To coin an old phrase, supergroups are like buses, you wait for ages then 2 come at once, after “Def Leppard” last week along comes the peter pan of rock, no, not “sir cliff” but the cowboy and outlaw “Jon Bon Jovi” who rides into the Coventry Ricoh Arena, “Bon Jovi are back after their last appearance at the Ricoh 2 years ago with a new album and headline tour.

Even with the hefty ticket price “Bon Jovi “ still manage to attract a 35,000 sell out crowd , after being warmed up by “the feeling”, ( strange addition to the bill ?) the now deafening crowd await the band, with the appearance of Jon & co the place goes absolutely nuts , they are straight in with “lost highway” & then “born to be my baby” with Jon whipping the crowd into a frenzy , the Ricoh is by now rocking , the back catalogue of bon jovi is impressive to say the least so its no wonder they unload big hits early on and at will, “you give love a bad name” “runaway”, my personal favourite “sleep when im dead” with the inclusion of “the Beatles” hits “twist and shout” and “back in the USSR”, it’s a very nice touch ,its good to see a set list that’s not just going through the motions , the sound quality seems to almost come and go, although Jon’s voice still comes over as sharp as ever, the band are tight.


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Ritchie Samboras guitar solos tease the crowd , Tico sitting high behind his kit looking as cool as always , David Bryan, yes that’s his name, on keyboards, its all so familiar. As was Def Leppard it’s almost too perfect, the stage is as always at a Bon Jovis gig, huge. the hits keep rolling “its my life” “keep the faith” “bad medicine”, you forget how many hits they have had, “always” “these days” “wanted dead or alive” bring to an end of what can only be described as a masterful performance, it’s a tuff call already this year on who’s going to win best live supergroup award , however im sure the massive cov crowd will agree, who ever it shall be will have to go some to beat tonight’s show.


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James Hope