Housekeeping and New Jersey re-releases

Firstly, a little housekeeping: It's been a few weeks since I blogged, so apologies to my readers. I'm currently working on what I hope will be my first novel, but there are no guarantees (although I mentioned that publicly in the hope that it would spur me on to complete the manuscript so as to avoid humiliation).

Feel free to pitch or submit a guest blog post if you would like to see your perspectives on Bon Jovi showcased on Blame It On The Love. Click here for some previous guest blogs to inspire you.

Meanwhile, Richie Sambora began his run of European dates last week. I'll post the set lists, etc up in my next post.

Finally, the Deluxe and Super Deluxe editions of New Jersey will be released on July 1. You can get demos of Homebound Train and Full Moon High in advance by pre-ordering the Deluxe edition on iTunes. The Super Deluxe version with DVD can be pre-ordered from various outlets including JB Hi-Fi, CDJapan, and Amazon.

New Jersey Album Anniversary Package Sneak Peak

Richie Sambora Ocean County Drug Forum set list

Richie Sambora performed at a drug awareness forum in New Jersey on May 27, debuting a new song called "Lighthouse".

Toms River, NJ, USA - Pine Belt Arena - May 27, 2014
First set (featuring Manchester High School Chorus):

1. Lean On Me - Bill Withers cover
2. Livin' on a Prayer
3. Lighthouse

Second set:

1. Every Road Leads Home to You
2. Wanted Dead or Alive
3. Seven Years Gone
4. Storybook Love - Willy DeVille/Mark Knopfler cover
5. I'll Be There For You
6. The Answer - ft Bruce Foster on piano
7. These Days
8. Taking a Chance on the Wind

This video features the press conference held before the forum, and a snippet of Richie's performance:
Richie Sambora at Pine Belt Arena


This video isn't the best quality, but it seems to be the only recording of Lighthouse that has emerged so far:
Richie Sambora "Lighthouse" for the 1st time Pine Belt Arena Toms River, NJ 5/27/14

The lyrics to Lighthouse are on Richie Sambora's website.

Meanwhile, Richie has added South Korea to his upcoming shows featuring Orianthi. He will perform at the 2014 Citybreak Festival in Seoul on August 10.

Bon Jovi to release expanded editions of New Jersey

As part of Bon Jovi's 30th anniversary celebrations, new remastered editions of their New Jersey album will be released this year. The Deluxe Edition will be a 2-CD set featuring the full album plus bonus tracks on the first disk, and unreleased demos from what was intended to be Sons of Beaches (before it was whittled down to the 12 tracks we know as New Jersey) on the second disk. The Super Deluxe Edition will feature the two CDs plus a DVD with Access All Areas and the music videos on it.

The track listing for the expanded editions are as follows:

DISC 1: NEW JERSEY (original album, remastered) + bonus tracks

1. Lay Your Hands On Me
2. Bad Medicine
3. Born To Be My Baby
4. Living In Sin
5. Blood On Blood
6. Homebound Train
7. Wild Is The Wind
8. Ride Cowboy Ride
9. Stick To Your Guns
10. I’ll Be There For You
11. 99 In The Shade
12. Love For Sale
Bonus Tracks:
13. The Boys Are Back In Town (Cover of the Thin Lizzy classic; previously released on Stairway To Heaven/Highway To Hell compilation; released in the U.K. as a 12” single B-side)
14. Love Is War (B-side from Living In Sin single)
15. Born To Be My Baby (Acoustic Version; previously released as a b-side in Japan)

DISC 2: The ‘SONS OF BEACHES’ Demos

1. Homebound Train
2. Judgment Day
3. Full Moon High
4. Growin’ Up The Hard Way
5. Let’s Make It Baby
6. Love Hurts
7. Backdoor To Heaven
8. Now And Forever
9. Wild Is The Wind
10. Stick To Your Guns
11. House Of Fire
12. Does Anybody Really Fall In Love Anymore?
13. Diamond Ring

DISC 3 (DVD):
1. ‘ACCESS ALL AREAS: A ROCK & ROLL ODYSSEY’
Directed by Wayne Isham.
The original 1990 88-minute documentary of the band’s epic 16-month world tour in support of the NEW JERSEY album; includes rare backstage, on-the-road, and live concert footage.
First time released in the U.S. on DVD format

2. MUSIC VIDEOS From the NEW JERSEY album
All directed by Wayne Isham

• Bad Medicine (1st Version)
• Born To Be My Baby
• I’ll Be There For You
• Lay Your Hands On Me
• Living In Sin
• Blood On Blood
• Bad Medicine (2nd Version)

The New Jersey Deluxe and Super Deluxe editions are set for release on July 1, although Australian music site Noise11 lists a June 27 date, so presumably the release dates will be staggered in different parts of the world. Other albums are set to get the "special deluxe" treatment this year, too.

Jon Bon Jovi & Kings of Suburbia Riviera Maya set list 4/5/14

Jon Bon Jovi and the Kings of Suburbia performed on May 4 as part of a Runaway Tours fan club trip to Mexico. Phil X isn't usually a member of the Kings but joined the band for this gig, as did JBJ solo show regulars Bobby Bandiera and Lorenza Ponce. This was the set list:

Cancun, Mexico - Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya - May 4, 2014

1. Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band - The Beatles cover
2. (Ain't Nothin' But a) House Party - The Showstoppers, J.Geils Band cover
3. Lost Highway
4. Whole Lot of Leavin'
5. Oh, Pretty Woman - Roy Orbison cover
6. Everyday People - Sly and the Family Stone cover
7. Old Time Rock 'n' Roll - Bob Seger cover
8. You Give Love a Bad Name
9. (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding - Brinsley Schwarz, Elvis Costello cover
10. I'm Your Man - Leonard Cohen cover
11. American Girl - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers cover
12. We Got It Going On
13. Under Pressure - Queen & David Bowie cover
14. Baba O'Riley - The Who cover
15. Because We Can
16. The Letter - The Box Tops, Joe Cocker cover
17. Who Says You Can't Go Home
18. Livin' on a Prayer
19. 634-5789 - Wilson Pickett cover
20. Bad Medicine

Were you at the show?

Tess Boyer performs I'll Be There For You on The Voice

Tess Boyer performed Bon Jovi's "I'll Be There For You" during the first live rounds on the US version of The Voice.

Tess Boyer: "I'll Be There for You" (The Voice Highlight)


What did you think of her performance?

David Bryan & Friends at Carrara Idol 2014

David Bryan performed in Milan, Italy for Carrara Idol on April 8, 2014, backed by the Matt O'Ree Band. He reportedly played the following songs (not sure on the set order):

• Underground - from "Memphis" the musical
• The Music Of My Soul - from "Memphis" the musical
• Who Says You Can't Go Home
• In These Arms
• Wanted Dead or Alive
• Bed of Roses
• Memphis Lives in Me - from "Memphis" the musical
• Livin' On a Prayer
• Bad Medicine
• When Love Comes to Town - U2 & BB King cover
• Hallelujah - Leonard Cohen cover
• Senza Una Donna / Without A Woman - Zucchero & Paul Young cover
• Great Balls Of Fire - Jerry Lee Lewis cover
• Twist and Shout - The Top Notes/Isley Brothers/Beatles cover

Here's a selection of videos from the show:

David Bryan Carrara Idol 2014 Hallelujah + Senza Una Donna


David Bryan Carrara Idol 2014 Music Of My Soul


David Bryan - Who Says You can't go Home Live at Carrara Idol


David Bryan Carrara Idol 2014 Bed Of Roses


David Bryan "Livin' on a Prayer" Carrara Idol 2014


David Bryan Carrara Idol 2014 When Love comes to town

Richie Sambora touring Europe in June

UPDATED 17/4/14: Here's a rundown of all the Richie Sambora tour dates that have now been announced for his upcoming June/July tour of Europe:

• Sunday, JUNE 15th at DONINGTON PARK for the DOWNLOAD FESTIVAL 2014
• Tuesday, JUNE 17th at 013 in TILBURG, HOLLAND
• Thursday, JUNE 19 at BEETHOVENSAAL in STUTTGART, GERMANY
• Friday, JUNE 20 at KESSELHAUS in MUNICH, GERMANY
• Sunday, JUNE 22 at HUXLEY’S in BERLIN, GERMANY
• Tuesday, JUNE 24 at E-WERK in COLOGNE, GERMANY
• Thursday, JUNE 26 at BATACLAN in PARIS, FRANCE
• Saturday, JUNE 28th at CLAPHAM COMMON for the CALLING FESTIVAL
• Monday, JUNE 30th at OLYMPIA in DUBLIN, IRELAND**
• Tuesday, JULY 1st at ULSTER HALL in BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND**
• Thursday, JULY 3 at O2 ABC in GLASGOW, SCOTLAND

As she did in Australia, Orianthi will be joining Richie's band on guitar.

Are you going to any of these shows?