The Return Of The Rock Stars Post by: Dan The Internut 9 December, 2010 - 2:29 AM

All hail the return of the rock star... The summer of rock officially started in Perth last night, as Bon Jovi, the consumate rock stars, hit the stage at Paterson's Stadium for the start of the Australian leg of The Circle tour.

The house lights went down as the 400 m2 screen (yes, you read correctly) played the opening credits of what is fast becoming the norm for these rock concerts. The rock show with added screen interactivity. Awesome!

EXCLUSIVE: Watch We Weren't Born To Follow and You Give Love A Bad Name live at Patersons Stadium.

The crowd went bananas as the band hit their straps on the very first song of the night, the band (and Jon Bon Jovi in particular) looking in fine form. What is it about rock stars? They just don't seem to age.

When the band hit crowd favourite "It's My Life", something obviously kicked in for Jon. "Now they're waking up", he remarked to the band... You've got to give it to Jon Bon Jovi, he is the front man's front man... Jon was forever inciting the crowd to put their hands in the air, and even cracking out some Daryl Somers style moves to keep the band in check. Just like Daryl, only way cooler.

"Sleep When I'm Dead" had an interesting segue into The Stones "Start Me Up", complete with Jon striking an impressive jagger pose or three. "If you don't have fun doing this, you may as well be dead", Jon tells the crowd. He continued to add that "If I get going you'd better look out Perth. I'm a dangerous man tonight." Obviously, the crowd did everything it could to make this a reality, they were literally eating out of the palm of his hand.

Bad Medicine did what you expected it would... tear the house down... we weren't even half way through the show and the only signs of slowing down were coming from the crowd. The band are fit, and in form, rocking out for over two and a half hours.

Lay Your Hands On Me showcased the awesome vocal talents of Richie Sambora, who did a brilliant job as stand in front man. The band then decided to step it down a notch, getting all intimate with the crowd at the peak of the circle, tackling "Something For The Pain" with Jon and Richie joined by Tico playing an old school rythym box and Dave sporting a piano accordion... I kid you not.

If there was one criticism (and it's only minor), the show wound down with probably one too many slower tunes. Although, maybe it was just part of Jon's master plan, as when the band hit the first few notes of "Livin' On A Prayer", that lost energy came flooding back in droves... and there's nothing like 30,000 screaming fans singing along to one of the best sing-a-long choruses there is.

All in all, if Bon Jovi is just a taste of what's to come this summer, then let's hope this summer never ends. Rock on!!!

--set list--

Blood on Blood
We Weren't Born to Follow
You Give Love a Bad Name
Born to Be My Baby
Lost Highway
Whole Lot of Leavin'
When We Were Beautiful
It's My Life
No Apologies
Sleep When I'm Dead (Start Me Up segue)
Bad Medicine (Shout segue)
Lay Your Hands On Me
If You Ain't Got Love
I'll Be There for You
Something For The Pain
Someday I'll Be Saturday Night
Work For The Working Man
Raise Your Hands
Have A Nice Day
Who Says You Can't Go Home
Keep The Faith
(encore)
Always
Wanted Dead or Alive
Livin' on a Prayer

Leave your comment

• julie says

  Bon Jovi .... an absolutely awesome experience.... will never forget the 8th / 12 / 2010.... ever....

  Posted Thursday 9 December, 2010 3:02 AM
• Kylee says

  That was one of the best concerts I have been too. My 13 year old son came as a stand in because hubby couldn't make it, and we partied together. He even knew the words to "Living on a Prayer" thanks to me always cranking up the radio in the car when that comes on. Couldn't have finished with a better song!!!! BON JOVI YOU STILL GOT IT

  Posted Thursday 9 December, 2010 7:00 AM
• michelle hughes says

  Wish they played Blaze of Glory.

  FANTASTIC NIGHT !!!!

  Posted Thursday 9 December, 2010 7:01 AM
• Sandy Beattie says

  Hi guys,
  I agree the concert was fantastic fantastic fantastic. Absolutely fantastic.

  Posted Thursday 9 December, 2010 7:20 AM
• Julie says

  What an awesome night, Bon Jovi never fail to please their audience. WE LOVE JON....

  Posted Thursday 9 December, 2010 8:18 AM
• Sharon says

  Great concert, they had the crowd in the palm of their hand up until "Ritchie" sang Lay your hands on Me - major hit for them, Jon should have delivered it!

  Posted Thursday 9 December, 2010 9:27 AM
• Laura Downs says

  Bed of Roses was NOT sung last night - we all hoped it would but it wasn't!!!!

  Posted Thursday 9 December, 2010 9:46 AM
• Ann Rowe says

  Do we got it going on? YES indeed!!! An awesome gig, fabulous performance, Jon as entertaining and charismatic as ever, they gave it full belt last night. Tremendous guys, thanks for creating some fabulous memories. Like a good bottle of wine they get even better with age. :-)

  Posted Thursday 9 December, 2010 11:38 AM
• Suzi Ware says

  Thank you firstly 94.5 for my tickets - I won the grand prize of your Wrong Jovi competition and was lucky enough to be in the Circle, we were VIP's for a couple of hours and it was awesome. The concert was the best I've been to ever.
  I wish they were doing another night here as I would be there for that too.
  I knew they didn't play bed of roses.

  Posted Thursday 9 December, 2010 12:03 PM
• Leanne says

  Awesome show, best concert ever!! When they came out into the crowd, they were right in front of me!! I nearly fainted, was so excited!! Jon (and boys), u guys rock!! Please don't ever retire! hahahah

  Posted Thursday 9 December, 2010 12:09 PM

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