Bon Jovi doesn't know when Richie Sambora will return

If Twitter is any indication, even Matt Bongiovi still can't say if Richie Sambora will be back for the European leg of Bon Jovi's Because We Can Tour starting in May...

@23866mar don't have an answer. Wish I did

— Matthew Bongiovi (@MatthewBongiovi) April 29, 2013

Who knows if there's some kind of gag order in place that prevents Richie from saying a) what's keeping him off the tour and b) when he might be back. But it's a tough pill to swallow when your favourite band's guitarist pulls a disappearing act on the day of a show then leaves everyone in the dark as to why. Plenty of speculation but it's hard to know what to believe.

David Bryan & Joe DiPietro Join Orpheum Sidewalk of Stars

Awesome stuff for Bon Jovi's king of the keys and musical maestro David Bryan:

The Tony Award Winning duo David Bryan and Joe DiPietro, co-writers of MEMPHIS THE MUSICAL, will be added to the Orpheum's famed "Sidewalk of Stars" during a special presentation at the Orpheum Theatre on Saturday, April 27.

"MEMPHIS THE MUSICAL has sparked renewed interest in all the great things our City has to offer," said Orpheum President and CEO Pat Halloran, who will present the stars on Saturday. "We are proud to honor David and Joe for their significant contributions to both the arts and to the City of Memphis by adding two bright new stars to the Orpheum's 'Sidewalk of Stars.' "

Bryan and DiPietro will join the ranks of prestigious Orpheum performers such as Harry Houdini, Cary Grant, Mae West, Tyler Perry, and Carol Channing, to name a few.

Read the full article at Broadway World.

I'm not trying to stir the pot or anything but it's kind of interesting how Dave gets so much more respect and appreciation for his non-Bon Jovi endeavours. (Then again, Bon Jovi is Bon Jovi and it's never been overly "cool" to like them but they are still kicking around after three decades unlike many of their peers.)

Bon Jovi San Jose set list 25/4/13

Bon Jovi played in San Jose in what was the last show of this tour leg, but we are still none the wiser as to whether or not Richie Sambora will resume as the band's lead guitarist when the Because We Can Tour kicks off again in Cape Town on May 7...

San Jose, CA, US - HP Pavilion at San Jose - April 25, 2013

1. That's What The Water Made Me
2. You Give Love A Bad Name
3. Born To Be My Baby
4. Raise Your Hands
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. Bed Of Roses
14. Runaway
15. We Weren't Born To Follow
16. Who Says You Can't Go Home
17. I'll Sleep When I'm Dead
    / Dancing In The Street - Martha & the Vandellas and Jagger/Bowie cover
    / Start Me Up - Rolling Stones cover
18. Bad Medicine
    / Shout! - Isley Brothers cover

Encore:
19. Wanted Dead Or Alive
20. Have A Nice Day
21. Livin' On A Prayer

Encore 2:
22. Blood On Blood
23. Always
24. I Love This Town

Bon Jovi Glendale set list 23/4/13

Bon Jovi played in Glendale for their second last show of this North American leg. Were you at the concert?

Glendale, AZ, US - Jobing.com Arena - April 23, 2013

1. That's What the Water Made Me
2. You Give Love a Bad Name
3. Raise Your Hands
4. Lost Highway
5. Whole Lot of Leavin'
6. It's My Life
7. Because We Can
8. What About Now
9. Captain Crash and the Beauty Queen from Mars
10. We Got It Going On
11. Keep the Faith
12. (You Want To) Make a Memory
13. Bed of Roses
14. Last Man Standing
15. We Weren't Born to Follow
16. I'll Sleep When I'm Dead
    / Dancing in the Street [Martha & the Vandellas and Jagger/Bowie cover]
    / Start Me Up [Rolling Stones cover]
17. Bad Medicine

Encore:
18. Wanted Dead or Alive
19. Who Says You Can't Go Home
20. Have a Nice Day
21. Livin' on a Prayer

Encore 2:
22. Always
23. I Love This Town

The next show, in San Jose will be streamed online (first 30 minutes to the public and full show for Backstage JBJ members).

Bon Jovi on Ellen, 2nd single What About Now

Earlier in the tour, Jon Bon Jovi nominated Amen as the second single from What About Now. It was even performed when he was on Katie Couric's show, but having been dropped from recent set lists it appears that the official second single will now be the title track. Bon Jovi (featuring Phil X and Bobby Bandiera) performed What About Now on Ellen, in an episode broadcast today.



Who Says You Can't Go Home was also performed.

Ellen DeGeneres also asked Jon about Richie Sambora's current absence, to which Jon simply reiterated that it was a personal matter and Richie was still in the band.


There will be a live stream of the April 25 concert in San Jose, which the last show of the current leg... So hopefully we'll soon find out if Richie will be back for the shows in South Africa and Europe starting in May.

Bon Jovi Las Vegas set list 20/4/13

Short set from Bon Jovi in Las Vegas, as well as a few different song placements. Were you at the show?

Las Vegas, NV, US - MGM Grand Garden Arena - April 20, 2013

1. That's What The Water Made Me
2. You Give Love A Bad Name
3. Born to Be My Baby
4. Raise Your Hands
5. Lost Highway
6. Superman Tonight
7. It's My Life
8. Because We Can
9. What About Now
10. I Love This Town
11. Keep The Faith
12. Amen
13. Bed Of Roses
14. Last Man Standing
15. We Weren't Born To Follow
16. Who Says You Can't Go Home
17. I'll Sleep When I'm Dead
18. Bad Medicine
    / Hot Legs [Rod Stewart cover]
Encore:
19. When We Were Beautiful
20. Wanted Dead Or Alive
21. Livin' On A Prayer

Bon Jovi Los Angeles set list 19/4/13

Still no sign of Richie Sambora when Bon Jovi played in LA. They also finished the show with Treat Her Right replacing what was originally going to be These Days according to the set list. Hey God was also an audible -- along with In These Arms, Superman Tonight, Army of One, What's Left of Me and Old Time Rock 'n' Roll.

Were you at the show?

Los Angeles, CA, US - Staples Center - April 19, 2013

1. That's What The Water Made Me
2. You Give Love A Bad Name
3. Born To Be My Baby
4. Raise Your Hands
5. Lost Highway
6. Whole Lot Of Leavin'
7. It's My Life
8. Because We Can
9. What About Now
10. Work For The Working Man
11. We Got It Going On
12. Keep The Faith
13. (You Want To) Make A Memory
14. Bed Of Roses
15. I'll Be There For You
16. Have A Nice Day
17. We Weren't Born To Follow
18. Who Says You Can't Go Home
    / Dancing in the Street [Martha & the Vandellas, Jagger/Bowie cover]
    / Start Me Up [Rolling Stones cover]
19. I'll Sleep When I'm Dead
20. Bad Medicine

Encore:
21. Dry County
22. Wanted Dead Or Alive
23. Livin' On A Prayer

Encore 2:
24. Someday I'll Be Saturday Night
25. Always
26. Treat Her Right [Roy Head and the Traits cover]