The Rolling Stones. Paul McCartney. Bruce Springsteen. U2. Phish. Madonna.
Seeing those acts in concert gives you bragging rights. They also allow you to check an item off your rock and roll bucket list.
Those acts are legendary. They’re historical. They are so entertaining live that just being in the same gigantic arena, or massive stadium, at the same time they are performing gives you a story to tell your grandkids.
No offense to your tastes, or any of the following artists, but no future generation is going to care one bit that you saw Skrillex push a space bar, Eric Church squint, or Twenty-One Pilots bounce around a stage.
Now, the above list is not complete nor is it definitive. A lot of names were omitted.
Nonetheless, a question does arise when thinking about concerts you must attend before you die. Is a Bon Jovi concert a bucket list item for the average rock fan? Does seeing Bon Jovi live give you bragging rights?
Will your grandkids care that you saw Bon Jovi in Dallas or Phoenix or Chicago or any other city?
I started thinking about this question after learning of the band’s upcoming U.S. tour. Bon Jovi departs on their “This House Is Not for Sale Tour” on Feb. 8 in Greenville, South Carolina.
The tour is in support of their latest LP, This House Is Not for Sale.
Bon Jovi have 13 studio albums and 2,700 concerts under their proverbial belts. They’ve sold 130 million albums and performed to more than 34 million fans.
The band, or its members, are in two halls of fame. They were inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2006. The band’s principal songwriters, Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora, were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2009.
Beyond the numbers, Bon Jovi’s songs, like “Livin’ on a Prayer,” and “Keep the Faith” have inspired generations. Their music speaks to a lot of people.
Even though their contemporary albums lack the relevancy of Slippery When Wet and New Jersey, their songs still connect with millions. Bon Jovi sings about love, heartbreak, goodbyes, and hellos; their fans really relate to what they say.
There is one caveat to this question.
This upcoming U.S. trek will be launched and completed without the aforementioned Richie Sambora. He left the fray in 2013 and was officially replaced by Phil X in 2016.
I don’t think seeing Bon Jovi without Richie Sambora is like seeing Journey without Steve Perry.
Journey without Steve Perry is a Journey tribute band. A Bon Jovi show without Richie Sambora is Jon Bon Jovi concert.
David Bryan and Tico Torres are still in the mix and technically they were in Bon Jovi before Sambora. Both have been members since 1983.
Hugh McDonald replaced Alec John Such in 1994 but was only recently made an official member. So, there is a lot of continuity with the band. It’s not just Jon and a bunch of session musicians who have no connection to the band’s early days.
Ultimately, the current incarnation of Bon Jovi is on the bubble as far as being on a rock fan’s bucket list. Attending any of their upcoming shows only gives you partial bragging rights.
Bon Jovi with Richie Sambora (which we’ll probably never see again) definitely gives you bragging rights. Bon Jovi without Richie Sambora is a just one heck of a good concert.
