For more than 30 years, Bon Jovi has been rocking arenas and stadiums with their signature brand of blue-collar, big-hearted rock. The New Jersey natives have been a constant presence on the live music scene, amassing an immense following with hit songs like “You Give Love A Bad Name” and “Livin’ On a Prayer.” In fact, they’ve sold more than 130 million albums worldwide!
Jon Bon Jovi first picked up a guitar at the age of 12 and by 1983 was fronting his own band, forming a group that would eventually become one of the world’s biggest arena rock acts. Their 1986 album, Slippery When Wet, took the group international with a string of hits that included “Bed of Roses” and “Livin’ on a Prayer.” But all that singing caught up to Bon Jovi in 2022 when the band’s frontman suffered vocal cord damage. He is on the mend, but it’s unclear when he will be ready to perform live again.
Bon Jovi has kept busy during the COVID-19 pandemic with a new docuseries, a full-length album, and a tour. Frontman Jon Bon Jovi recently spoke to Boston radio station Mix 104.1 and gave some hints about what’s next for the band.
While it’s uncertain whether or not the band will return to the stage, fans still have plenty of opportunities to see them live. The band recently announced a series of shows called Encore Drive-In Nights in which they will play their classics at local drive-in theaters. This is just the latest way for fans to experience the band without having to pay the astronomical concert ticket prices.
The band opened the show with “Beautiful Drug” and “Do What You Can,” which showcased a vocally effective lower range, but it was the classics that got people most excited. They were all delivered with energy and precision, with Tico Torres delivering a powerful beat on the drum kit and Phil X providing a dazzling array of lead guitar solos.
While it’s a shame that Bon Jovi can’t keep up their energetic touring schedule, they’ve proven that arena rock is far from dead with this series of Encore Drive-In Nights shows. And with a new album and docuseries in the works, it looks like there will be more to come from this legendary group of musicians. This is definitely a band to watch. For more information on Bon Jovi, visit their website. You can also listen to their limited-run Bon Jovi Radio channel on SiriusXM. It features exclusive weekly concerts and insight from the band, their crew, and Jon Bon Jovi himself! It’s a must-listen for any rock fan!