Page 50 - Black Velvet Rock Magazine Issue 110

BV110 pg 50-51 JBJ.qxp_BV110 pg50 15/06/2024 23:32 Page 1

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JON BON JOVI - IN CONVERSATION – KINGSTON PRYZM, 30.05.24
Despite no tour, the 40th anniversary year is showing as being quite a busy one for Bon Jovi. The second quarter saw Jon Bon Jovi fly over
to the UK for two sets of promotion. The first was in relation to the band’s documentary, ‘Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story’, which
streamed on Disney+ from the end of April and was originally premiered at SXSW in Austin, Texas. Jon brought bandmates David Bryan and
Tico Torres with him. The second, in May, was more geared to the band’s new album, ‘Forever’, which was released on June 7th. Amidst lots
of interviews, plus some ‘pizza parlour jury’ album listening parties, a couple of ‘In Conversation’ events were announced. Tickets sold out on
Banquet Records’ website in around a minute.
Taking place in Kingston made the events for non-locals a bit of a jaunt. But the trip was worth it. Doors opened for the first event at 6pm,
and the second at 8pm. Jon Bon Jovi graced the Pryzm nightclub stage each time for an interview, fan questions that were pre-submitted, plus
the streaming of three of the songs from the new album. Fans queued up as if for a regular concert before doors opened.
Jon is introduced onto the stage. He jokes that he never had time to eat today and had to pee in a pub on the journey to Kingston.
The host asks Jon about the documentary, and then about the new album.
“Why ‘Forever’?” he asks Jon about the title. “Better than ‘Never’!” jokes Jon.
“You only get one 40th. Who knows if we’ll be alive for our 50th,” he laughs.
Jon says ‘Forever’ is, by far, the best record the band have made in 20 years, mostly thanks to experiencing joy again.
In between the chat, we’re played ‘Walls Of Jericho, ‘Waves’ and ‘Seeds’. All three sound very powerful, being played loudly through the
speakers. “Imagine me in Hyde Park singing this to you,” Jon says, before ‘Walls Of Jericho’. He tells the crowd he’s well on the road to recovery
and that he’s not going anywhere.
Jon gets everyone swaying their arms from side to side during ‘Seeds’. He tells us about the song meanings prior to each song.

EVENTS