What should we make of this?

Jovian · #1 12-13-2002, 12:33 PM

It's been brought to my attention that while being interviewed for some tv show (?) in Australia, Jon made a comment that seems, well, kinda odd, at least in my opinion. When Jon was asked about the Rumba Festivals, he first explained that 'because Australia missed out on the last tour, we had a lot of ground to make up here' and then went on to say that they'd probably go back to Australia next year and that because they are accustomed to selling out stadiums, they won't do a gig somewhere if they don't think they can sell it out. He also said that while the Red Hot Chilli Peppers might have played to a half-empty stadium (I assume this was in Australia), Bon Jovi wouldn't do such a thing.

So what should we make of all this? Does it mean that the reason Bon Jovi isn't playing for example anywhere in Scandinavia on the Bounce Tour is not just money or scheduling problems but quite simply the guys' and/or the promoters' lack of faith in Bon Jovi's ability to sell out even just a single show here?

If that's the case...then why the heck do they insist on playing huge stadiums, instead of smaller arenas which they would sell out -- even in places like Sweden and Finland??

Christo · #2 12-13-2002, 01:56 PM

I don't know, but at least they come out and say it instead of making up a bullshit excuse for cancelling a show, as'Sir' Paul McCartney did for his proposed Melbourne show a month or so ago. Seriously, using the excuse that 'this is not the time for a rock concert' following the Bali bombings was a bad attempt at covering up low ticket sales. By the way, wasn't 'Sir' Paul one of the performers at the Concert For New York City, just a couple of weeks after the 9/11 attacks, which were far more drastic than the Bali bombings? Yeah, nice one Paul.

Yvonne · #3 12-14-2002, 05:44 PM

Didnt the last Jovi show in Sweden/Finland sell out?!

Wait until after Xmas there might be a show in Finland, fingers crossed.

Late · #4 12-14-2002, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yvonne

Didnt the last Jovi show in Sweden/Finland sell out?!

Wait until after Xmas there might be a show in Finland, fingers crossed.

Helsinki 7.8.2000 and Turku 5.8.2000 were both sold out. Stockholm 2000 & 2001 were not, at least to my knowledge. Gothemburg was sold out, I quess. So they´ve always sold out shows here in Scandinavia and I hope there will atleast be ONE show.

Cara · #5 12-16-2002, 02:35 PM

Yes that is true he did say that and I think he means it.

I have thought long and hard about posting this but Aussie should know...

I was talking to Jon's assistant tour manager after the Sydney concert even though Jon just said to us the show in sydney was "f**king great", I knew the reason to do rumba was to test the "market" and at the end of the week of all rumbas i said to him "you are not coming back for a full tour are you?" (dave, tico had previously told me yes....) and the reply was a reluctant but definate "NO"....

Answer to Why? Too expensive and far to travel....obviously the market too risky - ticket prices would have to be higher than usual and why do a show in Aus that will not make any money when you can sell out shows in japan and Germany 5 times over?

Sad but true...the guys can pick and choose now - as much as they rock any show big or small and give it EVERYTHING they have got.... it's all about the "achievement" - and ofcourse money to a degree - it is a HUGE operation.... (and as Jon says he is not going to bve the "fat elvis")

Sorry fellow Aussies - start saving for that overseas trip if u want to catch Bon Jovi in the next 3 years...

Jovian · #6 12-16-2002, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cara

I was talking to Jon's assistant tour manager after the Sydney concert even though Jon just said to us the show in sydney was "f**king great", I knew the reason to do rumba was to test the "market" and at the end of the week of all rumbas i said to him "you are not coming back for a full tour are you?" (dave, tico had previously told me yes....) and the reply was a reluctant but definate "NO"....

Answer to Why? Too expensive and far to travel....obviously the market too risky - ticket prices would have to be higher than usual and why do a show in Aus that will not make any money when you can sell out shows in japan and Germany 5 times over?

And that's probably the reason the guys will be skipping Scandinavia too, at least on the Bounce Tour (though hopefully not on EVERY SINGLE tour from now on). Granted, we still don't know the additional dates, but I think it's pretty safe to say that we won't be seeing them on these latitudes at all.

Logistics-wise the only plausible times for them to come here are the beginning and the end of the tour, and somehow I doubt that Jon would appreciate singing outdoors some time before the 25th May, considering how cold it got out there on the 31st May last year by the time the guys took the stage.

I guess it really is so nowadays that for the guys and their organisation, +23 million people in four countries (Finland, Sweden, Norway and Denmark) is not a big enuff market to warrant a date or two in the tour schedule. They know from experience that they just CAN'T sell out a stadium here, and although they CAN very well sell out the smaller indoor arenas, or at least Elysee Arena and Hartwall Arena in Finland and Globen and Scandinavium in Sweden, it might very well be that we won't be seeing them here any more. Not unless they decide to do that long-awaited (and long overdue) arena tour in Europe, in which case it shouldn't make any difference to them where they play as long as the arenas sell out (which they'd probably do over here). Or unless they somehow start ignoring the financial aspects of touring and want to give us Scandinavians the kind of a special treat they gave us on the Crush Tour.

So I guess I should give the same advice to the Finnish fans as Cara gave to the Aussie fans -- start saving for that overseas trip to Germany or wherever if you still want to catch our guys live.

Christo · #7 12-17-2002, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cara

Yes that is true he did say that and I think he means it.

I have thought long and hard about posting this but Aussie should know...

I was talking to Jon's assistant tour manager after the Sydney concert even though Jon just said to us the show in sydney was "f**king great", I knew the reason to do rumba was to test the "market" and at the end of the week of all rumbas i said to him "you are not coming back for a full tour are you?" (dave, tico had previously told me yes....) and the reply was a reluctant but definate "NO"....

Answer to Why? Too expensive and far to travel....obviously the market too risky - ticket prices would have to be higher than usual and why do a show in Aus that will not make any money when you can sell out shows in japan and Germany 5 times over?

Sad but true...the guys can pick and choose now - as much as they rock any show big or small and give it EVERYTHING they have got.... it's all about the "achievement" - and ofcourse money to a degree - it is a HUGE operation.... (and as Jon says he is not going to bve the "fat elvis")

Sorry fellow Aussies - start saving for that overseas trip if u want to catch Bon Jovi in the next 3 years...

Why would Jon very publicly say they are coming back and that this time is to make up for the Crush Tour, if they are going to do the same thing again and pass on Australia? And if you were going to make the trip all the way to Australia, wouldn't you actually do a few full shows instead of merely half ones, as they did by appearing at Rumba? If money is the issue, I don't think they would have made much from their appearance at Rumba.

Dan · #8 12-19-2002, 03:48 PM

Well I think Jon is reffering to the Australian appeal concert.......b/c that didn't get sold out!!! and neither did Rumba......Its probably partly to do with the fact that its at Colonial stadium....which is a pretty big venue for a concert.

Anyway fingers crossed they come back to Melbourne + its a sellout

Fredrik · #9 12-20-2002, 05:05 PM

About the concerts in Sweden, Stockholm and Gothenburg 2000 did sell out, but Stockholm 2001 didn't. It was a kick-ass show though, really awesome..

QueenieSambora · #10 12-20-2002, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Christo

Why would Jon very publicly say they are coming back and that this time is to make up for the Crush Tour, if they are going to do the same thing again and pass on Australia? And if you were going to make the trip all the way to Australia, wouldn't you actually do a few full shows instead of merely half ones, as they did by appearing at Rumba? If money is the issue, I don't think they would have made much from their appearance at Rumba.

~Christo,

All that Bon Jovi needed to perform at Rumba was flight tickets for the band, staff & crew and their instruments. They did not have to bring over their stage-crew, stage settings, trucks, and other expensive logistic supplies. From what I have gathered I agree that the purpose of performing at the Rumba festivals was to test the market. Unfortunately it's all about money...

What should we make of this?

Tour Discussion