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28 July 2001 - E. Rutherford, NJ, USA Concert Review 1 August 2001
They Saw a Million Faces - and ROCKED THEM ALL!

A review by Lauri Richards / laurir2001@yahoo.ca

BON JOVI
GIANTS STADIUM - JULY 28, 2001
THE LAST SHOW

Words cannot accurately express the feelings brought on by Bon Jovi playing Giants Stadium in their home town for a second sold out performance. This show was an emotional roller coaster ride for the faithful.

The opening acts, Eve 6 and Sugar Ray, were very good but quickly forgotten as the expectation started to build in the 55,000 attendees to Johnnie’s church of rock n’ roll. The stage was set - we were advised that VH1 would be taping again and this meant the same set list as Friday up until the encores. Not a problem for most fans in attendance.

Jon and the boys were even better than the night before - jumping, singing and rocking all over the stage! Jon was smiling and obviously enthralled with the rush of the crowd. I thought when I saw them in Milton Keynes that I would never see Jon or the band perform better - I was wrong.

On a personal note, during Older, Jon moved from the mike for Richies solo and looked into the crowd (I was 5th row in front of him). I held up the banner he’d read in Boston and he pointed and smiled in recognition of it! I can’t tell you what that meant to me. I was so excited it brought a scream to my throat first and tears to my eyes second. The people around me smiled and cheered for me and one might have got a picture of him pointing to me on her camera! I’m keeping my fingers crossed for that!

We continued to rock through the Bon Jovi hits with a crowd reaction like none other. Several times Jon looked at the crowd with a smile and look on his face like he was a kid in a candy store.
During I’ll Be There for You, Mrs. B found her way to 1st row in front of Jon who raised his eyebrows as a hello to her and towards the end, he winked at her and smiled - that was cool!

For one of the encores we heard Say It Isn’t So which was a great change for us. All other songs were basically the same as the night before because of the VH1 taping.

Now, to the moment beyond all expectation…The band disappeared to prepare for the final encore and from where I was standing, I could see unusual movement behind the door Dave & Hugh use. I thought to myself “Could it be?” I held my breath and could not believe my eyes when Alec John Such walked out of the door to play Wanted with the boys! The resounding cheer that engulfed Giants Stadium gave me goosebumps. There were tears in the eyes of the devotees who witnessed the 80’s in all their glory first hand and looks of wonder from the faces of new fans.

Jon introduced his “old friend” with a big toothy smile and Richie looked about as happy as I think I’ve ever seen him. As has been usual of late, Jon asked us to stand for their “national anthem” and then Jon, Richie & Alec lined up in the position usually reserved for just Richie & Jon. The first notes of Wanted from the original Bon Jovi crew, pealed out into the air.

The crowd sang the first verse much to the bands delight. The crowd watched the original 5 in awe and thanked the powers that be for this special moment. At the end of the song, the original 5 bowed and then Hugh returned to hug Alec and return to the business at hand. Alec departed to 55,000 cheers from a group of people who loved him then and now and always will.

Jon livened things up with Tequila and Twist & Shout and when they bowed at the end, the crowd screamed “WE WANT MORE”. Jon and the band gave in to us and finished the final show with Never Say Goodbye. It was obviously a very emotional ending for Jon and the band and equally so for the crowd - many of which have followed this band for almost 20 years. Needless to say there were a lot of tears in the house that night.

They made their final bow with faces full of emotion. Jon thanked the fan club again and all the people of Jersey for sharing this evening with them. They turned and headed for the elevator for the last time. We stared at the screen to see Johnnie with tears in his eyes.

It was an emotional ending to the resurgence of the best rock n’ roll band of our generation. A perfect finale to a tour that saw a multitude of countries and a band that once again saw a million faces - and rocked them all.

I know I haven’t done the show justice but I hope you can catch a glimmer of what it was all about.




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