| BACK in 1999, Bon Jovi came to London to play at a charity event in Syon Park, Middlesex. The night before the event, they had gone to a gig in Shepherds Bush. This wasn't just any gig, it was "The Rolling Stones" playing an intimate club gig at the Shepherds Bush Empire. Tickets were like gold dust, as you can imagine. The band enjoyed the night immensly, so much so that Jon decided that he would return to that small, sweaty club one day, and the sign outside would say "BON JOVI" SOLD OUT. That day was September 18th 2002! EVERYONE was in very high spirits and the atmosphere was great! I kept looking up at the sign saying "SOLD OUT - BON JOVI -SEPT 18TH" It was surreal and gave me an adrenelin rush each time! It was like looking up at the sign outside the Count Bassie theatre n New Jersey back in Xmas 96. The Empire is probably the same size as the Count Bassie theatre so to see their name up there is a huge thrill and you just know this show is gonna be just as special if not more so, for me anyway. I grew up around Shepherds Bush as did my father and his parents, so it's like Bon Jovi are playing this one off exclusive gig in my backyard baby!! We has plenty of time until doors were opening so we decided to head off to the bar which was a just few yards from the venue. That bar has been there for years and it was the place where all the old great bands used to showcase their songs back in the 60's. Bands like "The Who" and "The Stones", etc. Very cool place to hang out! My father would go there when he was just a kid and see all these cool bands playing there before they were famous. |
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BON JOVI ROCKED SHEPHERDS BUSH! Update 19th Sept, 02 - taken from www.backstagejbj.com: Minutes ago Bon Jovi left the stage to a frenzied crowd at SHEPHERD'S BUSH EMPIRE.At 8:45 sharp... BON JOVI hit the stage. The band took the stage and JON and RICHIE began an acoustic version of THE KINKS' classic song CELLULOID HERO.... and, after the first verse, rock 'n' roll legend RAY DAVIES of THE KINKS joined the band on stage for a full version of the song! The crowd went wild an you can see the excitement run through the crowd and into the band. It was a HUGE surprise for the crowd! RAY said his thanks and BON JOVI took over with: LIVIN' ON A PRAYER, YOU GIVE LOVE A BAD NAME, EVERYDAY, BORN TO BE MY BABY, JUST OLDER, BOUNCE, UNDIVIDED, WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE, IT'S MY LIFE, MISUNDERSTOOD, THE DISTANCE, CAPTAIN CRASH AND THE BEAUTY QUEEN FROM MARS, I'LL SLEEP WHEN I'M DEAD, BAD MEDICINE (with SHOUT as the ending). Of course they couldn't leave it like so after a few minutes, the band returned for the first encore: JOEY and BLOOD ON BLOOD. They left the stage and came back moments later with an amazing rendition of KEEP THE FAITH. As soon as that song was done, the band darted offstage, out the stage door and into waiting cars...off into the London night. And for those of you who weren't there to catch it live, it was webcasted on rollingstone.com. It was just like you were there, without the sweat of course! Don't forget all the cinemas in the UK, as well as in Amsterdam, Berlin and Hamburg...the crowd reaction was amazing. The fans were up and dancing and partying as if they were in Shepherds Bush themselves! We hope you enjoyed the show as much as the band enjoyed playing it!!!!! |
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| BON JOVI ROCK LONDON @ THE SHEPHERDS BUSH EMPIRE - September 18th 2002. |
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| Sept 18th 2002 - WHAT A GREAT F**KING DAY FOR ROCK N ROLL!!!! Review by Donna Butler. |
| A few beers later and we were heading back to the venue. SHOWTIME began at 19.45 with a lacklustre performance by support band "Lifehouse." They were boring at first but the crowd warmed up a little when they did their hit single "Hanging by a moment". The atmosphere was building during stage changeover, the venue was packed out and the crowd were chanting for the main event!!!! Jon and the band wanted this gig to be very low key and very informal and that's exactly how it was. Security was limited to each end of the stage, noone came and stood along front, so that was another pleasant suprise. THEN the lights went down!! This was it - the moment we had all been waiting for! We saw Dave, Richie, Tico and Hugh take their places and the crowd started to go wild! - Then Jon saunters on looking like the cat who had got the cream!! - They started off with an unfamiliar song which turned out to be "Celluloid Hero." I thought this a bit odd at first, as I was kinda hoping they would kick off the show with a new track, "Hook me Up" just as they did for their Japan club gig a week previous. But then this guy walks on stage wearing a long grey trench coat. Jon was grinning at him while I was checking out the name on his lamenate hanging around his neck. Just as I thought, it was the legendary Ray Davis from The Kinks! I didn't know the song and was just enjoying this historical moment... |
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| Ray left the stage and the intro started for "Prayer". The crowd went wild again and cheered and screamed. We were all singing along, smiling, grinning, clapping and generally going nuts!! The guys were so close, there was about 2 feet between the front barrier and stage and the stage was almost level with the barrier! I wasn't sure about Richie's attire,lol didn't like the skirt thing, but his pants looked good! - Jon had tight jeans on and a light blue ribbed t-shirt which was very tight also. - Dave had his trademark black leather pants on and Hugh a dark blue shirt with jeans I think. I could just see Tico's head above his drums and at one point he hit those drums so damn hard that his drum tech had to come out and replace some of them as he had broke them! Jon was interacting a lot with the crowd and was smiling at a few people. Dave was also smiling over a lot and singing along with the crowd. Jon said that the next one was the new single and he had heard that it's rumoured to be #1 on Sunday! Everyone went nuts again! Everyday" rocked and the crowd were fist pumping and clapping along, it was very cool! - I don't remember the order of the songs right now but I think that "Bounce" was next. Great rocking song and got everyone bouncing up and down! Jon said something about the album not being out yet and that he hoped we all like the new songs. He said a heartfelt speech and a plea to the terrorists to think before picking up guns and killing innocent people, then they played "Undivided." The mood during that song was one of unity and defiance. We wont let the b***ards get us down! They continued with some more new songs, "Misunderstood" which Jon said would probably be the new single, and then "The Distance". I love that song. It was a great version and sounded so good! "Captain Crash" was a lot of fun and we all clapped along while swaying from side to side. Half of the front row were clapping and the other half were waving their arm from side to side, while I was in the middle and didn't know which to do! Some of the crowd were out also of time and going the wrong way altogether, well, I thought this was hilarious and just cracked up! I *think* I spotted Luke Ebbin at the side of the stage and he was laughing, so was Dave! "Sleep when I'm dead", "Bad Medicine" and "Shout" came next and whipped the crowd into a frenzy! Was it hot in there????? Yes, damn hot!! At one point Jon even said this was like taking a steam bath with 1200 of his closest friends! - During "Bad Medicine" Jon decided to step up on the step infront of the barrier and reach out to the crowd. People were pulling at this shirt and touching him as he moved all the way along! After "Shout", the guys left the stage to rapturous applause only to return for a killer version of "Joey". It was heartfelt and moving and I really enjoyed it a lot. "Blood of Blood" followed which was cool as they haven't played that one much on the last two tours! - It was nearly time for the show to end and as the band took their bows I felt so proud to have been part of this fantastic gig and felt so proud of the band to still be on top after 20 years in the business! Jon wasn't quite ready to leave the stage just yet, he would probably have played all night if he could! He then said they would play one more. - Hugh started the intro to "Keep the Faith." That one is my favourite song live and I couldn't believe I didn't realise they hadn't done it already! - i guess I was too engrossed in the whole show to notice. It was another killer version. as if this song couldn't get any better when played live, it just might have! The band took their final bows and Richie introduced Jon Bon Jovi, which was a nice touch. Jon beamed, the band beamed, we beamed, the crowd beamed! They said their goodbyes and left the stage. The crowd cheered for more but that was it. they weren't coming back. It was one hell of a show and I hope that it will stand out as one of the best shows of the band's career! Now roll on the tour!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! By Donna Butler. |
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| SET LIST. CELLULOID HERO LIVIN' ON A PRAYER YOU GIVE LOVE A BAD NAME EVERYDAY BORN TO BE MY BABY JUST OLDER BOUNCE UNDIVIDED WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE IT'S MY LIFE MISUNDERSTOOD THE DISTANCE CAPTAIN CRASH I'LL SLEEP WHEN I'M DEAD BAD MEDICINE -with SHOUT FIRST ENCORE JOEY BLOOD ON BLOOD SECOND ENCORE KEEP THE FAITH |
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| Note: My review further the down page! |
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