A review by Lisa M. / OBJLisaM@aol.com

Bon Jovi
Date: June 10, 2001
Location: RDS, Dublin, Ireland
Opening acts: Delirious? and Matchbox 20

I have not been the same since June 10, 2001. Why? Read on...

After spending 2 weeks at a graduate class in England, it was time for some FUN! Little did I know what I would be in for when I arrived in Dublin. My flight landed in Ireland on the 8th... 2 days to go until my first Bon Jovi show outside the USA, and let me tell you that I have experienced NOTHING like it in the past!

Prior to departing for England at the end of May, I got in touch with some online acquaintances and finally met them on June 9th and 10th. Louise was the first to get in touch (Hey girl!) and wound up being my show buddy on Sunday. Little did she know what we were in for! Louise invited me to join her and other online buddies (John, Max, Sharon, Julie, et al.) for drinks and to hang out for a while. Thank goodness they did that! After being around a group of students for 2 weeks, one entire day of being on my own was quite sufficient and I was ready to get revved up for the show the next day. We swapped some Bon Jovi stories, drank some Bacardi Breezers and cider, and then some of us called it an early night so that we would be energized to line up early in the morning for the show.

Louise arrived at RDS at about 5:15-5:30 AM on the 10th and I met her there a little while later. I finally met some people that I've corresponded with here and there over the years online - including Melissa (By Jovi and Playlist BJ) and Darren (seatzie).

When the line began at Angelsea Road where the FC line was going to be, it was all one line (a mix of nonmembers and members). People who had slept out all night were not members, so they did not get in first, but they did get into the pit after FC members were let in and managed to snag very decent spots. EVERYONE seemed quite satisfied once we did get in there! The guy who did come out to separate the lines and give us wristbands knew what to do and came out just before 2PM and firmly told the crowd to stop bugging venue staff about the FC line setup ... just as we were told on backstagejbj.com. So if you don't have the info on FC bands first thing in the morning, then take a breath and just hang on for band staff ... they WILL come through, just give them a chance. I really felt for the people who slept out all night because some fans decided that it was their place to make them feel like they wasted their time and it looked like some words were being exchanged and the spirit of the line changed.

Back to the review...

After arriving at the venue, we sat, we stood, we sat, stretched, wore coats, took them off, hot - cold, cold - hot ... but later ... wow, it was HOT! The gates opened at about 4:30 and it was time to walk VERY fast or run for a spot. Being that I suck at running, Louise (my partner in crime for the day) sat her butt down against the front row barrier on Hugh and Dave's side of the stage first and saved a spot for me - Thanks Louise!

Delirious? was the first act and they went on at about 5:30ish. Although I kind of tuned the band out at first, I found myself tuning in and enjoying them. They are MUCH better than SR-71.

Matchbox 20 - All I need to say is ROB THOMAS! The man has got incredible energy and is so easy on the eyes! The band rocked and the crowd seemed so into them. One of the guitarists must have been trained to work an audience because he must have winked at, smiled at, sang with, and nodded at just about every lady in the place - he was working' the crowd a bit tooooo much! LOL

Bottom line though - Great choices for opening bands, Bon Jovi!

It was a bit of a wait until Bon Jovi took the stage after Matchbox 20 due to what appeared to be some big screen tech problems, but when they hit the stage, they took Dublin by storm (Thank goodness not a REAL storm like last year's attendees experienced though)!

The set was much different from the indoor venue setup in the USA. There were 3 screens (1 huge on in the middle and 2 smaller ones out to the side), and extended walkways past each side screen. The setup was elevator style ... but like in the Empire State Building (grey, not brick), with a blowup version (think of the old dancing chicken/Elvis characters they used to have on the sides) of the building's top high above the stage.

They kick-started the night with ONE WILD NIGHT as usual and the crowd's energy began to hit me! Wowza! We are spoiled in the USA - these folks don't get their live Jovi fixes as much as we do, and it shows!!! When the band took the stage, it wasn't a sound problem that kept us from hearing the band at times, it was that the crowd was THAT wild and into the concert!

After One Wild Night, Raise Your Hands, You Give Love A Bad Name, and In These Arms, it was time for Louise and I to hand over our front row spots to our newly found friends who were more than willing to hold or spots for us while we headed over to Dave's side of the stage to prep ourselves for the stage pit and the most amazing Bon Jovi moments either of us has experienced! We had side-views for Livin' on a Prayer, and patiently waited while the 1st group of stage pit fans left the stage and gathered their belongings during Born to Be My Baby. Then, it was time for us to get up there! Even getting on the stage was different ... no steps, just a very steep metal ramp (fear of falling set in quickly, but I made my way up that sucker quite quickly! LOL).

Louise and I stood against the front part of the pit and what we were in for next... (pardon me while I take a FLASHBACK break! LOL)..... ...... ...... During the first part of "Bed of Roses" Jon was in center stage hanging on to his microphone on the stand, really into the song. Then, he lifted the mic, turned to his left and headed towards the pit on Dave's side. Nodding, touching hands, and singing out to the audience, THEN ... turning around, getting down on both knees, now at eye level and facing the stage pit ... right in front of me and Louise! He didn't just stay there for a moment - he stayed for what I am sure was part of a verse and the entire chorus... First, holding Louise's hand and serenading her (Go Louise!!!) and looking back and forth between the 2 of us singing to Louise, then me, then back to Louise, then me) and then reaching for my hand and sticking around for a few more lines of the chorus ... oh, those eyes! As he held my hand I was thinking "It couldn't get any better than this!" ---- I was soooo wrong! Jon on his knees holding onto my hand and singing Bed of Roses? C'mon, what could be better? Well, I'll tell ya....

As Jon made his way back towards center stage he looked right at me and gave me the cue to join him! I was about to dance with Jon Bon Jovi!!! Ahhhhhhhhhh! I cannot explain in words what that felt like. What was going through my mind "Oh my God! This is really happening! Oh dear God! I'm going to dance with Jon!" The crowd was roaring but I was oblivious to the fact that I was going to dance in front of 40-50,000 people. I was stunned that this was all happening and as Jon and I grasped hands the first words out of my mouth were "Oh my God, thank you Jon!" and as we danced we talked and girls, let me tell ya, he IS that beautiful close up! What a smile --- and those eyes! I had a sign with me in the front row that read "New Jersey Girl Here For One Wild '?'" and around the "?" I put TOUR, BAND, NIGHT, SHOW. Jon had spotted my banner earlier in the show and was asking me about my trip and if I really came all the way from New Jersey. It was very hard to hear him at times since the crowd was still going nuts - I don't think they stopped all night! Then Jon asked if I was having a good time - OK, thought at this time "ARE YOU KIDDING?!" - what I did say was "I am having an AMAZING TIME!" and then thanked him. Then, he said "Thank You" and I thought that was it. Well, nope, there's more....

As Richie's solo ended and Jon said "Thank You"... (pardon me, another flashback)... ... he leaned towards me for what I thought was going to be a kiss on the cheek ... wrong again! Wow! I don't think I will EVER recover! I won't go into describing the kiss because to me it was beyond fireworks! It could have lasted a second, 2, 5, I have NO clue. In my head, time stood still! Imagine a kiss from Jon with fireworks going on in your head for that few seconds of your life and then hearing tens of thousands of people cheer -- Besides your own feelings and relishing the moment, the crowd energy rushes towards you. Then, it is time to part... With his hand on his heart, Jon headed back towards the center stage, and I went back to the stage pit, looking at my new friends in the fan & stage pits, fanning myself and thinking "Oh my God!" once again! The woman who was in charge of the pit on our side cut through the fans standing in there and said "Are you OK?" I wasn't sure if I was going to faint or cry or what but I said "Oh Yeah!" As Bed of Roses continued, Jon looked over and gave me a huge smile and I mouthed "Thank You" with my own big grin.

Before continuing, this stuff happened, but I may have the order mixed up a bit... I was in a daze and state of shock still - to say the least!

After Bed of Roses, Bon Jovi played "I Got the Girl" - now THIS was just a little bit confusing! LOL Ever wonder if Jon is signalling you or pointing your way or to someone next to you? Well, I thought he was pointing my way again to go back up but thought "Why would he do that? I was just up there.", Louise thought he was signaling her, but he was actually trying to get his daughter's attention and Stephanie eventually went running up on the stage from our pit area. That girl has a lot of confidence and as Jon met her over by Hugh, he gave her a hug and she put her hand on her hip giving her Dad a bit of attitude ... so cute! Honestly, I had no idea that was Stephanie until after the show when someone told me. She is growing up so fast!

Captain Crash and Just Older were next, and then it was time to leave the stage pit. As we were walking out, I gave 2 guys with orangy-brown hair a good look as I had suspected that I've seen them before. It was Joe Elliot from Def Leppard and Matthew McConaughey hanging out and enjoying the show. I wanted to say something, but they weren't making any eye contact with fans, so I just went on my merry way. Down that steep metal ramp saying "Aw, geez, I hope I don't fall on my ass now, that would suck!". As Louise and I left the area we just looked at each other and were like "Oh My God!" all over again! We couldn't believe the experience. I am still pinching myself! I haven't thought about anything since ... well, except about trying to get back to Europe. I must be an idiot, because Louise invited me to join her for the England dates and I didn't ... once I got home, I regretted that. However, I don't think that any other show would have measured up.

After walking around for a few minutes it was time to get back to where we started in the front row. Our new friends were holding our places and a really nice security guard named Anthony promised us that he would make sure that we got our spots back once we left the stage pit. (Thanks Anthony!) We didn't really need his assistance though because the fans in the pit were so nice and after saying While Lousie and I were heading back towards the front, I lead and just kept saying "Excuse me, just trying to get back to our spots, scuse me, pardon me, scuse me, ...." LOL.... It worked!  Until we got to this one girl who didn't see us up there before and she was blocking us. So, the lady that held our spots told her that 'yes, they were up here and we have been saving their spots' and helped us back up through the final 3, 2, and back to 1! Once we were back in the FC pit, I turned around and the girl that was holding one of the spots was telling me that she was crying while I was dancing with Jon, and other people started to say such wonderful things. (***To the gal that held one of the spots - Thank you so much! If you are on here, I never got your name but again, thank you!).

The rest of the show was just as incredible as the beginning! The energy of the crowd never ceased as the Jersey boys, 'scuse me... Jersey Men ... played Wild In the Streets, Blood On Blood, I'll Be There For You, Lay Your Hands On Me, Keep the Faith, Bad Medicine, Shout, Twist and Shout (I'm pretty sure they played that too, but I'm not positive), Blaze Of Glory, I'll Sleep When I'm Dead, Tequila, It's My Life, Someday I'll Be Saturday Night, Wanted Dead Or Alive, One (U2 cover song) [Set list credit: DryCounty.com]

At one point during an encore, it looked like the boys were going to leave the stage, but they huddled at center stage for a minute, and decided to stick around for more. The Dublin crowd would NOT have taken no for an answer!

I forget what song it was during (Tequila?) but there was some chant going on that Jon described as a disco thing and it was sooooo funny! The BJ men were having as much fun as the audience during the show, but when the crowd did their own thing, the men had even more fun!

Sadly, the show had to come to an end, but they ended it with an amazing cover tune - ONE by U2. I was wondering if BJ actually planned that tune because it looked like they just decided to do it at the last minute by the way Richie and Hugh were looking at each other during the song ... making sure they got the chords down and all. It sounded fabulous and I hope that it makes a future live album!

As the show closed and it was time to leave RDS, that was an experience in itself ... reliving "Bed of Roses" over an over! One girl ran up to me from behind and basically used my shoulders to jump around to the side and startled the heck out of me! LOL Other fans were running up and saying such wonderful things, a group of fans banging on a bus window, jumping in front of Louise and I on the street, and grabbing my arm, one messing up my hair ... it was so funny and quite a unique experience to say the least! Even the one who came up and said "I Hate You!" (jokingly) was very nice! Another with a strong Irish accent said "Your a lucky f*&k!". So many friendly fans stopped to congratulate me on the way out and helped me to maintain the feeling of being the luckiest gal on earth that night!

Thanks to the friendly fans from Ireland and England that were there, to my buddy Louise, and especially to my dancing partner Jon Bon Jovi!

I have not been the same since Sunday and I don't think I ever will be!

Always,
Lisa M.
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