So when can we expect European dates for 2016?

Right now in Finnish radio station there is a competition going on where you can win tickets to Bon Jovi's European tour next summer. Obviously they haven't told the exact location yet.

I agree with your analysis and will add that U2 fans and BJ fans are 2 different crowds. Some people like both bands but they/we are a minority so there's no real competition and choices to make for concert goers (in Europe).

The competition exists only at the economic level: whose tour will make more money? Will BJ be the #1 tour again?

And this time there's another factor in the equation: BJ got kicked out of UMG whereas U2 didn't. To me, it's yet another reason for Jon to be wanting to sell better than U2, it's a question of pride in the name of love (read: ego).

I think we're likely to see a continuation of the festival model in Europe. There are so many day festivals now that reduce the risks for promoters. I really don't think Bon Jovi are the draw they were when they did the O2 residency, or headlined major stadiums on their own across Europe.

The BWC tour kind of proved that and IMO, the clamor for another tour isn't particularly high with casual fans I don't think. Might be wrong though.

That competition could only occur if U2 fail again with the release of his next album, but this will not happen, because they have been working on it for a year and studied well for successfully launch songs of experience (correct the failure released in itunes of songs of innocence) and the new stage will be more awesome.

If Jon gets a solid hit, regains part of his voice, Sambora back and most importantly, the new record of u2, failure again, maybe Jon has a small chance to snatch the crown, though I rather doubt.

I completely understand your point, Jon participates in a lot of dramatic (but necessary) "rockstar-talk". I do, however, feel that as he gets older, his voice deteriorates, and the band becomes even less relevant, he'll just give a shit less about the 'competition' in the music business. To me, leaving UMG hints to that. Plus, he already let his streak of No.1 albums go after BB - what next?

The way I see it: once something starts to slide from reach, you're motivation, especially this late in the game, goes with it. And hopefully that'll mean that Jon, David and Tico can have a little fun and experiment, and release something that reflects that - not something designed to reach No.1 and encourage an uber-successful tour.

I get it, you love U2 and you can't bear to see the band without Sambora - I think just about all of us would like to see him back in his prime. But the fact is that the band (BJ) is getting older and it looks like Richie is not coming back - at least for a good while.
What's this 'crown' you speak of? I genuinely believe, or at least hope, that Jon's interest in No.1 tours, albums, etc. is diminishing. So I guess you may as well 'crown' U2 right now and be done with it. It doesn't matter to me - music shouldn't be a competition.

If Jon was interested in going out "wearing a crown" he could have ended things with the Because we Can album and tour cycle. WAN was a #1 album and the Tour was the #1 tour. If he wanted to go out on top, he could have gone out on top and said, "Kiss my ass" to the world.

Instead, he's left his record company, he's making an album without Richie--because he can--doing whatever the hell he wants to do with Tico and David, following dreams he still has such as going to Israel because he wants to and not giving into political pressure, and he's going to make the album HE wants to. It's already named. It's already scheduled for release. He doesn't seem worried or bothered about a damn thing at this point except for typhoons.

I don't think he's in competition with anyone but himself to make the best album he can. The rest of it is all a bunch of hoo-haa.

Not as much as Jon.

I just think in a scenary possible.


No. He will always want to stay relevant. Remember the signing of Azoff.

The record company does not want to bet on Bon Jovi. Richie wants to do their thing. David and Tico support him because it all comes down to brand success, but really is other jbj album.. Jon was not concerned about WAN, was also ready, and with an expected launch.

Everything points to another WAN, there is nothing to indicate the contrary. JBJ released an album of his brand of success. The reason, again making a successful tour, to raise money and demonstrate again that it is relevant. It's not about the music. It's about his brand (and his ego).

Kind of funny to see someone who worships Richie criticizing Jon for having a big ego...

why? Maybe because after of 14 years recording and tourning with Bon Jovi, he wants to make his own music during some years? oh sure.

It turns out that after 30 years the big ego of this band was not JBJ, was Richie, of course.

I don't see how anything points to another WAN. You must have access to a crystal ball that I don't.

You and I see Jon completely differently. That's all there is too it. I'm not going to argue with you about him because you'll always choose to see him in the worst light possible.