Live review: Bon Jovi @ Hampden Park
Jun 23 2008 Duncan Bryceland

DESPITE a constant downpour, more than 40,000 fans packed Scotland's national stadium as Bon Jovi lifted their spirits with a rollercoaster performance.

Their flamboyant outfits and blonde manes may have been tamed, but the show proved to be as spectacular as ever, as a series of giant screens, a top light show and a stellar performance captivated the huge crowd.

Opening with a cover of Status Quo's Rockin' All Over The World and closing with Lulu's Shout was perhaps not the best choice for a band with such a strong back catalogue of their own.

That aside, the veterans' set encompassed near to every decisive period of their 26-year career; from their seminal Runaway, to the groove driven Keep The Faith, the rousing It's My Life, to more current material from album Lost Highway.

Jon proved he's still a top showman as he struck iconic poses and playfully said: "You've got the finest weather here in Scotland."

Such is the dedication of fans that two women had waited at the gates from midnight and another group had travelled from Italy.

It wouldn't be a Bon Jovi concert without their trademark big romantic soft-rock ballads and Always swept the audience along with its power and passion.

Lead guitarist Richie Sambora put aside recent drink driving allegations to take the spotlight to sing I'll Be There For You.

He asked the crowd: "How we doing, sunny Glasgow? It might be raining, but it's sunny in my heart."

An acoustic intro to Livin' On A Prayer was greeted by an impromptu Hampden sing-along, then, after an atmosphere-building pause, Jon rather ironically asked the rain-soaked fans: "Do you feel the heat?" as the classic anthem restarted with power.

Bon Jovi proved they still are kings of pop-rock.