Jon Bon Jovi reflects on his latest and most challenging world tour

Ahead of the final leg of Bon Jovi's Because We Can tour, which takes the band to Japan and Australia, Jon talked about the "challenges" that have faced them this year, beginning with the snowstorm in Connecticut and culminating in Richie Sambora's departure and Tico Torres' surgeries. Here's what Jon had to say about Richie:

Bon Jovi, while at pains to dismiss the rumours of a feud between the pair, says he hasn't spoken to his band mate in months - but the ball is firmly in Sambora's court.

"Richie was never fired from the band," Bon Jovi says. "He just didn't come to work any more. Some day when this is all over, the three of us would like to talk to him and say 'what happened'.

"If you didn't go to work tomorrow I think ultimately your editor or your publisher would say 'where are you?'. So there you go - he was never fired, we certainly have no animosity and when the tour is over he can come and see me and Tico and Dave and explain what happened."

Jon also talked about his political and social side and walking Aussie bride Branka down the aisle at Graceland Chapel. Read the full article here.

Livin' on a Prayer with JBJ, Taylor Swift & Prince William

Jon Bon Jovi, with a little help from Lorenza Ponce on violin and Bobby Bandiera on guitar and backing vocals, performed at the Winter Whites Gala at Kensington Palace. In a video that's been doing the rounds on mainstream media, Taylor Swift and Prince William joined JBJ at the microphone for an acoustic rendition of Livin' on a Prayer.

Taylor Swift, Bon Jovi, and Prince William sing 'Living On A Prayer' at the Winter Whites Gala

Richie Sambora "will be back": TMZ

In a short TMZ video at the airport, Richie Sambora said he would be back with Bon Jovi sometime after the current tour and that he was doing some solo shows in Australia in January.

Richie Sambora -- I Will Reunite With Bon Jovi

Richie Sambora -- I Will Reunite With Bon Jovi
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Richie Sambora performs Wanted for the Dream Foundation

Richie Sambora recently performed at an annual fundraiser for the Dream Foundation. Here is his acoustic version of "Wanted Dead or Alive" featuring members of his solo band.

Richie Sambora Performs "Dead or Alive" for the Dream Foundation


What do you think of the performance?

Jon Bon Jovi interview on Fifi and Jules

While on tour in Montreal recently, Jon Bon Jovi was interviewed on Australian radio by Fifi on the Today Network. He spoke about touring Australia, walking Aussie bride Branka down the aisle, and fresh new talent like New Zealand teenager Lorde. Listen to the interview here.

Phil X honours memory of young Mississauga woman by playing her guitar in concert

The Toronto Star recently published an article about the guitar Phil X played during Wanted Dead or Alive in Toronto on November 2. The custom-designed guitar had been given to The Guitar World by the family of a young woman named Kara who died suddenly in September:

Enter rock star Phil Xenidis, known as Phil X, who recently replaced Richie Sambora as the guitarist with Bon Jovi.

Xenidis, a Mississauga native and friend of [The Guitar World store owner Jim] Toris, saw the post about Kara. “All I saw was this young girl with a huge smile holding up the guitar she just got,” he says. “And it put a big smile on my face.”

He read about her death and how the family wanted people to play her guitar and “I just texted my buddy Jim on the spot to say ‘I’d love to play Kara’s guitar when we play the Air Canada Centre with Bon Jovi,’” he says.

The gesture was beyond what anyone had imagined, Toris says, adding “he blew my mind away when he explained how he wanted to be part of it.”

Xenidis didn’t want to make a fuss. “I didn’t even tell Jon (Bon Jovi),” he says. “I didn’t tell anybody. For me it was more of a personal touch, something I wanted to do for the family.”

Read the full story here.

Bon Jovi - WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE - PHIL X - Toronto - 11-02-2013

Bon Jovi Montreal set list 8/11/13

Bon Jovi played a long show in Montreal for what was the last show of this leg, and final North American show of the tour. A woman reportedly jumped onto the circle platform to kiss Jon during Make a Memory, while David and Phil both got to sing during the Sleep medley. Never Say Goodbye got a rare outing during the encore.

Were you there?

Montreal, QC, Canada - Bell Centre - November 8, 2013

1. That's What the Water Made Me
2. You Give Love a Bad Name
3. Raise Your Hands
4. Runaway
5. Lost Highway
6. Whole Lot of Leavin'
7. It's My Life
8. Because We Can
9. What About Now
10. We Got It Going On
11. Keep the Faith
12. Amen
13. Someday I'll Be Saturday Night - acoustic
14. Diamond Ring
15. (You Want To) Make a Memory
16. Born to Be My Baby
17. We Weren't Born to Follow
18. Who Says You Can't Go Home
19. I'll Sleep when I'm Dead
    / Great Balls of Fire - Jerry Lee Lewis cover (David Bryan vox)
    / Start Me Up - Rolling Stones cover
    / Takin' Care of Business - Bachman Turner Overdrive cover (Phil X vox)
20. Bad Medicine
encore:
21. Captain Crash and the Beauty Queen from Mars
22. Have a Nice Day
23. Wanted Dead or Alive
24. In These Arms
25. Always
26. Livin' on a Prayer
27. Never Say Goodbye - acoustic
28. I Love This Town