Bon Jovi in Concert

Twenty years ago in 1995, I was doing my 4th year practical training in KL, and renting a room in my aunt’s house in SS2. My classmate Ray and I bought tickets to the Bon Jovi concert at Stadium Shah Alam. The stadium was then new, just fresh off being featured in Jackie Chan’s movie. Ray bought the standing ticket on the field, him being a Selangor FC fan and wanting to touch the hallowed turf of the stadium (*rolls eyes*)

Anyway he changed his ticket to seating zone with me, and one day we were off. The entrance was extremely chaotic, due to poor crowd control.

Back in 1995, Bon Jovi was on the road promoting their Crossroads album, a greatest hits compilation. Jon Bon Jovi had just fired their bassist Alec John Such, so there were only 4 members on the bill. this was the era of JBJ – Richie Sambora – Tico Torres – David Bryan, which was the same up until earlier this year.

The concert was phenomenal, the crowd was just fantastic. They ran through all their hits, and came back for 3 encores (if i recall correctly).

Fast forward 20 years later, i went for their concert again last weekend at Stadium Merdeka. In the interim years, so much has changed for the band. Jon Bon Jovi is still rocking on, although he looks a little thinner, craggier, and shorter hair. Richie Sambora is gone, and in his place, two younger guitarists.

Jon BJ is still the showman, but i get the feeling he is having trouble hitting the high notes, which may or may not have influenced his setlist. They ran through their hits, mostly newer, 90’s tracks. But it was the mainstays that got the biggest reaction from the crowd – hits like Bad Medicine, It’s My Life and Livin’ on A Prayer.

He did only 1 encore, which was very disappointing. No Always, no Blaze of Glory, no Bed of Roses. But he did do a beautiful acoustic rendition of Someday I’ll be Saturday Night.

Speaking of the crowd, David and I felt we were the median age, with lots of uncles and makcik rocks. Maybe no encore coz older folks want to go home to sleep early…

David and I were talking about big stadium concerts on the way home, and how not many rock bands can / will come to Malaysia. Metallica came and went, Poison, Motley Crue et al are no longer around, Slayer and Iron Maiden probably can’t get in, and Manowar and Megadeth probably don’t want to…. So it’s only Bon Jovi…

As i reflect on the 20 years between the 2 concerts, not only has the band evolved, so much has changed for me in the intervening years. who knows what life will hold for us if they ever return in another 20 years.