Should there be more variation??

I haven't been to a lot of shows, but I've noticed that there are quite a few songs that are always played. Do you think that they should mix the setlists up a bit more or do you like the shows the way they are? Personally I would like more surprises, just so you wouldn't know what to expect.

Ideas?

Yes.

I think many established bands fall into this trap. Eg: Iron Maiden, Aerosmith.

But compare it to Metallica setlists, you don't know what you are going to get. They also bring in a lot of songs that they haven't played for a while. Maybe a lot of that is down to having a new bass player, but I def. think BJ should take a leaf out of Metallica's book in this respect.

Also, Metallica record each show soundboard & u can pay for your show over the internet which I think is a great idea.

Not just in terms of setlist, in terms of the show in general

I watched Live From London for the first time this morning... compare the first two songs to the first two songs of the Crush Tour DVD.... not only are they the same songs, but they are played in almost exactly the same way.

But yeah, throwing in some new stuff would be great make it so that the audience are never quite sure what they're gonna get

I actually don't see how they can do almost the same show every night and not get bored with it

Keep On Rockin'

& it's not like there is even a limit on the songs they could throw in there.

Yes, they definately do need to mix it up a bit. But these days the technical aspect of a show makes it more difficult to do that coz of the elaborate light show as it all has to be programmed in advance.
Sometimes the lighting director is up all night programmin' his lights for the show the next day, he has a few hours sleep before he has to go to work again to help set up the show for that night. Can you imagine how f*cked off he would get if it was all changed at the last minute?!

Anyhow, having said that, the only show for a long time which I was genuinely suprised with what was comin' next was Munich 2003!
And probably Shepherds Bush 2001. Shepherds bush was so damn great that I didn't even notice that they hadn't done KTF (my favourite) till they did it!

I would love to have more variety in the concerts. Of course, I understand that there are staples that have to be played at every concert. A casual Bon Jovi fan who went to see them for the first time would probably be very disappointed if Prayer and Wanted weren't played. And honestly, I would be too. I can understand their desire to please the masses when people are paying $50 or so for a concert ticket. For me, hearing just two or three rarer songs would be good. I don't have to hear every song they've never played live to make me happy. Just a couple of the less often played ones. Although, I would only really have to hear Hearts Breaken Even to be blissfully happy....like that's ever going to happen. LOL. :P

YES!
More variation would be great

Yep, more variation in songs and more variation in Jon's small talks between the songs...

Medleys! I know there's another thread about it, but this one seems more appropriate. I've been thinking about it today, and I thought of two medleys that would be cool:

Ballads: Buit mainly around Always; Bed Of Rose and IBTFY quite prominent, and bits of Thank You For Lovin Me, This Aint A Love Song, and Livin' In Sin.

Bon Jovi: Built mainly around Runaway; Roulette and Shot Through The Heart quite prominent; and bits of Burning For Love, Love Lies, and Come Back.

How good would that be?

Keep On Rockin'