“An overwhelming, heart-pounding wave of joy”—that’s how I would describe the experience when I took a Bon Jovi superfan to an exclusive Bon Jovi concert.
By Website Content Manager
When Bon Jovi performed This House Is Not For Sale at an intimate London show, Classic Rock brought along a superfan to witness the performance and meet the band.
It’s May 1985, and Bon Jovi is performing at London’s Dominion Theatre, midway through the UK leg of their 7800° Fahrenheit tour. Tickets are just £3.50, and the mostly male audience is confronted by a frontman who doesn’t quite fit the typical rock star image. His outfit is accessorized with women’s underwear, and his strikingly chiselled cheekbones and dazzling smile—accentuated by flawless teeth—only add to the intrigue. His hair is perfectly tousled, and a shimmering blue cloak fans out as he spins across the stage. Beside him, a slim, leather-clad guitarist, his chest bare, complements the scene. It’s clear they’re onto something, but the show is met with mixed reactions. While the performance itself is solid, the crowd—still recovering from the NWOBHM era’s raw, gritty rock—is wary of these two pretty boys.
For an audience still steeped in the musky, rugged aura of heavy metal, Bon Jovi is an unexpected sight. However, not everyone is put off. Among the crowd, young women are losing their minds, completely captivated.
Fast forward 31 years, and Bon Jovi is back on stage at a similar London venue. The guitarist from those early days is no longer with the band, but the women who once swooned over them now fill the audience. This time, Classic Rock is sitting next to one of them. Angela, a charity worker from Preston, has been a devoted fan since she was seven years old, when she first fell in love with the band during a family trip to New Jersey.
Angela first saw Bon Jovi during their These Days tour at Wembley Arena.
“It was everything I hoped it would be,” she recalls. “It was ten times better. The only thing I can compare it to is when you land in New York for the first time and feel like anything is possible. That’s how their music makes me feel.”
She also believes Bon Jovi has a unique ability to bring people together. “If you ever feel out of place or unsure how to connect with others, talking about Bon Jovi is a great way to start a conversation. It’s helped me in work situations and in making friends.”
What would she do if she met Jon?
“I might die,” she laughs. “I’ve thought about it a lot. I’ve even role-played it with a friend.”
Tonight’s “Listening Party” marks Bon Jovi’s attempt to hit the reset button. With a new album on the horizon and a fresh seven-member lineup, it’s a rare chance to see the band perform an intimate set, while testing new material in front of an eager, supportive crowd.
As is the custom in 2016, this live show is sponsored by a streaming service backed by wealthy investors, with fans securing tickets either through a lottery or by paying £1,230 for a package that includes cocktails, a meet-and-greet, and a signed photo. A far cry from 1985.
“It’s Sunday Night at the London Palladium,” Jon Bon Jovi announces, “and my name’s Bruce Forsyth.”
Dressed in a simple black shirt and trousers, Jon carries that timeless, slightly androgynous look of men who’ve managed to maintain their looks, hair, and physique as they age. He’s part Bill Clinton, part Ellen DeGeneres, but still strikingly handsome.
New rhythm guitarist John Shanks (also the album’s producer) kicks things off with the riff from the title track, This House Is Not For Sale. It’s clear this song will be a staple in future setlists, with a riff straight from the Bryan Adams playbook and a chorus that stands shoulder to shoulder with the band’s most anthemic Rock of Ages-style hits. By the three-minute mark, it feels like we’ve already reached the peak of the mountain.
Next up is Living With The Ghost, and it’s evident Jon hasn’t lost his ability to craft a tune. These songs are tailor-made for massive arenas, with guitars that ring out and choruses that soar sky-high. While they may not be Coldplay or U2, their music shares a similar DNA.
One thing Jon Bon Jovi does share with Bono and Chris Martin is sincerity. He’s full of it, and it’s on full display tonight. He takes time to talk about each song, delving into the stories behind them, explaining the whos, whys, and hows, even allowing the room’s energy to dip after each song as he speaks.