prayer opening the show - any video?

They use backing tracks on many songs (Prayer, IML, HAND, just to name a few) but keep in mind that it's only a small part. 90% of what they're doing is still live. There are parts that they need some help on so they don't wreck their voices singing it night after night. Without backing tracks, the post-solo chorus in Prayer wouldn't sound as good.

Take LYHOM for example. When they did the drum intro, the "HEY"s were programmed in to Dave's keyboard. Listen to some of the Bounce songs live. There are some extra guitar parts that nobody is playing (this is probably one of the reasons they added Bobby).

Every band uses backing tracks to some extent. However, Bon Jovi doesn't overuse them, so it shouldn't take away from your views on them as a live band. They're not gonna start lipsyncing out of nowhere one day.

I always thought Prayer was a great intro song. But since I like every tour to have a specific opener, they shouldn't open with it all the time.
I also like that in the past they practically played it in every part of the set: opener - first half - end of main set - encore. Same goes for "Wanted" (and I once read that some odd show in 1987ish they OPENED with "Wanted", but I'M not sure...)

Okay thx to you and brian....i will try to remain calm - though i find this a tad disgusting...im very glad they have bobby then bc i would much rather a musician get paid then to play backing tracks - i understand the Everyday hops and the LYHOM Heys but come on...

i remember taking drum lessons as a lad and seeing trixter in my hometown - thats right trixter baby...and my drum instructor knew that the drummer in trixter couldnt keep time so thats why he would wear big headphones at the time to follow the click track in a live setting - that is gross....

i also wonder if some of it is to make sure the production numbers are totally in sync which is still kinda icky but then maybe thats production values and tech moving forward - otherwise its just faking....

and honestly i would be SHOCKED if the black crowes or pearl jam or john mellencamp or like bands used ANYTHING...

and yes i understand they are different bands but there is something to be said for musical integrity....they play more shows than jovi or at least very similar this last jovi juggernaunt is right up there...

so you make a good point - 90% with some understanding...and i love and know that jons acoustic is live and he is actually playing because on a good sound system and live i love that overlay and that it is authentic for those rhythm sections and his passion-driven wailing solos at the end of songs of late

-off the ledge - thx for the extended hands...

I would be shocked if any of them didn't, especially in the case of Mellencamp and Pearl Jam, because click tracks are used almost 100% of the time in arenas, due to the acoustics.

i would be shocked.....

as i feel those bands are more into the groove and vide that is being created than following a metronome...

mellencamp maybe...but i honestly dont think so...hes pretty hardcore minimalist now....

id love to know though...

Every beat/groove/whatever can be set to a metronome.

They probably do. It's not a sin. It's a useful tool that is beneficial to not only the band, but the audience. There is no conductor, so without a steady beat that everybody can hear, everybody would be playing at different tempos and would sound like crap.

im gonna have to disagree here..

first off - of course anything can be set to a metronome...not even sure what you meant brian...

secondly as to the above, that is what a good drummer is for - if you cant keep time you are not a good drummer - you dont get a metronome in your ear, you practice - that is what makes it live...

i rem the story about max in bruce's band and he was awful at keeping time until bruce made him sit down and learn how to do it or something like that....he didnt start playing with a click track....

can you imagine asking chris robinson or eddie vedder if they use a click track...please...i cant even imagine the response...

i could be wrong - i know the crowes use a teleprompter - though they may have some memory issues i dont know if eddie does - he is kinda amazing...and i give them much more of a pass on that then i do jbj (and again i dont know if eddie does) as they play different setlists as standards - if you cant rem the lyrics at a jovi concert you arent paying attn and are on autopilot....

i mean when the sound doesnt work the audience sings non-hit verses...

i really would love to know the answer to this - btw how do you know this about jovi for sure - did they ever talk about it?

It has very little to do with a drummer's ability to keep time. No matter how perfect a drummer is, anything can happen in a live show, especially in an arena and the acoustics that go along with the audio system, hence having a click track going in everyone's inner ear monitor.
FTR, Max plays with a nome now.

yeah, don't know why it's such an "integrity" issue to some, but on a lot of cases it's pretty much to make everyone's life a little easier (though I'm not sure how since that clicking sound going in my ear is kinda irritating).