A review by Dave5150 / dave5150@ntlworld.com

We turned up early and had to queue for a while to get in.
Wembley quickly filled up, and before we knew it, the Dum Dums were on stage. They did well, but they were too quiet for Wembley. Only a couple of their songs got the crowd moving.

Then on came Toploader. I wasn't expecting much from them, but they really got the crowd going and everyone was clapping and getting into the mood. They were really good live, and I went straight out and bought their album today ! There were lots of people wearing Little Angels t-shirts, and I can see the similarity. A good live band, with a very full sound and great riffs. Everyone was dancing. "Dancing in the Moonlight" was very popular with the crowd.

Then we were left waiting for Bon Jovi. We all thought that they would be on at 8 o'clock. About 20 minutes early, the huge screens flickered into life with a picture of a dressing room door. A hand opened the door and their were Bon Jovi, walking to greet us. The crowd went wild, but the band cooly walked on stage and went straight into "London Calling", by The Clash. Personally, I do not think that this was a great opener, as most people did not know the song. Good idea, but didn't really go down well.

Then came Livin' on a Prayer. And now the crowd went wild. Everyone started jumping and singing their hearts out ! After so many years of hearing Bon Jovi play songs differently to the way that they were recorded, it was great to hear the songs return to their "original and best" form. This continued throughout the night, with the exception of Runaway, where Jon must have got a little tired, so they slowed things down and he sang with David Bryan accompanying on keyboards. This was amazing, because all the way through, you kind of expected it to go into a full out rock song, like most bands would have been tempted to do. However, they didn't ruin it, and played it beautifully throughout.

Next came Bed Of Roses. Again, exactly how it was written with Richie playing guitar over the piano intro. It was wonderful. At no point did Richie overplay. He played just enough, and the soloing was amazing. Everyone cheered when he ripped into another solo, and I could always hear "Go Richie, go !" Well, at least when *I* wasn't the one screaming it.

The atmosphere throughout was brilliant. People were bouncing, clapping, *EVERYONE* was singing ! Jon kept talking to the crowd and did his usual singing with the crowd singing back. Everyone loved it ! It was very funny when he was talking about someone knocking on his hotel door and he wondered who it could be. When he opened the door what did he find ? The TV screens zoom in on David Bryan, Richie, and "the bassist". They wanted to go back on the road - thank god !

I feel kinda gutted that I won't have been at the *ACTUAL* last concert before Wembley is torn down, but it was brilliant to be a part of this weekend. Just like Jon said, "It is a night that I will remember all of my life !

As I am writing this, my friend has just called me from Wembley. It is 7:23 on the 20th August and the band are already on stage and I could hear Livin On A Prayer blasting out ! I just wish I could see them again !

OK, so there were no songs off These Days, but who cares ? To be honest, I never noticed ! To see Blood On Blood live at Wembley is something I have dreamed about since I was 15 (for ten years then !) and then there I was, during their first Encore, listening to it. Absolutely amazing !

The band really seemed to be having a good time, and really seemed sad to leave the place. The fireworks at the end were a grand fitting to an awesome night ! That is, for those of us who waitied for the second finale. I couldn't believe how many people left !

My one regret ? That the band didn't honour Jon's original promise that he was going to play all through tonight, all through tomorrow, and carry on into tomorrow night. Ah well, maybe next year huh ?

back to tour information page