Bon Jovi to play Abu Dhabi - October 1st, 2015

One of the articles (I think the one that announced the Jakarta show) stated that the band would be using both a local stage and an entire sound system from over there. So my bet is that they don't put much effort into bringing any kind of production on their own.

Don't worry, there are no locals in the UAE. It is full of extremely bored 30 and 40-something expats. The concert must be sold out already...

The band is hitting the social networks right now. Maybe the sales aren't that good?

not sold out yet:
https://www.ticketmaster.ae/event/bon-jovi-tickets/3599

Online countdown -for those who don't have Google as a friend
http://thinkflash.ae/events/bon-jovi-live

I was reading and I didn't knew that the Yas Island was a man-made one. It's amazing how those arabs built these mindblowing cities, islands and venues out of nowhere.

The arena looks pretty good too, can held up to 25.000 persons:



About the last time concert, it was back on the Lost Highway Tour (05/20/2008), they played the Emirates Palace:

1. Lost Highway
2. Born to Be My Baby
3. You Give Love a Bad Name
4. Summertime
5. I'll Sleep When I'm Dead
6. Rockin' All Over the World (John Fogerty cover)
7. Start Me Up (The Rolling Stones cover)
8. Runaway
9. (You Want to) Make a Memory
10. Whole Lot of Leavin'
11. In These Arms
12. We Got It Goin' On
13. It's My Life
14. Bad Medicine
15. Twist and Shout (The Top Notes cover)
16. I'll Be There for You
17. Bed of Roses
18. Who Says You Can't Go Home
19. Have a Nice Day
20. Keep the Faith
21. Livin' on a Prayer
22. Captain Crash & the Beauty Queen From Mars
23. Wanted Dead or Alive

Encore after Livin' On A Prayer.

Source: http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/bon-jo...-5bd6bf04.html

So, the event should start at 15:00 UTC/GMT.

The first time I was in Dubai was 2008. I spent 2-3 months there and drove occasionally to Abu Dhabi. In the location where you have Yas Island there was nothing. Desert. When I went a second time, maybe in 2013, it had become this insanity of a place. Ferrari land is insane in itself. The formula 1 track. Hotels everywhere, etc. in 5 years, craziness. Also Abu Dhabi as a city. There was nothing to do in 2008. Now it's lively and vibrant.

As about Dubai - while in 2008 I was bored to death and all girls you met were prostitutes, now it's a very very cool city. I could actually see myself live there for a few years in case I need to pump up that bank account at some point

My ex girlfriend is a hostess for Emirates Airlines, I think she is going...would have liked to be there too, maybe should have hold onto it for a bit longer lol!

Interview with Dave and Tico.
UAE media claims Phil X is now an official member. Hugh's going to have a bad day.

http://www.thenational.ae/arts-lifes...er-tico-torres

Very interesting article but don't think PhilX is "official" since the press interviews and even the fan interaction at the airport in Taiwan has been just the 3.

Good analysis of BJ's success but... a photo of KOS?!

http://www.thenational.ae/arts-lifes...-fans-in-dubai

"However, that doesn’t mean the band doesn’t miss Sambora. Bryan credits the flamboyant axeman for taking the hard step of entering rehab to battle substance abuse.

“You know, drug addiction is a very tough thing,” he says. “All we can do is just wish him all the best.”

To me THIS is what I'd focus on. Considering he didn't leave for drug/rehab reasons. For them to say that NOW is really strange.