Some thoughts on U2 and Bon Jovi

If a show is not a legit sell-out, it doesn't necessarily mean that the band or the promoters didn't make any profit. There may be 20,000 empty seats at a U2 or a Bon Jovi stadium show, but still the promoters and the band can end up making quite a bit of profit

Oh I don't disagree with that especially if you charge a lot for ticket like Bon Jovi.
U2's ticket is cheaper than Bon Jovi's though for Australia.

I like U2 and I listen their music. But same time they are over rated. Media and critics loves U2, but dislike BJ.

I have been a music fan since BOTH bands appeared on the scene and to be honest although I respect U2 fot their music I think Bono is a pretentious chap with an political axe to grind and cant hold a candle to Jons ability as a front man. The Edge isnt all hes cracked up to be either as opposed to Sambora doesnt get enough credit for his talents(even though we dont see them that often these days) . That said The Joshua Tree is a great album and as i say I respect u2 for thier music and longievity.
Bon Jovi are all about Rock n Roll and having good times and motivating people etc etc and perhaps for jon theres a money to be made thing, but over all I have to go with BON JOVI, they let their music do the talking and I suppose bar the last couple of years they leave the politics alone. The other plus point for The Jersey syndicate is that they dont need huge GIMICKY stage shows to prop up their gigs, and Jon and the crew would play anywhere, with amps on or off.......

LOL guys it's a BJ forum, I believe no one here prefers U2 over them. Same discussion on U2 fan site and you'll get the opposite. Though I assume everybody knows that The Edge is nowhere close to Richie.
What we call gimicky, they call artistic. When we say U2 are overrated they say BJ is. It would never end ;]

I like most of U2's songs, but it is disapointing the crazy amount of media coverage they get here in the UK when a new album is released. And yet, compare worldwide sales of The Circle vs No Line on the Horizon, I am sure there isn't much between them.

Both U2 and Bon Jovi are on the same record label, yet the PR for Jovi is a joke frankly. X Factor makes sense, but Good Morning? The Lottery Result Show? At least target people who buy albums and get a show which will hype up an album like they do U2.

Aloha !

But that promo has got zero to do with the record company. Jon is his own CEO, he can decide wherever he wants to play when it comes to promo. The difference is that Jon is living in the eighties and still thinks that going on TV shows like that will make his album sells, while U2 gets it and does all the fancy promo that people actually dig.

Salaam Aleikum,
Sebastiaan

I always get the impression that the Edge is somewhat of a guitar great, when you see him on the "it might get loud" dvd etc etc, But I think he is overated, Whereas Sambora is UNDERATED, and can stand up straight next to whom he calls his heroes such as Clapton and Jimmy Page etc etc. I guess im not alone when I say that Im eagerly awaiting his next solo album

the edge is OK, but Richie (even though he hasn't been present in recent years) is amazing. I don't mean that as a biased fan, i mean that as someone who loves to guitars and guitarists. Richie is just very unique when he plays, because when he plays, it seems like he is consumed by the moment like for the end of always or keep the faith. I am going to by Richie's next solo album and Jon's too

I think for The Edge he kind of owns a tone/sound, where as I am not sure the same could be said of Richie. I have a feeling if you were to sit both guitarists down and have them master 10 complex pieces, Richie would be quite a bit ahead of The Edge. On the other hand, if you asked them to reinvent those pieces The Edge would likely come up with something quite a bit more innovative.

U2 are, by their own admission, not the best musicians in the world. My only disagreement there would be that I think Bono has one of the most beautiful voices in all of music especially circa the early to mid 90s before the Pop tour. That said, they somehow create magic for a lot of people and the one thing I love about U2 is they are completely willing to take huge risks sonically. To go from Joshua Tree to Achtung Baby is the definition of adventurous. Even No Line on the Horizon is musically "different." I don't listen to it a whole lot (with the exception of Moment of Surrender), but I respect they at least went somewhere different.

I don't feel that Bon Jovi takes much risks, and the one risk they did take is a lot of people's (including mine) favorite album: These Days. I also like Destination Anywhere for the most part.. a bit riskier venture.