ABU DHABI // The first major announcement on Abu Dhabi’s 2015/16 concert calendar has been made – Bon Jovi are returning to Abu Dhabi.
The US rock behemoths will be onstage at du Arena on October 1.
Bon Jovi last visited the UAE in 2008, for a historic performance at Emirates Palace which was captured in the opening scenes of the band's When We Were Beautiful rockumentary.
“We’ve toured around the world since 2008 and are excited to reunite with our UAE fans again,” said frontman Jon Bon Jovi.
Tickets for the concert will be available for du customers and to the Bon Jovi Fan Club from Monday at noon. Flash members will have the opportunity to buy tickets from Tuesday at noon to 11am the following day.
You can become a member of Flash by registering your email address when purchasing a ticket for a Flash concert. Registration for the Flash pre-sale is now open, and can be accessed via info.thinkflash.ae/bonjovi.
The intervening years have seen turbulent times for the New Jersey rockers. In 2013 guitarist, songwriter and JBJ-foil Richie Sambora left the band, reportedly fired due to problems with addiction.
However despite that glaring absence, Bon Jovi’s 2013 world tour was both the highest-grossing concert tour of the year, and the band’s biggest earner to date – a record they will no doubt be trying to break in 2015.
Not bad for a band who already claim to have played to 37 million fans in more than 55 different countries.
Originally formed as a five-piece in 1983, Bon Jovi now features just three founding members – keyboardist David Bryan, drummer Tico Torres and, of course, the ever-grinning, eponymous frontman, Jon Bon Jovi (now aged 53). Bassist Alec John Such was dismissed from the fold in 1994.
Bon Jovi has sold more than 130 million records over a 30-year recording career, which has spawned 13 studio albums to date.
However the band remain best known for their 1980s rock staples such as Livin' On a Prayer, Wanted Dead or Alive and You Give Love a Bad Name (all from 1987's Slippery When Wet). More recent huge hits include It's My Life (2000) and Have a Nice Day (2005).
Tickets start from Dh295 and go on sale to the general public on Wednesday at noon, via www.ticketmaster.ae and at Virgin Megastores across the country. Tickets can also be purchased over the phone by calling 800 TM UAE (86 823).
F1 Grand Prix race ticket holders can benefit from a 20 per cent discount on general admission tickets.
For more information on the du Arena concert, check www.thinkflash.ae or www.BonJovi.com.
newsdesk@thenational.ae
