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Bon Jovi fans enjoy a wet, wild night out at Giants Stadium

Published in the Asbury Park Press 8/08/03
By KELLY-JANE COTTER
MUSIC WRITER
EAST RUTHERFORD -- Dedicated Bon Jovi fans at Giants Stadium last night got a big dose of "Slippery When Wet," thanks to a relentless downpour that soaked the stage and nearly every seat in the house.

DARYL STONE photo

Jon Bon Jovi plays through a driving rain in front of 60,000 fans Thursday night at the Meadowlands in East Rutherford. He will play again tonight, finishing his two-night stand at Giants Stadium.
"I always wondered what it'd be like to take a shower with 60,000 people," Jon Bon Jovi said. The ladies in the crowd, predictably, responded with squeals.

Everybody seemed to get a kick out of the rain. Fans danced in yellow rain slickers, and the sold-out show remained at full capacity despite the weather.

Thirty minutes into the show, the musicians were drenched, too.

Guitarist Richie Sambora was lucky enough to be wearing one of his trademark hats, but Jon Bon Jovi had to slick back his hair and go on with the show, shaking his maracas and playing his guitar.

The band even shared the stage with some guy who wanted to propose to his girlfriend. After she accepted the proposal, Jon Bon Jovi sang "Bed Of Roses" while the couple slow-danced on stage.

The audience was with the band every step of the way.

When Jon Bon Jovi sang the chorus of "Livin' On A Prayer," he backed off to let his audience finish the line.

"Oh, we're halfway there," Bon Jovi began.

Like a choir, the fans picked up at the next beat: "Oh-oh, livin' on a prayer."

"It doesn't get any better than that," Bon Jovi said, with a chuckle.

Last night's sold-out show at Giants Stadium was the penultimate date in Bon Jovi's world tour supporting the album "Bounce." The tour wraps up at the stadium tonight, with a show time of 6 p.m.

'Good to be home again'
"Good evening, Giants Stadium, New Jersey," Jon Bon Jovi told his fans early in the set. "It's good to be home again, and we thank you for it."
Jon Bon Jovi grew up in Sayreville and now lives in Middletown. His longtime bandmates -- guitarist Sambora, drummer Tico Torres and keyboardist David Bryan -- also live in Monmouth County.

Singer-songwriter Pete Yorn, who grew up in Morris County, preceded Bon Jovi on stage and told the crowd it was a dream come true to perform at Giants Stadium.

Before the show, Michele and Brian Zucker of Marlboro were among the many tailgaters in the parking lot. The rain didn't bother them.

"We've been Jets season ticket holders," Brian Zucker said, "so we've been doing this a long time whatever the weather."

Michele Zucker said she hoped Bon Jovi would perform older material from the '80s.

"Runaway," she said, referring to Bon Jovi's first single. "I want him to play stuff that old, even before 'Slippery When Wet.' "

The band did indeed play "Runaway." Jon Bon Jovi even performed a languid, acoustic version of the Elvis Presley hit "I Can't Help Falling In Love With You."

The set list also included "Bounce," "You Give Love A Bad Name," "Undivided," "Everyday," "Livin' On A Prayer," "Keep The Faith," "Wanted Dead Or Alive," "Bed Of Roses," "It's My Life," "Older" and "Saturday Night."