Page 44 - Black Velvet Rock Magazine Issue 112

BV112 pg44 Bon Jovi Nashville.qxp_BV112 pg 44 27/06/2025 17:43 Page 1

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Running Away

To Nashville

ashville was the place to be in June as Bon Jovi performed their first
NRunaway Tours concert and first Bon Jovi show for fans since Jon Bon
Jovi’s vocal surgery. Black Velvet took the opportunity to visit Jon’s Nashville
bar and restaurant, JBJ’s, while we were over in the U.S. It is a must-visit if
you’re in Nashville. The bar features five floors including a rooftop bar, showing
various items of Bon Jovi memorabilia. Walls are adorned with Bon Jovi song
references, photos and more. The rooftop bar boasts an impressive view of
Broadway. The bar includes a tattoo studio on one level, a mechanical bull on
another, and a couple of stages for local and cover bands. Plus, if you go in the
side entrance, you’ll immediately spot the Proto hollogram unit of Jon Bon Jovi,
which is very entertaining. The night before the Bon Jovi show, Phil X played a
special guest set, featuring Billy Sheehan of Mr. Big on bass. The show focused
on classic rock covers such as Jimi Hendrix’s ‘Foxy Lady’ and AC/DC’s ‘High-
way To Hell’.
The main event, however, took place on June 14th, at Marathon Music
Works, with Bon Jovi hitting the stage just before 6pm.
Fans from around the U.S. and world were overjoyed to see their favourite
band back onstage after a lengthy wait following Jon Bon Jovi’s vocal surgery
and recovery. We’re happy to report that Jon is now sounding better than ever.
The hard work that he’s put into getting his voice back in shape was clearly ev-
idenced. Jon hit every note and held it. His voice was strong and beyond ex-
pectations.
The band (Jon was joined by keyboardist David Bryan, drummer Tico Tor-
res, bassist Hugh McDonald, guitarists Phil X and John Shanks and percus-
sionist Everett Bradley) kicked off the set with the surprising ‘Beautiful Drug’,
before a range of well-known hits such as ‘You Give Love A Bad Name’, ‘Born
To Be My Baby’, ‘It’s My Life’ and ‘Wanted Dead Or Alive’. The band stopped
mid-set for a few questions from the audience, before delighting the 350-ish at-
tendees with another surprise, the fabulous ’Love’s The Only Rule’, and then
wrapping the show up with ’Keep The Faith’. Fans were definitely rewarded for
keeping the faith as Jon Bon Jovi and the band proved that they are, without a
doubt, back. It’s been a tough few years for Jon, but the show was proof that
Bon Jovi are far from over. Jon’s voice sounds better than it has in a long while.
He and the band wowed the crowd, and it bodes well for a future tour. Photos
and videos were prohibited, so, while we can’t share any photos from the show,
we can safely reiterate that Bon Jovi are most definitely back.

Words & Photos By Shari Black Velvet

BON JOVI