Bon Jovi would play a gig in a toilet if it would get them noticed.
The ‘Livin’ on a Prayer’ rockers – who kicked off their 12-date residency at London’s 02 Arena last night (07.06.10) – said when they first started out in the music industry, they would “play anywhere and do anything”.
Guitarist Richie Sambora told BANG Showbiz: “We used to joke around when we were a young band before we actually started headlining that we would even play in toilets. We would play anywhere and do anything.”
The band’s willingness to play anywhere was on show yesterday when they kicked-off their residency by becoming the first group in history to play on the roof of The 02 Arena.
Suspended 58 metres above the ground, the iconic rockers were assisted to the roof by trained mountaineers, while their set was beamed out onto a screen in Peninsula Square.
Richie explained the band like to “make an impact” with their performances.
He said: “We like to do things people normally don’t do.
“We like to do stuff that has an impact because people remember those things as big events. A part of rocklore, a part of history, a part of rock culture.
“When you get to a level that you can do those things you kind of respect yourself.”
In the evening, the band wowed the sell-out audience at The O2 with a set list packed with classic songs, including ‘You Give Love A Bad Name', ‘It’s My Life’ and ‘Livin’ On A Prayer’, as well as treating fans to new material from their 11th studio album ‘The Circle’.
During the show, singer Jon Bon Jovi hit out against talent competitions, telling the crowd: “The only American Idol you need to see is stood right here.”
