Your 'magic' moments

Chronological not by importance

Jan 3, 1987 First ever concert I went to (13 years old), lights go down and hearing Pink Flamingos and waiting for it to break into Let it Rock but getting Raise Your Hands instead.

July 28, 2001 last night of the OWN tour at Giants Stadium. Saw them in Hershey a few days before that and was talking to a friend online that morning saying it's the last night of the tour. So out of nowhere he said, let's go. Picked up 2 tickets in the parking lot before the show. I just remember seeing the stadium stage with the Empire State Building and being awed by such a massive stage. Then getting chills when Jon and the crowd during IBTFY.

December 2, 2005 Philadelphia Taking my fiance to her first BJ concert. We sat in the section that had Jon's riser in the crowd. She saw a whole bunch of security come down and she made her move to the riser. Security asked her "What are you doing down here?" She said, "You know exactly why I'm here." They just told her to stay out of the way.

July 29, 2006 Last night of the HAND tour at Giants Stadium. We had gone to 6 shows on the tour before that. Never thinking we'd get TD, WITW, and the remaining songs off HAND that weren't played yet. Richie singing IBTFY to his daughter and I'll never forget the image of Jon sitting down on the edge of the stage singing These Days.

March 2, 2008 Philadelphia We took my parents to the Jon birthday show. My father went once with me in 1989 but it was my mother's first show.

July 14 and 15 2008 MSG The girlfriend became the fiance before night 1 show. We got Always, Dry County, and Living in Sin mixed between the 2 nights. Also one of my recent favorite versions of Blood on Blood where Jon started in the crowd and worked his way to the stage.

March 24, 2010 Philadelphia Only Lonely, TIMS, HN as the opener, LTOR closing the main set, and Homebound Train.

To me definitely the OMG! I can't believe I am hearing this live

My first DC
Blood Money
Livin' in Sin
Damned
I am (only played once) and I don't care if it was a bad vocal...
Thief of Hearts
Sylvia's Mother
Only in my dreams (sang by Tico)

The whole LH album top to bottom at the Prudential.

Just to name a few.

I covered a few of my more recent ones in the other thread - namely, Dry County (Hampden 2008 ), WITW and STBI (Murrayfield 2011) but the earliest one I had was at my first show in 2001.

Milton Keynes Bowl with two mates from school. I paid just £27.50 GA ticket and it was my first concert experience. The show itself was unbelievably epic but hearing the a capella 'Prayer' for the first time as the closing song was awesome and I still get goosebumps thinking about it now.

So many great memories!

Holy shit moments:
2008/07/04 - first Dry County at Madison Square Garden
2011/02/25 - first (and still only) These Days (with Jon on vocals) at Madison Square Garden
2008/02/24 - first (and still only) Stranger in this Town in Chicago
2008/07/09 - first REAL Bed of Roses in Boston - the lounge lizard version is DEAD!
2008/07/10 - Jon & Richie doing a gorgeous acoustic version of Wanted in Boston (in honor of Richie's birthday)
2008/04/30 - Midnight Rider intro to Wanted in Atlanta

Other notable moments:
2007/10/28 - Living in Sin at my very first Jovi show in Newark
2008/03/16 - Garageland and Miss Fourth of July in Greensboro
2008/04/24 - first Blood Money in Nashville
2008/04/30 - first Always in Atlanta
2010/03/19 - Diamond Ring and Something for the Pain back-to-back in Montreal (my first TD tracks other than Richie's version of TD)
2010/03/26 - first Never Say Goodbye at Mohegan Sun
2010/07/31 - first (and still only) Damned in Chicago

Gotta be hearing Dry County for1st time at manchester 06 then in the rain at hampden 08
Always at Hampden 08
Hey god at HRC
STBI at Murrayfield

There have been many over the years but first would be seeing them for the first time in 1989 on my birthday in NJ. The date was March 15th 1989.Jon was so energetic throughout the show it just amazed me and then hearing IBTFY. When he sang "Didn't mean to miss your birthday", that just connected with me. Being at the first Giants show, June 11th 1989 and having such a headache which was cured by the catharsis during IBTFY. IBTFY is just a song that doesn't get boring to me unless it was during the HAND tour.

Being late for the Feb 20th 1983 show, forcing my brother to run through the tunnel at the Meadowlands Sports Complex to get to the arena, just in time to hear the opening chords of I Believe as we ran to our seats.

The LH tour, hearing DC at MSG getting so excited and having Terri to share the moment with.

CP show, would never do something like that again. Hearing Always for the first time in years and turning behind me to see the crowd clapping to Sleep.

Hearing Only Lonely, Thorn and Happy Now in Philly , March 2010.

Being close to the stage and Circle this tour and interacting with Jon and Richie. Yes I do have some fan girl moments.

MSG night 2 and 3, awesome shows for me, highlights were getting to hear These Days and Richie's guitar work on DC and Always at night 2.

LTOR played in Philly 2010, my definitive Circle song done live.

Nothing will ever top seeing Richie and Jon come onto the stage at my first Bon Jovi show in 2007. These guys have been my inspiration since grade 4, and to finally see them in real life was incredible. I didn't care that I was still half an arena away. Just BEING there was enough for me.

Also, during my first Bon Jovi concert, it gave me chills when they played Prayer and EVERYONE sang. I don't typically go to big arena rock concerts, so I had NEVER heard such a loud audience singing along to every word.

I guess the other defining "magic" moments would be getting to hear the songs I've always wanted to hear live. Mystery Train (TWICE!) was amazing because 1) I didnt expect them to play such an obscure album track, and 2) I happen to REALLY love that song. I remember not being able to move when Tico came in with the drums for Always during night #1 in Vancouver, 2011. Then the night after, I didn't even recognize Something To Believe In for the first few beats. Even though he flubbed most of the high notes, it was just magical to hear them playing it. And to get These Days after that sealed the deal for the most memorable BJ concert that I've seen.

Should also mention hearing Richie play Stranger In This Town. I REALLY wish I had gotten a full video of that performance. Just stellar.

I have had many 'Magic' moments.

I rem the gig at Hudds on the OWN tour was especially special. They just didn't seem to want to leave the stage that night.

Gateshead 2000 - Jon tripped up on some wire before coming on stage at the side - I remember him being stood at the side of the stage smoking and i though 'my god, he's normal'! Ha

manchester in 08 - Was about 6 rows back in the GC right in front of Jon and i cried my eyes out when they played DR backed up with Always..... Oh and LC on that setlist too! Oh and DC that was the first time i heard DC in over a decade!

This year there was no magical set - Ok we got DC which was lovely to hear again and BOB - But for me this year it was the atmosphere of the band - Such good spirits and Jon rocked. Despite the driving rain

Not all of the gigs i've been to mentioned but a few highlights for me!

C x

A few other magic moments for me:

June 24th 2007 - The O2
First off it was nice to see the band again after not seeing them since 2001 for one reason or another. I almost didn't see them this time round either but I saw more tickets become available the week before. I phoned a friend and asked if he wanted to see BJ at the new Wembley - he said yes. I phoned him a bit later and told him we had tickets to the new O2 - luckily he still wanted to go!

I know it splits the opinion of people here, but I thought Jon's performance of Hallelujah was absolutely incredible, and very moving. The other moment was Richie's guitar solo at the end of Any Other Day which I wasn't anticipating and was very welcome. I thought vocally Jon was fantastic and the band were on tremendous form - a great return to live Bon Jovi for me.

June 28th 2008 - Twickenham
The gig actually started with a very non-magical moment as I hate Status Quo and even Bon Jovi singing Rockin' All Over The World couldn't make me like it.

First magical moment was Blood Money followed by Blaze of Glory. As a huge fan of the BOG album this was a real treat. But the biggest moment came when, after 13 years of it being one of my favourite songs, I finally hears Always, and it was great.

It was also nice to be there with my Dad as it was the first time we ever did anything like that.

June 25th 2010 - The O2
This was another gig I went to at the last minute as I got tickets for £5 just a few days previously. I had tickets for the 13th June but illness meant I couldn't go so this was an unexpected treat.

It was a BOG moment again for me as Blood Money was followed by an acoustic version of Santa Fe which against the opinion of some, I thought was great and really enjoyed it. My excitement of seeing a song live that I loved so much for the first time may have had me overlooking quality issues, but to me it was a very special moment.

June 25th 2011 - Hyde Park
Dry County was even more of a treat than usual as I was with my little brother and as his first ever gig I was so pleased he'd get to see a song that so many people have wanted to see over the years, and it was amazing.

Always was absolutely stunning, and then there was I'll Be There For You with an amazing crowd singing the Woah-oh-ohs at the end - brilliant.

I'd like to mention Milton Keynes from June 2001 but I can't remember anything specific - only that it was an amazing gig and I remember being cloud 9 during and afterwards. It was the first gig Denise had ever been to and the rain stopped for Bon Jovi and they played for 3 hours, if memory serves me right.

Bon Jovi concerts always contain something magical, even if it's hearing a song that's played every time like LOAP - when it's been of your favourite songs for 25 years it's always great seeing it performed live.

first jovi gig at hampden glasgow 2001....doggin school that day with a squad of pals....awesome. Woke up and miraculously i was able to play the guitar! Thanks Richie!

they done blood on blood...a song which was me and my mates anthem! Awesome!

Ibrox....Jon blessing himself during in these arms...unaware of the connetations such an act has in Glasgow! haha...Richie singin' IBTFY...amazin'! although it was a mediocre gig...I got the bloody girl in the encore?!

Hampden 2006...being onstage and in the dressings room during the afternoon before being asked to leave by jesse the tour manager...meeting my girlfriend

hampden 2008....everything....DC....the pissing wet....exhaustion..Richie pointing at us and laughing during bad medicine.

Munich 2011...havin GA tickets but gettin into the diamond....my cousin from sydney meeting us! having richie back! Awesome!


Murrayfield 2011....again blaggin our way to front of the DC....me having a GC ticket...my cousin having bought the VIP package and my girlfriend blaggin a VIP pass for nothing! and what a setlist