Richie Sambora, left, and Jon Bon Jovi perform during the Live Earth concert at Giants Stadium, in this July 7, 2007, file photo in East Rutherford, N.J. The music of Bon Jovi battled with the din of saws and drills in the Prudential Center as the New Jersey rockers prepared for 10 shows at the downtown Newark facility. Bon Jovi is the first act to perform at the new arena, starting Thursday, Oct. 25, 2007. (AP Photo/Mel Evans, file)
Richie Sambora, left, and Jon Bon Jovi perform during the Live Earth concert at Giants Stadium, in this July 7, 2007, file photo in East Rutherford, N.J. The music of Bon Jovi battled with the din of saws and drills in the Prudential Center as the New Jersey rockers prepared for 10 shows at the downtown Newark facility. Bon Jovi is the first act to perform at the new arena, starting Thursday, Oct. 25, 2007. (AP Photo/Mel Evans, file)
LONDON — Bon Jovi has launched its London O2 Arena residency — returning to the venue the band officially launched three years ago.
Rob Hallett, AEG Live president of international touring, is predicting that ticket sales for the band’s current tour will easily out-perform the 2007-2008 Lost Highway trek.
The band’s AEG Live promoted London residency, which began Monday night with the first of 12 sellout shows at the O2 Arena and stretches until June 26, will see the band perform to over 175,000 people, according to Hallett.
The New Jersey rockers staged an audacious rooftop gig at the O2 Arena Monday to launch their 12-night run. Performing in windy conditions on a temporary stage located in the middle of the O2’s domed roof, the band played four songs — “We Weren’t Born To Follow,” “Superman Tonight,” You Give Love A Bad Name “ and ” It’s My Life “ — before beginning the 30-minute descent, assisted by mountaineering experts.
A crowd of several hundred fans amassed outside the venue to watch the free gig being relayed live on TV screens outside the O2. Footage from the afternoon concert was also broadcast live on commercial TV Network Sky News with edited footage due to be serviced to digital platforms, including Bon Jovi’s web site, later Tuesday, according to a spokesperson for the band.
” We like to push the envelope and do things that people normally don’t do, “ guitarist Richie Sambora explained to Billboard after the rooftop gig. ” We like to do stuff that has impact because I think that people remember those things as big events and they become part of rock lore, part of history and part of rock culture. “
In June 2007 Bon Jovi became the first band to perform at the O2 arena, officially opening the venue.
Bon Jovi’s previous world trek, the Lost Highway tour, was the biggest grossing tour of 2008. The mammoth global trek grossed $210.6 million and drew 2,157,675 fans, according to Billboard Boxscore.
” To actually remain contemporary after all these years is cool, man, “ said a buoyant Sambora. ” Let’s face it, there’s not that many bands doing it anymore. “
” This ain’t stopping, “ he added. ” We’re having too much fun. We’re going to come and do a proper stadium tour of the European continent next summer and we’re going to release a greatest hits around fall with some new tracks on it. “
Sambora also joked that the band’s decision to hold a 12-date residency at London’s O2 Arena came from drummer Tico Torres.
” Tico made a decree and said, ’we will not move for a month,’ and that was the end of it, “ said Sambora.
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