There’s an old adage, “You get what you pay for”.
Yet try as Bon Jovi might to keep the tour ship afloat despite being riddled with holes due to the absence of guitarist Richie Sambora and drummer Tico Torres, since April when Sambora unexpectedly split, fans anywhere are NOT getting what they paid for.
Break out the umbrellas and bullet-proof vests because I think I hear the Kool Aid drinkers in the rafters ordering up a lynching.
No one is saying that fans who have purchased tickets or rabid fans overseas eagerly participating in an orgy of all things Jovi shouldn’t enjoy themselves and have a great time.
But the fact remains, people are shelling out hundreds and thousands of dollars to see a band that is not the band they were sold when the tour began.
“It’s STILL Bon Jovi so shut your mouth”.
Hate to break it to you, but it’s not.
It’s Jon Bon Jovi, and David Bryan, and Hugh McDonald, and Bobby Bandeira.
That’s NOT Bon Jovi…everything else is wishful thinking because the logo and the t-shirts and the programs are the same but the music?
Nope.
At this point, might as well be calling it Jon Bon Jovi and the Half-A-Sandwich Band; or Jon Bon Jovi and the King’s Court; or Jon Bon Jovi Sings The Hits.
You get the idea.
Call what is traipsing around the world basking in vain glory earned by the COMPLETE band is a group of musicians stoically trying to do their jobs, but it’s not Bon Jovi.
Which begs the question: if it’s not the as-promised band lineup, why is Bon Jovi charging top tier ticket prices for half-a-loaf?
Think about it.
In recent days many fans have contacted me seeking assistance because they are out shit-tons of money on tickets and no longer want to attend their shows later this year with the current band lineup.
They have spoken to ‘representatives’ of SparkArt and JBJ Backstage asking for refunds, and they basically have been told ‘we handle each circumstance on a case by case basis; we’ll get back to ya”.
And oh by the way, Have A Nice Day.
Then nothing. Nathan. Nada. Zero. Zilch. Boopkis.
I don’t know about you but I’d be porked off if I had tickets I couldn’t unload. Would you buy a car with everything but the engine? How about a diamond ring that turns out to be an aluminum foil band with a plastic gemstone?
I didn’t think so.
Sorry Jon Bon and Matt Of All Trades: you may be recording records and going out on tour but the fact is, without the fans you’d never have made it past the end of the 80’s. You are where you are today not in spite of us but because of us, and we deserve better.
…and don’t give us the bullshit answer that the band and the promoter has to recoup costs. The fact of the matter is tours this large are insured against unexpected calamities like severe storms or a marquee act like Michael Jackson croaking before his time.
If this version of Bon Jovi is going to continue to limp around the world charging top dollar for a band with one hand tied behind it’s back the least they can do is reduce ticket prices accordingly.
It’s bad enough to throw bad money after good and have your hopes dashed by not being able to see the complete band; but it’s quite another to have our pockets picked in the process.
Be sure to find and follow Glenn Osrin on twitter @wizardofosrin
Bon Jovipalooza 