| Product: |
Bon Jovi - Live |
| Date: |
21/06/01 (300 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: Two and a half hours of classic songs, all round entertainment, didn't have to pay
Disadvantages: Milton Keynes bowl, weather
This isn’t the normal op for this category, but technically I think it fits here. It all began on Friday 15th June 2001 in Oxford, as I was supposed to be revising for my first year exams (the following Monday). As, quite frankly, anything seemed more interesting than IS-LM analysis (economics), it didn’t take much to persuade me to put this off. When I heard Jon Bon Jovi had been confirmed as a speaker at the Union, I decided it would probably be the most productive use of my time (after all, you need breaks whilst studying!)
There was some confusion over when he was speaking (the term card read TBA and it was all arranged at the last minute, so there was little advertising). Despite this, we found our way into the debating chamber around 3:45. Although the balcony was fairly empty, the main chamber was ‘comfortably full’ without being overcrowded, so I guess there were around 500 people there (along with press photographers, queues of non-members outside hoping to see Jon, etc).
Jon himself appeared shortly after 4, and began his talk commenting how privileged he felt to follow in the footsteps of Malcolm X, Michael Jackson and Kermit the Frog by addressing the famous Oxford Union! This set the tone for a humorous and interesting speech that followed.
Beginning with a bit about his working class background, one of three boys and playing in ‘bar bands’ from the age of 16, Jon briefly described his rise to rock stardom. Moving on, he outlined secrets to success – passion, perseverance and possibility – adding the moving tale of a young girl whose parents were drug addicts, but who won the New York Times scholarship and went to Harvard; like himself another rise from poor life in NY suburbs to success. He told us to really believe in what we wanted to achieve, to work hard at it, and never be satisfied with what we were, for fear it would stop us becoming what we could be. In his own case, h
e told us how he had gone from being a hugely successful rock star in 1991 (five albums in seven years, 40 million sales, number ones, etc) to trying his hand as a struggling actor and having to prove himself all over again.
The talk wasn’t all so serious, however. He told us a bit about his family – despite his wife being present, he emphasised that fame ended at the end of his drive (his children, he assures us, don’t have to applaud when he comes down the stairs!) He also mentioned a few ‘rock star exploits’, although refusing to go into details or attack anyone not present – apparently there’s a golf buggy that got driven into the sea off Australia, and Jon carried the £67,000 bill in his wallet to remind himself how stupid (and fun) it was!
His speech only lasted about 15 minutes, but then he opened the talk to questions from the floor. The fist few were fairly standard – What are Bon Jovi up to now? (Touring, then working on a new album). Do you get bored of playing the old songs? (Not as long as they mean something to fans, if we were bored of a song, we wouldn’t play it). Do you fight over whose solo album has sold most? (No, it’s mine! (laughter)).
The conversation soon reaches more serious topics, however. He discusses the significance of being the last band to play Wembley (selling out two nights) – noting that someone should be pretty embarrassed about the farcical redevelopment. He expresses distress about the state of the music scene (it’s all dance instead of guitars over here – apparently, while training with a friend in a gym to some techno-dance music he suggested they run until the next chorus – that got another laugh). Most significantly, he promises Bon Jovi will carry on going as long as they feel they have something to offer; although he points out he’d rather go out at the top than continue when no longer capable of giving it h
is all and seeing Bon Jovi reduced once more to a pathetic bar band.
When asked about the music industry, Jon is damning of record companies, although he refuses to be drawn on the issue; but he does admit to supporting Napster. He even ventures into politics – although Republicans buy records too, he figures having sold 90 million albums by now, he can afford to put principles over profits – and admits to supporting Al Gore. Pressed further, he tells us he wouldn’t have withdrawn from Kyoto; and would have done a better job than George W. He even outlines a worrying ambition to be world president when asked what he’d like to do next!
While his speech is punctured by moments of severity when demanded (e.g. when asked if artists should be responsible for the effects their music has on people), he is generally a very humorous and entertaining speaker. He’s ready, for example, to joke about his many ‘fine hairstyles’ of the past (although apparently the mullet isn’t coming back, he’s happy not to be ‘follicle-ly challenged’, like so many 39-year-olds). He even heckles the audience – a cry of ‘where you going’ hurled at some early leavers.
The moment that (understandably) causes the most reaction is when, midway through questions, he invites the entire audience to Milton Keynes to see the band the next night. ‘See that fat bloke (manager) sweat?’ he quips. And, what’s more, he lives up to his promise – as we leave everyone signs up a list of name and Union membership number and we’re promised that we’ll be on the guest list at Gate 3, Milton Keynes Bowl the next day.
A number of us are actually quite scared, particularly those with exams still to come (unlike the lucky so-and-sos who’ve finished, for whom this must be an ideal end-of-term celebration) but we all sign up anyway. We know it’s made, but it&
#8217;s spontaneous and rock-n-roll’s all about risk – who cares about exams anyway? (Please don’t mention college, tutors, parents etc just yet…) We have no idea how we’re even going to get to Milton Keynes, but for the time being exams are forgotten – we’re off for One Wild Weekend with Jon Bon Jovi!
Saturday morning was quite surreal; everyone was unsure if we were really going and if so, how? Some people had already arranged to go anyway (including two people I know who went to see delirious?) and had the advantage of organising transport in advance. We ended up hoping on a 3 o’clock coach to Milton Keynes (the 2 o’clock one was full) and travelling down with no idea about how we were getting back…
We were taken to the bowl by a special (free) bus service, and heckled by ticket touts and those selling unofficial merchandise. When we got there, we had to make our way to gate three, where we were given passes and let in to the backstage bar (although not the ‘real’ backstage dressing room etc, so no Wayne’s World moments here). Food and drink were available at not especially high prices, and there were even proper toilets (although we didn’t find these until after using the porta-loos!)
We didn’t spend long backstage, but soon went out in to the bowl and edged through the crowd to a spot just in front of one of the towers, from where we had a pretty good view of the stage, and were able to meet some other college friends with a bit of text-messaging (though unsurprisingly, the network was very busy!) Before (and later between) bands, loudspeakers kept the audience amused, playing mainly old-school rock (highlights were: Weezer – Say It Ain’t So; Aerosmith – Love in an Elevator and Kid Rock – Bawitdaba)
First band on, around 5:30, were British alt-rockers delirious? I was unfamiliar with them, but impressed with what
I heard. Their sound was reminiscent of Soulwax or a more cheery Paradise Lost and their show was pretty energetic. They did a good job of warming the crowd up too – talking up Bon Jovi and making sure everyone was ready for what was to come – making sure even a touch of rain did little to dampen the crowd’s enthusiasm at least.
Shortly after, it’s the turn of American mainstream rockers Matchbox 20 to entertain us. They’re a bit commercial AOR for me (though I’m the one at a Bon Jovi concert!) but have sold millions of albums in the US. They sound like a cross between Semisonic, Live and REM to me, although their penultimate song turns into a jazz session with the help of a three-piece brass and flute ensemble, ‘Sexual Chocolate’. Like I said, at home they’d only really be background music for me, but they put on a good show – their guitarists running about the stage (cutting one impressive solo short by pulling the lead from the amp) and it stops us getting bored for another hour.
Soon the anticipation reaches a head. The black cloths are removed from the stage, revealing an Empire State Building set (complete with inflatable top that blows in the wind – realistic or what?) and the excitement builds as Bon Jovi are about to take the stage. The large video screen above the stage shows CCTV-style footage of them entering a lift, then the doors open at the back of the stage and the band emerge, launching straight into latest single ‘One Wild Night’. They follow it up with another new song before Jon pauses to speak to the audience, then we get our first classic of the night, ‘Born to be my Baby’ (from ‘New Jersey’) followed by ‘You Give Love A Bad Name’ and the audience reaction is even better.
The first part of the set contains plenty of new material, and a rousing rendition of ‘It’s My Life’ really gets the
whole crowd going. There are plenty of songs from the past strewn in too though. Ballads are dropped in occasionally, including ‘Blaze of Glory’ (accompanied by the video showing scenes of cowboys and Indians) and ‘Bed of Roses’. Despite these softer moments, none of the momentum ids lost, and hard-hitting rock classic just keep coming; ‘Bad Medicine’ and ‘Keep the Faith’ being highlights in a set filled with quality.
The band play almost two hours before disappearing, but we know they’re coming back for the obligatory encore and they do; starting with ‘Never Say Good Bye’ and ending with a cover of ‘Twist and Shout’ (accompanied by Jon’s advice on dancing and loose women!) Fireworks are launched into the sky, and again the band disappear. Still the audience remain expectantly (they haven’t played ‘Livin’ on a Prayer’ yet…) So, after teasing us a bit longer, the group return to play out a second encore (‘haven’t you got homes to go to?’ Jon asks) – ‘Someday I’ll Be Saturday Night’ (again accompanied by video), ‘Dead or Alive’ and ‘Livin’ on a Prayer’ (although not until Jon’s made the crowd sing a whole chorus themselves first). With that, the show’s finally over, and we begin to make our way out of the crowded arena, while already technicians begin to take down the stage.
Everyone’s well satisfied, and Bon Jovi are certainly a very entertaining and accomplished live band. Jon’s wearing a cowboy hat (which he later replaces with a stripy bobble hat!) and the Oxford University T-shirt he asked for the previous day. He dances around the stage like a mad man at times, and obviously enjoys the sound effects whenever he flings himself about (drum crashes as he points from side to side for example). His interaction with the audience is also top no
tch, he encourages us to sing along, he teases us, he introduces songs (‘this is for all you cowboys out there’) and he regales us with lengthier digressions – such as about his womanising (again dropping in Oxford as a contrast to bad boys of rock!) and instructions in swaying our hips. Jon even involves those lucky enough to have on stage passes (several of whom are from the Union) and at one stages dances with a woman on stage. The whole audience get to participate in the singing though, and just a little encouragement from Jon leads to chants of ‘lay your hands on me’ for several minutes.
It’s not all about Jon though. The whole band seem up for it – Richie (Sambora) is particularly keen to share the spotlight with his guitars while Tico is equally at home in the spotlight, pulling faces whenever the screen focuses on the drums. The band had already played here in the 1980s and ’90s, but it’s clear they’re only back because they enjoy it. What’s more, their enthusiasm is infectious, and the audience really feel it too – impressive for a band some might say are getting too old. I’ve wondered for some time whether the longevity of bands like Bon Jovi is preventing others like Foo Fighters or Creed having more mainstream success, but tonight it’s clear why Bon Jovi can carry on.
I have only two complaints about the night. Firstly, I don’t think they played anything from the excellent ‘These Days’ album (neither classic nor new I guess). Secondly, the bowl itself left a lot to be desired – it took us ages to get out, and when we did it was very poorly sign-posted. We spent ages wondering through a car park before finding the road, where a police man was able to direct us to the rail station (after one parking attendant had been unable to help). We had to run to make the last train, but that took us to London, from where we got a taxi to the b
us station, then the ‘Oxford Tube’ home, finally making it back at 4am, but what a wild weekend :)
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a-true-ben - 15/04/02 In fairness, I did have to pay £130 I think it was to join this Union, and doubt I've actually made money on it anywhere else...
Thanks Helen :o) |
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