Mid-Day Motivators: Big Bad Wolf

Concert business is up 11%

As reported in the LA Times:

The concert industry, after a difficult year in 2010, is showing total revenue from the Top 50 tours worldwide is up more than 11% for the first half of 2011, according to Pollstar the concert-industry tracking publication.

The increase in the cost of concert attendance “was not expected coming off a down year,” said Pollstar editor Gary Bongiovanni. “It's possible that much of this is driven by artists playing smaller venues at higher prices or better artist packaging, which increases show costs but offers fans a better value for their ticket dollar.”

Ticket prices increased by an average of 13.6%, or $10.23, worldwide, Pollstar reported.

Leading the pack on the concert trail, not surprisingly, is U2, with a six-month total gross of $164 million on the latest leg of its 360 Tour, which has become the highest-grossing tour of all time.

Behind U2 is Roger Waters, who has pulled in $97.9 million with an average ticket price of $112.99, followed by Bon Jovi ($921 million, $96.26 ticket average), Lady Gaga ($65.3 million, $96.77 tickets) and Usher ($62.2 million, $83.28 tickets).

~ Hath

July Opening Act Bands

From the Bon Jovi website:

Congratulations to all of the AMAZING bands that won the Opening Act Contest and will get to open up for Bon Jovi during the rest of Open Air Tour in Europe! Check them out below!

• 07/10/11--Bucharest, RO: QuantiQ
• 07/14/11--Zurich, CH: Death by Chocolate
• 07/20/11--Athens, GR: Brother in Plugs
• 07/22/11--Vienna, AT: Tyler
• 07/31/11--Lisbon, PT: Red Lizzard

Congratulations, one and all!

~ Hath

Istanbul (not Constantinople)

Yes, tonight is the first show since Jon's minor surgery. Haberler.com has this brief video of Jon arriving in Turkey via "private plane".  Many of the articles seem to be highlighting -- and seem surprised about it too -- that Jon's arriving via private jet.  I wonder how else they thought he'd arrive?  I have a hard time picturing him flying commercial if he can help it.

Now, I can't see the video (blocked from my current location), but I'm hoping this works for you. If not, try going to the source to view the video.




Today's Turkey has a brief article accompanied by these photos:

And Sunday's Zaman reminds concertgoers:

Visiting Turkey for the first time in 18 years, the world superstars -- famous for mega hits as “Livin’ On a Prayer,” “Always,” “It’s My Life” and “You Give Love a Bad Name” -- are set to take to İstanbul’s Türk Telekom Arena stage at 8:30 p.m. on Friday evening as part of their Greatest Hits 2011 Tour.

With the Türk Telekom Arena doors opening at 3 p.m., ticket holders should get there early to see supporting act Turkish rock band Redd perform at 5:45 p.m. followed by a performance from a special guest, rock star Şebnam Ferah, at 7 p.m.

~ Hath

Mid-Day Motivators: HEEHEEHEE!!

 

Mid-Day Motivators: Brother

 

Resplendent Randomness: Breakout

From 1984, on the talk show "Thicke Of The Night". Thanks, Kiwi!!

The guys are totally adorable in all their tattered-clothes-wearing, dangly-earring-sporting, AquaNet-covered glory.

Hey David, I think I have those same earrings.

~ Hath

Wanted Wednesday: July 6, 1996

Please rise, for the playing of our National Anthem...

Admittedly, this is a bit of a "crappy" bootleg, and there's nothing extra remarkable about this performance, though Richie does take the second verse, and there's a nice harmony moment on the next "I'm a cowboy" between the two of them.

 There's also a lovely acoustic solo rather than the electric yumminess we're used to, which isn't a bad thing at all, and some early "Happy Birthday"shout outs to Richie from the audience.

Otherwise, today's selection is just another Kasey Casem moment. On this day in 1996...

Let's Ride!







If you're so inclined, you can take this file from my mediafire.

~ Hath

Yasmin Strikes Back

Thanks, FD, for sending this along to me.

@yasminmitri:
News of the World have no proof of anything and are very well known for being scam. I hate drugs and everyone who knows me knows that.

@yasminmitri:
I just want people to know I have never made any interviews about Richie. I deny all the allegations about me. It's all Speculation.

Now, I'm not on Twitter presently (work blocks it) so I don't know if this is the verified account for Yasmin Mitri, but in this article, from EGO news, Yasmin is reported as saying:

Yasmin's adviser denies accusations: "That story was a trap. The journalist called her saying he wanted to do a fashion editorial in her house and she would not. He created this situation." He said the profile [on the escort service site] shows photos of another Brazilian model, "This matter is a lie and who appears on the site as Genevieve is not Yasmin."

Yasmin has sought help from the Brazilian embassy in London and, according to the aide, plans to sue the newspaper for punitive damages.

~ Hath

New Author, New Story

Welcome Toti, to the wide world of Fan Fiction!

This new author is embarking on her first story, Thorn in my Side, a Richie story for your enjoyment. This is Toti's one-liner for the story:

About the one liner...I'm being a bitch about giving any hints. All I can say is that this story is a labour of love, but the devil gets in the way.

It's already pretty well-established (lots of chapters up already), and she's posting fast and furious so far.

~ Hath

Fan Club Q and A

Thanks to chickieT for putting these up on YouTube, and Catte for sending me the links.

~ Hath

Mid-Day Motivator: Miracle

Sorry I'm a little late today -- still catching up on emails -- here's a juicy summer one for you.

~ Hath

Resplendent Randomness: Always, RDS Night 1

Gorgeous video, courtesy of bs68clips.  Just beautiful.

~ Hath

Who's That Girl (II)...

Yes, this "story" has been making its rounds, and I'd be remiss if I didn't mention it.

Viply (Germany) is reporting that Yasmin has been Richie's "secret girlfriend" for the past year, and various "news outlets" (Daily Mail, Anorak, PerthNow, Perez Hilton) have taken the News of the World article, and sensationalized the thing, pulling out all the sordid bits for headlines like "Bon Jovi Guitarist Richie Sambora’s ‘Girlfriend’ Is A Prostitute".

Here are some of the bits that the other tabloid press vehicles are re-reporting:

I like coke.

I started doing it five months ago. It’s £50 a gram. You have to order two grams. If you order some now, it’ll be twenty minutes.

This was [apparently] part of a "sting" the NoTW tabloid set up.

Yasmin also "confirms" that she's been with Richie

for over a year and a half. He lives in LA but we speak to each other all the time and he sends me presents.

Richie came up and asked me the time. It was a silly chat-up line and I had no idea who he was. I'd never heard any of his music.

He looked hot though and came and sat next to me and we got on really well.

I went back to his room with my friend. He asked me to stay the night with him but I refused.

However, Sambora asked a a member of his entourage to get her number and rang to ask for a date.

Back in his hotel room, Richie and I drank four bottles of champagne and I had sex with him.

It was great and he was a good lover. He started calling and texting me all the time and our relationship became really close.

She said Sambora had flown her to her native Brazil to watch his band play and has regularly visited her in London.

She even showed off recent emails from the 51-year-old guitarist, and bragged: 'He's crazy about me.'

Yasmin has also reportedly appeared on the Girls From Paradise escort agency website under the name Genevive, though her profile has since been removed. She was described as ‘a professional published model’ who charges $1,600 an hour or $8,000 for the night.

I know there are LOTS of opinions out there on whether it's their own business and to some degree I agree. But as public figures, their lives are basically open for attack (as I've seen in some places) and scrutiny.

I'm curious what (if anything) will come of this, or if it's even true. Some of the re-quoting articles say these allegations against Yasmin are "sure to come as a surprise" to Richie. I have to say, I hope so. I hope he didn't willingly throw in with someone with a cocaine habit. For someone suffering from addiction, that's not a good thing.

As for the rest, well, they're both consenting adults. If he's okay with her, uh, 'second job', then who are we to cast aspersions?  "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone" and all that...

~ Hath

Backstage with Bon Jovi's head Roadie

Thanks Kiwi, for the article drop.

Bon Jovi’s charismatic head roadie (Mike Savas) talks to RockAAA.com about life on the road with Bon Jovi. The video is hosted on Vimeo, and I'm not sure if that's available everywhere (some sites do that pesky block-certain-countries thing -- is it not the WORLD WIDE web?)



So, just in case you can't watch it via Vimeo...



~ Hath

Jon's Surgery

As you probably all know already, Jon's surgery went well on Friday

BonJovi Bon Jovi 

Jon's knee surgery went great. All is well - it'll take a lot more than that to slow him down. Next stop Istanbul! -Matt Bongiovi

and he's been recuperating in Iceland with his family:

American rocker Jon Bon Jovi, who fronts the band Bon Jovi, is currently in Iceland with his family, recovering from a knee surgery. He arrived in the country last weekend and is planning to stay for one week.

The singer was spotted having lunch at the restaurant Silfur in Hotel Borg in Reykjavík yesterday and at the bar Íslenski barinn in the afternoon, Fréttabladid reports.

He was seen out and about strolling around over the weekend with his kids. He reportedly attracted considerable attention when he went out for lunch. Sources reported that after it was heard about Bon Jovi eating at Silver numerous tables had been reserved by people hoping to be able to get a sight of Jon.

The tour picks up again on Friday in Istanbul.

~ Hath

Gibson.com's Top American Rock Bands

Bon Jovi was missing from the list, which has this blogger a bit miffed.  Here's what Sean Patrick Dooley  had to say about The Jovi being left off the list:

It’s hard to imagine – well, no, it’s near impossible to imagine – a top 50 American bands list that would exclude quite possibly, at least in terms of record sales (and probably concert attendance, too), the most successful American rock band of all time. The tale of the tape for Bon Jovi doesn’t lie: 130 million records sold worldwide (6 of their 11 studio albums hit either #1 or #2 in the States), 2,600 concerts performed before 35 million people, induction into both the U.K. Music Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame (for both Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora), as well as their first nomination from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Obviously, and unfairly, Bon Jovi suffers from an ’80s band “image hangover” (at least to those voting in this poll). Pity, too, because despite their image, Bon Jovi have always been the real deal. – Sean Patrick Dooley

Now the full list, revealed on July 1st, was selected by a combination of Gibson.com's editorial and writing staff, along with a reader poll.

Here are the top-10 listed bands:

1. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band
2. Aerosmith
3. Nirvana
4. The Ramones
5. Metallica
6. Van Halen
7. The Byrds
8. R.E.M.
9. The Beach Boys
10. The Allman Brothers Band

In the Reader Poll portion, Van Halen took top honors, followed by GNR, Allman Brothers Band, CCR, and Aerosmith. Bon Jovi wasn't even an honorable mention on this list either.

Honestly speaking, where do YOU think Bon Jovi fits in? Or do you think that Gibson got it right?

~ Hath

Soul Foundation Piece on Listening Sessions

There's a video up here on the Soul Foundation website.

As you'll recall, White House Council for Community Solutions member Jon Bon Jovi has hosted a series of youth listening tours at various community-based organizations across the country over the past several months. The series of sessions concluded in June in Newark, NJ as Council Members Jon Bon Jovi and Michael Kempner (CEO of MWW Group) engaged young Americans and community leaders in candid conversations to determine where efforts are most needed. The series began in New Orleans, LA on April 29, continued with visits to Atlanta, GA on May 13 and Houston, TX on May 16.

The Council's findings will be compiled in a final report in an effort to highlight solutions and recommendations for the President.

source

~ Hath

Review: Bon Jovi at the RDS

For this reviewer from Goldenplec Irish Music News, the encore was the best part of her show in Dublin:

This wasn’t the Bon Jovi we had seen earlier in the night. This was the kick ass Bon Jovi from the ‘These Days’ tour in 1996.

An immense version of ‘Dry County’ brought out the best in the band, great lyrics, great musicianship, great guitars from Richie and great delivery from JBJ. They are shown well deserved appreciation by the crowd. There are a few songs Bon Jovi will always have to play. ‘Wanted Dead or Alive’ is one and continues where ‘Dry County’ left off. The change in the band is astonishing and they are at this point on fire. ‘These Days’ finishes off before the band take a bow at the front of the stage.

No, they can’t go anywhere before playing another couple. ‘Always’ comes first and has every single person in the RDS singing along at the top of their voices. That means there’s only one to finish; ‘Living On A Prayer’.

A little bit of feedback at the start doesn’t stop the band, who are now on a complete roll. Luckily there’s not a roof on the RDS, it would surely have been blown off. Classic Bon Jovi. As the band take their traditional bows, it’s weird to see six musicians in the lineup. Jon stays behind to take it in for just a few seconds more before signalling to his heart.

This is the Bon Jovi I wanted to see all night, grant it, it will be the Bon Jovi most people will remember about tonight. They left on a high with people smiling. What more could you want?

There were some other comments about how Jon should play with session musicians and not the rest of the band, and she had no idea who Bobby Bandiera was (both of which sparked some lively debate/slamming in the comments of the article).

~ Hath

Good Morning!

I need a little "Twitchy" energy today

After a nice, long, relaxing weekend, there's the horror that is Tuesday-but-feels-like-Monday-Morning at my office. Ah, but at least the weekend was hot and sunny, and I got to hang out with family and friends.

Which means I totally neglected the blog this weekend.

Sorry about that.

There are LOTS of stories to catch up on, and I'm working on getting them into the blog, spread out over the day.

Hope my American friends had a great Fourth (i.e., no sparkler damage lol) and my non-US friends had a calm Monday...

Until later --

~ Hath