2007: Opening the O2 in London

Another dream came true between June,22nd and 25th, 2007, when, after a long struggle, I managed to get a ticket for the grand opening of the O2 arena in London. Bon Jovi were set to do a one off gig to promote their 10th studio record "Lost Highway" in London and once again I returned to Europe's busiest city.

The adventure started smoothly with two days of sight seeing in London city, since Bon Jovi had not arrived yet. So along the traditional visit to Piccadilly Circus I had the chance to see live Trafalgar Square, the Big Ben, West Minister, the Tower Bridge, and the Natural History Museum.

But it wasn't until Sunday that the adventure really begun since the calendar said it was June the 24th, 2007 and Bon Jovi were opening the O2 arena in London city before a crowd of 20 000 people. In this show I had a different perspective, since I was located at the top tier and it wasn't hard to have vertigo since we were above the spotlights that were lightening the stage. It was definitely a different experience after so many shows in the first rows. But it was well worth it, since after an ok performance by an opening act, the audience could finally cheer the band that sold out 20 000 tickets in only 1 minute.

And the distance to the stage did not stopped the energy that was felt at the first chords of the night. Those anthems are more than songs, they are common experiences we all lived at some point and so it was a communion of feelings and adrenaline that everybody could feel at the arena.

Livin' On a Prayer is one of those songs that was already played in all parts of the show, but it does really fit in the beginning since it starts with a fade in that really helps creating the mood for a great night of Rock and Roll. Jon (Bon Jovi) was filmed walking from backstage until he got on stage reminding old tours. And what could you say after two classics like "Livin' on a Prayer" and "You Give Love Bad Name"? It was impossible for me to look to the screens, in spite of only being able to see the musician's facial expressions through them. Those characters, and especially Jon and Richie, have the ability to fill the whole stage, it seems like they shine like only heroes can. The presence, vivacity, charisma, actually there are not words that can describe the energy those two icons of Rock have.

New songs were played from the recent "Lost Highway" album, along with hit singles like Born to be my baby - with Jon being circled by several fans -, It's My Life, or the 25 year old Runaway. Songs like Lost Highway or Whole Lot of Leaving are not among fans favorites yet, but (You Wanna) Make a Memory turned out to be a magical moment in which melody and lyrics really touched everyone. We Gotta Going On had everybody from the time Jon said "let that talk box talk".... The song will definitely stay in the set list in my opinion. I Love this Town is the perfect opportunity to thank the city for the great memories. You can say the band is at loose when playing this extraordinary tune in which you can hear a brilliant solo by Mr Richie Sambora and the audience have the opportunity to participate too. It's like a mix of Love for Sale, I'll Sleep when i'm dead and Who says you can't go home in 5 minute time. Amazing.

After last year's Country hit - Who says you can't go home - they played Sleep, Bad Medicine and Shout and "the adrenaline levels went up and got dangerous to those with a faint heart". All the musicians were introduced in a particular way, and one of the moments of the night took place when a fan that was on stage refused a kiss by Jon, willing for a compliment from the keyboard player, David Bryan. The reaction from the vocalist was even funnier since he sat down and told her she could go and accomplish her dream, and so it was. Besides all the professionalism the band demonstrated, there were moments of pure spontaneity that only few are able to set.

Any other day was enthusiastically received by the audience and it was one more chance for Mr Sambora to shine with an astonishing solo. Someday I'll be Saturday Night and Last Night kept the celebration and enthusiasm climate, while a very gospel and soulful version of Hallelujah turned out to be one of the night's highlights. An energetic, full of testosterone, 10 minute long performance of Keep the Faith, closed the set list, after a brilliant rendition of their classic "Wanted Dead or Alive" in which Jon said "Welcome back my brother", mentioning the absence of the guitarist in the previous show. It was impossible to stay seated when listening to songs like these, and when the performance is at this level, the two hour show could not help but to taste like it was too short.

They promised they'd be back in the following year to a place where all their fans could fit. And the question I'm wondering about is: even though it's finished, is Wembley Std. ready to hold such adrenaline and energy levels?

On the following day it was hard to leave from the land of dreams, but that was it for the time being, I had felt once again the sole reason I keep following this band, but already there were some plans for the following November, when the band would play 10 nights in their home state of New Jersey and I would make my first visit overseas...