There is only one word to describe the Bon Jovi gig at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne last night – BIG.
Bon Jovi give the crowd exactly what they want. What more can you ask for from a band?
Bon Jovi are on the final leg of the ‘The Circle’ world tour. Etihad was the biggest of the Aussie shows with 55,000 people coming along to sing along to classics like ‘You Give Love A Bad Name’, ‘Bad Medicine’ and ‘Living On A Prayer.
This show spanned the entire 26 year career of Bon Jovi including the very first song from the very first album (Runaway, 1984) to their most recent newbie ‘No Apologies (2010).
The Jersey Boys also paid tribute to some of their influences with The Doors ‘Roadhouse Blues’ and The Isley Brothers ‘Shout’ padding out ‘Bad Medicine’ for over 12 minutes. Jon Bon Jovi also performed The Rolling Stones ‘Start Me Up’, complete with Mick Jagger strut in the show.
If I can say one thing I have never understood about a Bon Jovi show, then that is way does Jon set all the spotlight. His solo ‘Blaze of Glory’ is often in the set, but not tonight. I’d live to hear something from Richie Sambora’s solo album ‘Stranger In This Town’ just once. ‘Ballad Of Youth’ would be a great inclusion in their set. Richie’s one and only starring role last night was taking lead vocal on ‘Lay Your Hands On Me.
The only two albums not donating to tonight’s setlist were ‘7800 Degrees Fahrenheit’ (1985) and ‘Bounce’ (2002).
Here is what Bon Jovi played at Etihad Stadium, Melbourne, Australia, December 11, 2010:
Blood On Blood (from New Jersey, 1988)
We Weren’t Born To Follow (from The Circle, 2009)
You Give Love A Bad Name (from Slippery When Wet, 1986)
Born To Be My Baby (from New Jersey, 1988)
Lost Highway (from Lost Highway, 2007)
Whole Lot of Leaving (from Lost Highway, 2007)
When We Were Beautiful (from The Circle, 2009)
Runaway (from Bon Jovi, 1984)
It’s My Life (from Crush, 2000)
No Apologies (from Greatest Hits, 2010)
We Got It Goin’ On (from Lost Highway, 2007)
Keep The Faith (from Keep The Faith, 1992)
Bad Medicine/Roadhouse Blues/Shout (from New Jersey, 1988/ The Doors, The Isley Brothers)
Lay Your Hands On Me (from New Jersey, 1988)
(You Want To) Make A Memory (from Lost Highway, 2007)
Diamond Ring (from These Days, 1995)
I’ll Be There For You (from New Jersey, 1988)
I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead (from Keep The Faith, 1992)
Start Me Up (Rolling Stones cover)
Raise Your Hands (from Slippery When Wet, 1986)
Have A Nice Day (from Have A Nice Day, 2005)
Who Says You Can’t Go Home (from Have A Nice Day, 2005)
Living On A Prayer (from Slippery When Wet, 1986)
Always (from Cross Road, 1994)
Wanted Dead Of Alive (from Slippery When Wet, 1986)
Someday I'll Be Saturday Night (from Cross Road, 1994)
VIDEO: Watch the Undercover video interview with Tico Torres from Bon Jovi:
