick the channel over myself but hopefully the relevant footage will be available online anyway.

I did notice that some of the ultimate fans were sent to my hometown of Perth but none of the footage seems to have gone to air. I'm not sure what they did here, but I hope they got to see the rest of Western Australia, which makes up almost a third of the whole country and is a lot more interesting from a tourists' perspective than the capital city.

Also, if you haven't already voted on my poll, you have four hours left. Looks like a new header is the priority, but more than half of you also want me to make my vlogging debut. :P

Poll: What do you want to see on Blame It On The Love?

I've currently got a poll running at the top of this page for the next 10 days. Just thought I'd get some input on the short-term future of the blog by asking you all what you'd like to see on here. Options are as follows:

1. New header image
I've received permission from someone to use their concert photos for a banner so it's just a matter of getting reacquainted with my old friend Photoshop and my inner designer.

2. Vlogs
I've always been a text blogger but it could be interesting to do some video blog posts, particularly in instances where the visual element would enhance whatever I'm saying.

3. Guest bloggers
This would basically involve inviting someone to write a guest post on here with their own insights and perspectives.

4. Other
If you have any other ideas or suggestions, feel free to leave a comment or e-mail me so that I can consider it.

Palestinian call to boycott Israel

Bon Jovi is set to perform in Israel for the first time in 2011, but given the complexities of the ongoing conflict in the region, it's probably no surprise that not everyone is thrilled with this idea. The Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel has published this open letter in the Palestine Chronicle, urging Bon Jovi to cancel their planned Israel concert on the basis that performing there would be an endorsement of human rights abuses and apartheid:

It is with great disappointment that the undersigned organizations learned of your scheduled performance in Israel set for 2011 as part of your 'Circle Tour'. Given that Israel is involved in grave violations of international law and human rights, particularly as indicated in the UN Goldstone Report, we urge you to cancel this gig until the time comes when Israel is in compliance with its obligations under international law and fully respects Palestinian rights.

We were particularly surprised by news of your planned performance given your deep involvement in affordable housing and homelessness issues. As part of its ongoing dispossession of the Palestinian people, Israel continues to demolish Palestinian homes and entire villages, including the Bedouin village of Al-Araqib, which was destroyed seven times this year. Indeed, the entire modern history of the Palestinian people is based on dispossession and homelessness as more than 750,000 people were made refugees to enable the creation of the state of Israel, then kept in permanent refugee status despite the requirements in international law that they be allowed to return to their homes. In your commitment to effect change you have understood that your position as a respected and prominent musician can weigh on politics and contribute to advancing freedom, justice and human rights. It is in this spirit that we address you.

Read the full article here.

The Circle Tour on EPIX

Bon Jovi: The Circle Tour Live From New Jersey premieres on Epix on January 8, 2010:

Grammy Award-winning band Bon Jovi shot a historic performance during their four night sold-out show at the New Meadowlands Stadium - the new home of the NY Giants and NY Jets. The concert captures the magic and energy of these hometown heroes with songs from The Circle along with the band's classic hits. Bon Jovi's multi-night engagement, including the stadium's inaugural performance on May 26, 2010, was met with 200,000 fans on their home turf.

Check out the EpixHD site for more details (and some video snippets).

Unfortunately this is just for US fans. A DVD would be nice, but there aren't any plans for one at this stage.

Happy New Year / Next 100 Years

Happy New Year, everyone! How was your New Year's Eve?

Now here's something you don't see every day. I have posted this Japanese version of "Next 100 Years" by charity boy band J-FRIENDS on this blog in the past, but that was about two years ago so you may not have seen it or stumbled across it before. I think this show is from New Year's Eve 1999. Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora wrote the song, with Koshi Inaba providing the Japanese translations. The J-FRIENDS "cover" was technically the first version of "Next 100 Years", since the Crush version didn't come out until June 2000.


Here's Bon Jovi performing "Next 100 Years" at Tokyo Dome in 2001 as part of the One Wild Night tour.


May 2011 be a prosperous year for you. :)