Three years after the New Jersey-bred rock band officially launched the venue, Bon Jovi kicked off a 12-night stand at London's O2 Arena on June 7. During its AEG Live-promoted residency at the London venue, they will perform to over 175,000 fans, and AEG Live president of international touring Rob Hallett predicts that ticket sales for the current tour will out-perform the band's Lost Highway Tour in 2008-09.
Speaking to Billboard.biz, Hallett said, "We'll beat Lost Highway easily. I can't see anyone coming close to this tour. U2 would have been our only challenger but unfortunately Bono's hurt his back and we hope that he recovers quickly. But Bon Jovi, I think, will be head and shoulders above anyone else."
Bon Jovi opened the first night of its residency at the O2 Arena by performing four songs-"We Weren't Born to Follow," "Superman Tonight," "You Give Love a Bad Name" and "It's My life"-from atop a temporary stage in the middle of the venue's domes roof. From there, the band descended the stage-with the help of mountaineering experts no less.
Speaking about the rooftop gig, guitarist Richie Sambora told Billboard, "We like to push the envelope and do things that people don't normally do. We like to do stuff that has impact because I think that people remember those things as big events and they become part of rock lore, part of history and part of rock culture." As if Bon Jovi had to worry about remaining part of rock culture!
The first time the band performed at London's O2 Arena was in June 2007, when the band officially opened the venue (which is owned by AEG). Bon Jovi went on to embark upon its Lost Highway Tour, which was the biggest grossing tour of 2008. According to Billboard Boxscore, the trek grossed $210.6 million and attracted 2,157,675 fans. The Circle Tour, which began earlier this year and will run through the end of 2011, is poised to supersede the staggering figure set by the Lost Highway Tour.
Bon Jovi was also the first band to perform at the New Meadowlands stadium in New Jersey back in May. The band performed the first of four shows at the Garden State venue on May 26 in front of 55,000 fans, delivering a hits-packed set list featuring songs like "Living on a Prayer," "Wanted Dead or Alive" and "Dry Country." The band's namesake and leader Jon Bon Jovi told Billboard.com at the time, "To be at this place is every kid's wildest dream. To be in a band is every kid's wildest dream. To be in a band that makes a record is every kid's wildest dream. To be in a band that gets to a level that surpasses your heroes-it's beyond comprehension."
New Meadowlands isn't the only New Jersey venue to be opened by them, as the band did a 10-night stint at Newark's Prudential Center to open the venue in 2007. Once the band's run at the O2 Arena is over, the band will return to New Meadowlands Stadium in July before making stops in North American cities like Saratoga Springs, N.Y.; Calgary, AB; Toronto, ON; Chicago, Ill.; Louisville, Ky. and more. Fans of Jon Bon Jovi & Co. will want to hurry up and get Bon Jovi tickets online today.
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