It's just YOUR opinion, Sir. I wouldn't call anyone's opinion "shit" because it speaks volumes not about other people but the person himself.

Is it preferable? No. I'm sure we would all prefer to have the classic line-up, in any band. But I can get over it if it still sounds good. It doesn't because of Jon, not because of the band, which to my ears sound nice with additions of Bradley and Shanks.

It's an opinion based on facts... This is a band with almost a 35 year history... Life happens, change happens, for better or for worse... These guys are getting older... They still do it better than most, just not as good as their peak when they were young... To say I'm not going to a show because of X is stupid...

If Page and Plant reunited you ****ing go... You don't say, "Well Plant's voice isn't what it was, and they have a new drummer, and the Immigrant Song won't sound like it did in the 70's" You just ****ing go and have a good time...

And what if I don't want to f***** go? If I don't think the performance is good enough to be paid for (and it's not cheap!), then I won't!

It's OK not to like something but it's not OK to say you suck just because you dare to differ. BJ IS a legend, very much to this day, but the magic is gone! Just because they've been around for many years doesn't justify the situation where 'the best' becomes 'fairly average' to say the least.

We, as fans, differ in all ways possible but we're united by the love for the Band. Yet, blind idolizing without acknowledging the obvious deteriorating of the quality of the delivered product causes unnecessary rifts among the fans. Same with this foolish side taking, while the guys themselves try to stay as loyal as possible, even if they've failed a few times when they let the emotions take over.

I know many are hurt and disappointed with RS sudden departure and bad timing but it doesn't do the man justice to say that he was anyway a mediocre guitar player and Phil X is way better and more energetic than RS. Pardon, that was one bad joke and even the so called "Jon's supporters" rarely make such bold (and untrue) statements. Phil X doesn't belong to the legendary BJ, he's a good replacement, but that's it, whether you like it or not. And I've never heard that Hugh has replaced Alec and he has done it better! Maybe because Alec was fired while Richie left on his own but that shouldn't be the case. It takes a lot of maturity to move on without bearing grudges and passing judgement, usually one-sided anyway. BJ is (was?) a band, not a lead singer with hired musicians or am I wrong? Sometimes I have such impression reading comments...

If you are so willing to accept that Jon's voice can be bad but still enjoyable then try to be as understanding when it comes to Richie's guitar skills. They're both old, for goodness sake!

And here's something to pick your spirits up

Here's where opinions differ. Since I'm paying, I do demand excellence. Even though I like Jon, Richie, Tico, David, and Hugh, I love their SONGS, not them. I don't go to concerts just to have a good time, I go hoping to hear a good performance of songs I like, and that makes me have a good time. I've been to bad Bon Jovi gigs with some friends, and we were all bored to death. If I want to pay for something just to have a good time, I'd rather go to a nightclub.

I like the new album a lot. But I can't stand Jon's live vocals nowadays. I know that watching youtube videos is completely different than being there in person, but I was at Rock and Rio 2013, Dusseldorf 2011 and some other bad BJ gigs where I wanted to leave before the end of the show because of how bad Jon's vocals were.

Well said.

Just because some people don't have a high standard for the gigs they go to and the money they spend, doesn't mean that others shouldn't as well.

Well to be fair Jon sounded pretty damn good on the Europe leg 2011. I know Dusseldorf was a pretty weak show compared to most other shows during that leg, with a pretty horrible set list but you can't claim the vocal delivery was so bad you wanted to leave the show, or we are listening to different concerts.

It was tough at the show, but the reason was that the vocals were partly mixed so upfront that your ears started ringing each time stretched a note. Another low point was him starting too late in songs. This happened more and more during the second half of the show and was something we weren't used to at that point. So it was quite distracting.

Getting back to the original discussion:
As of now (and having heard the Miami show) I wouldn't pay to see this band anymore either. And this has nothing to do with me not wanting to support them or being angry that Richie left. For me the weak link live is Jon. Simple as that. I enjoy the new album and the promo show in London was good, but he already had trouble with the new songs in Miami as soon as some of the older hits were mixed in.
Sure a live concert is never the same as listening to a SBD recording, but it can only cover the flaws to a certain amount. When I pay that amount of money I demand to be entertained and hear performances that take me away. It makes me sad but Jon can't deliver one of these aspects anymore. He's so occupied clinging himself to the mic trying to stay in tune that he doesn't move around at all. In 2013 I went to three shows: In Munich his voice was deteriorating midway through the show, yet he climbed the side parts of the stage and moved like crazy to keep the crowd entertained. That made up for the flaws of the band and his voice and led to an enjoyable night. In Stuttgart the crowd only was into the really big hits and Jon's struggles were obvious that night. In Cologne it was stunning, but even back then all the stars had to line up for a night like that: A setlist that was out of this world, a crowd in an excellent party mood and the giant echo of the stadium which helped him a lot.
Now you have to realize that his voice is about 50% worse than it was in May/June of 2013. I simply don't see a way how they could work an arena. To have a loud crowd drown your own vocals they need to be pumped, to get a crowd rising you need to fire up the hits, to find the hits you have to go back to the demanding older songs, to present them you'd have to able to sing them...and we're back at point one again. Furthermore he's exposed to the casual fans in bigger arenas who are used to him being able to work a crowd. 95% of the attendees only care about Jon. If he's glued to the mic and they don't even use pyrotechnics or other technical inventions to distract from it this will be coursed to fail I guess.
Maybe they'll all surprise us and pull something out of the hat that no one would've expected anymore, but after the last 4 years I simply can't see that coming.

For me Jon wasn't all that bad during the first half of 2013. It was during the autumn of 2013 things went crazy downhill. The first half of the Because We Can Tour was a little rough, but he still sounded pretty decent. I can't complain about this Always performance from Manchester 2013. But as the Europe leg ended it went from rough to horrible, and it only keeps on getting worser.

Jon is clearly in pain when he sings...a truly sad thing to see.

Fantastic post!

I think most people here are being way to over-dramatic about this Miami show...

Having Shanks and Bradley on board are a nice additions to the band... You are still getting excellence... Just because your front man doesn't have the chops to sing ballads anymore, doesn't mean you stop going... There will still be some great takeaways... As a die-hard, I'm over the classics anyway... I want to hear the new stuff and I think the 4 promo shows were fantastic... Sure Jon will butcher a few notes on the classics but it's not as painful or noticeable when you are there in person... I'm looking forward to taking in the crowds energy during songs like the KTF outro.

It's still going to be a great time... It always is... I think you all have a bad attitude and need to get over it...

As a matter of fact, I just got my Philly tickets in the mail today...

What??! Over-dramatic? This board??!!! Nah!!! :p

They are rehearsing for the tour soon so we shall see what happens. I'm goin to remain hopeful for now that Jon regains some of (not expecting all) of what makes him one of my favorite frontmen. My first show is Nashville. I've seen this band since 1985 and the shows ran the gamut from spectacular to God awful. I'm not ready to give up on them just yet. But that's me, everyone has a right to put their entertainment dollars where they see fit.


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If he could back to a vocal state of, let's say, the HAND era and regain some stage presence I'd already be happy with it. He has an excellent band behind him and as soon as there's something there that gives me hope I'll be going to see them. It's just that I haven't seen anything since mid-2013 that made me want to have been there in person. And knowing my luck the album tracks I'd like to here will be gone from the setlists by the time they visit Germany. :lol:

I'm seeing the first show of the tour in Greenville. I must admit I'm nervous about how it will go, especially because the band will be too, since it's their first. To add to that, my friend is going with me who "quit" jovi back during the LH tour because of the ticket price changes. She hasn't liked any of their new stuff since then. I'm hoping Jon can just sound as good as possible and still move around a bit. I'll try to come here and give a review after.

I'm also seeing them in Vegas 2 weeks after that, so hoping the kinks will be worked out by then.

That's my problem too. Even in 2013 there were album tracks that I liked. And by the time I got to see them (the first show of the tour was cancelled due to snow and I had tickets) all the album tracks that I loved were gone :(

I have to say though - the makeup show for Mohegan Sun was one of the last of the tour and I was surprised at how good it was. So I have hope - which is why I have tickets to 3 of the local shows. Mohegan Sun and both MSG shows.

i m travelling from greece to new york and intent to attend at least one msg show...should i wait to buy them from msg or will it be too late by then?? any ideas?

If it were me, and I was traveling that far - I would make sure I had a ticket ahead of time. Sometimes tickets are available the day of a concert but many times they are not. I know that night 1 at MSG is not sold out - there are still seats available on ticketmaster.

If Bon Jovi is the only reason you're travelling from Greece to New York, I would strongly suggest to buy them before the trip! It would be such a disappointment if you can't find any, in the worst case...

Translation in Greek:
Και άμα δεν βρεις στο Msg, τι γίνεται μετά; Μαλακία! :p

the bj concert is not the only reason but i m sure it will be one of the highlights of the trip for me!!:o
i find the tickets too expensive but i guess i ll buy them beforehand to be sure

Assuming Jon is no better vocally, the shows can still be decent but things need shaking up. Songs like Always need to be avoided, it's a pointless exercise. Let the band backing vocals cover parts that are too high - even if that's during verses. That can only work though if Jon starts moving more. Plenty of bands do it and it's forgivable because the singer is mobile, energetic and looks the part. Clutching a mic & grimacing in pain not only sounds awful but the visual impact makes it even worse. It's just not enjoyable seeing Someone embarrass themselves.

I'd much rather see a happy, confident Jon who skips the odd word than a statue who is desperately trying to hit notes beyond his range.


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Bearing in mind Jon has always been the control freak and wanted things done on his own, are you sure he's going to let others take over his parts? I'd love to see that ;]

Since he's even skipping most of the chorus of This House Is Not For Sale in order to let the backing vocals cover it up I guess so.

And the most embarassing thing is that he can't even sing this chorus.

https://instagram.fmnl4-3.fna.fbcdn....Njc0MQ%3D%3D.2

Taken from Phil's IG.

To the left of the pedalboard:
1. Always
2. Bad Name
11. I Will Drive You Home
13. DDL?

Expect Always to be murdered on some basis then; on the other hand, it's pretty nice of them to even consider playing Drive live.

That sticker has been there for ages and seen prior to the Album Listening Party shows - don't read anything into it :-)