When you find yourself in the Mediterranean Ocean, on board a cruise ship heading to Mallorca to experience a Music Festival, you realise music has expanded way beyond what we used to have back in the day when all you could hope for was get a good spot in a rock concert.
If you took Jon Bon Jovi back to 1983 when he first walked into a radio station and handed his Runaway single to a DJ hoping he would play it, and told him this would be happening 36 years later he would have dismissed it as a joke. Yet there we were. Ready to sing, party and bounce to his mega hits.
Upon approaching the vessel you could already hear ‘Livin’ on a Prayer’ blasting giving us a taste of what was to come.
The ship was nothing short of Bon Jovi paradise for the fanatic. With two scheduled shows, one acoustic/Q&A where fans would get to ask him questions, an open air session with Jon’s small venue band, the Kings of Suburbia, a memorabilia museum scattered along the ship with famous guitars, outfits, gold records and important mementos and awards gathered throughout Jon’s career. A more intimate look into the life on the road with Bon Jovi delivered in a candid, matter of fact way by Jon’s brother Matthew Bongiovi and sound engineer and childhood friend, Obie O’brien. To top that an insightful session into Jon’s private life with personal concert photographer David Bergman bringing not only great stories but also exclusive never seen private pictures of the Rockstar.
To the ones who wanted to experience more than just music, a full wine tasting experience with Jon Bon Jovi and his son Jesse Bongiovi’s Rosè wine, Hampton Water and how they managed to take their wine to the number 1 Rosè in the world. The program also offered an invitation to contribute and dine at Jon Bon Jovi’s Soul Kitchen, a project Jon and his wife Dorothea started to help the disadvantaged eat with dignity in a ‘pay it forward’ model. Guests also had the opportunity to meet the artists behind the scenes and to take a personal photo with Jon Bon Jovi. Oh, did I mention a day in Palma was also included? To most on that ship that was the least exciting feature!
In case you happened to have a Bon Jovi overdose – highly unlikely with that crowd – the line up consisted of other excellent artists and bands, like Johnny Rzeznik from the Goo Goo Dolls, Stewart Mac, Collateral, Betsy Gold, Grace Potter, Kris Barras Band, Antonio Rivas and others. It was musically rich, loud and vibrant.
The bad weather threatened to ruin the first show on the pool deck. There was even talk of cancellation due to the fact that there was no capacity in any of the ship’s interior venues to accommodate the crowd. But Jon Bon Jovi is well known for giving his audience what he promised, rain or shine, so he did two shows on that day instead of one. As Jon took the stage with his famous Takamine guitar and strummed the first notes to ‘You give love a bad name’, the public went wild and the bad weather was well and surely forgotten. The acoustic session also had hits like ‘It’s My Life’ and ‘Living in Sin’, closing with Jon Bon Jovi’s impeccable rendition to Leonard Cohen’s ‘Hallelujah’.
During the Q&A Jon made the announcement that Bon Jovi’s next album is being released early next year, with a follow up Tour. The next album will be called Bon Jovi Twenty20. It refers not only to an election year but also going into a new direction and leaving the past behind. Jon said it’s about clear vision and social awareness. ‘It’s a different record. I have clear vision going forward. I’ve written a bunch of songs that are very different, don’t expect ‘Bad Name’, this is a socially conscious record, there’s songs about battling with PTSD, there’s songs about the shootings in Ohio and Texas.’ – said Jon Bon Jovi talking about the new album.
The next day started with sunshine and at 7pm Jon Bon Jovi and the Kings of Suburbia took the stage. Jon said he loves playing with the Kings of Suburbia because it takes him back in time when he used to play bars.
Jon gave the public a high energy, fun filled, intimate performance singing his well known hits like ‘I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead’, ‘Bad Medicine’ and ‘Born To Be My Baby’ among others, and in between songs he performed some old time great cover songs like ‘ Pretty Woman’, ‘Old Time Rock’n’roll’ and ‘Superstition’, all that accompanied by the instrumental and melodical perfection of the Kings of Suburbia, the soul-filled timbre of Layonne Holmes and the feisty violin of Lorenza Ponce. Jon Bon Jovi’s vocals matched the amazing energy of the crowd, delivering a great show that will be remembered by all on that pool deck.
The verdict? I would do it again in a heartbeat. It is not by chance or luck Jon Bon Jovi has been wooing his audience for over 36 years. And as a fan asked during the Q&A session ‘Is there anything that you still want to do, something that you haven’t ticked off your bucket list?’ – Jon’s answer couldn’t have been more perfect ‘I just want to be able to do it again’. And that he does! And does it well!
PHOTO GALLERY
Photos by Monica Doyle
