Jump 1995 warmup for Bon Jovi

**vanCherone** · 04.08.21, 01:45 AM

Such a bizarre period. Opening for Bon Jovi must have been soul destroying. Was this a Ray Danniels masterstroke?

**Brett** · 04.08.21, 02:10 AM

I think it was a much bigger deal to the fans than it was to the band. Van Halen had neglected the European market practically their entire career, whereas Bon Jovi was huge over there. And like them or not Bon Jovi has a huge fanbase. I think they’re the worst band ever, but there is no denying they are bigger around the world than VH.

**VHrox12** · 04.08.21, 02:20 AM

Obviously Van Halen could have headlined but needed the exposure in the European market at the time so they took the gig. It does look odd seeing Van Halen open for Bon Jovi though.

IMO Bon Jovi has stunk without Richie Sambora I don't really listen to them anymore. Jon and Richie had tons of chemistry and that is missing now from the band. Bon Jovi has tons of great songs though no matter if you like them or hate them.

Slippery When Wet though a true iconic 80's rock album.

**Raldo** · 04.08.21, 02:40 AM

I forgot but did VH get to play a full set?

**Bad to the Bone** · 04.08.21, 03:24 AM

the way I understand it is they did a European tour with RHRN. some places they sold well others not so much. the Bon Jovi tour was done to get them as much exposure as possible. maybe in the long run it would have worked had things not been so bad with Sam but I think any steam they had built up opening for BJ vanished

**Bad to the Bone** · 04.08.21, 03:47 AM

Originally Posted by Raldo

I forgot but did VH get to play a full set?

no. I don't think there was a bass or drum solo. I don't think Sam did his solo spot, ed's solo was cut short. It was a couple of songs off of Balance and then a greatest hits kind of thing.

that's from memory so if someone looks it up and I'm wrong I apologize

**James in New York** · 04.08.21, 04:36 AM

Here's a set list:

1) The Seventh Seal

2)Runaround

3)Dreams

4)Amsterdam

5)When It's Love

6)Aftershock

7)Can't Stop Lovin' You

8)Ain't Talkin' 'bout Love

9)Why Can't This Be Love

10)Guitar Solo

11)You Really Got Me

12)Feelin'

13)There's Only One Way to Rock

14)Right Now

Encore:

15)Don't Tell Me (What Love Can Do)

16)Jump

**VH51504** · 04.08.21, 05:20 AM

Jon can't sing anymore but I'd go see them just for Phil X.

**Dave's Dreidel** · 04.08.21, 05:38 AM

A band of VH's stature should have never agreed to be an opening act for fucking Bon Jovi.

If they couldn't sell out arenas in Europe, play large clubs and theatres. That being said, I have a hard time thinking that VH in 1995 couldn't sell out the 8-9K seat arenas that are all over the place in Europe.

DLR was still playing those size arenas in Europe just three years earlier as a solo act, and he couldn't sell out a rib fest back in the states by that point.

**Dave's Dreidel** · 04.08.21, 05:53 AM

Originally Posted by VH51504

Jon can't sing anymore but I'd go see them just for Phil X.

Without Sambora, what little interest I had in Bon Jovi disappeared.

**VH1986** · 04.08.21, 06:08 AM

Frankly, I was embarrassed that Van Halen opened for Bon Jovi. That never should have happened.

**CoconutBackwards** · 04.08.21, 07:43 AM

Originally Posted by VHrox12

Obviously Van Halen could have headlined but needed the exposure in the European market at the time so they took the gig. It does look odd seeing Van Halen open for Bon Jovi though.

IMO Bon Jovi has stunk without Richie Sambora I don't really listen to them anymore. Jon and Richie had tons of chemistry and that is missing now from the band. Bon Jovi has tons of great songs though no matter if you like them or hate them.

Slippery When Wet though a true iconic 80's rock album.

If you hate Bon Jovi that means they do not have tons of great songs.

**Bad to the Bone** · 04.08.21, 08:04 AM

I enjoyed Bon Jovi when they did New Jersey, the video's were really fun.

other than that I've never had any interest in hearing them do anything with or without Sambora. I just find them boring.

it also irritates me that Runaway gets so much play on local classic rock. I NEVER heard that song on the radio in the 80's but now it's in heavy rotation on classic rock. Revisionist history.

**JUNGLE DRUMMER** · 04.08.21, 09:33 AM

Originally Posted by Brett

I think it was a much bigger deal to the fans than it was to the band. Van Halen had neglected the European market practically their entire career, whereas Bon Jovi was huge over there. And like them or not Bon Jovi has a huge fanbase. I think they’re the worst band ever, but there is no denying they are bigger around the world than VH.

I dont know, I recently read some quotes from Alex in some interviews from that time period, must have been in the new Modern Drummer Legends issue dedicated to him that I got in December and he did not have nice things to say about Jon Bon Blows or the band. And Sammy has said some of the same things about that part of the tour.

I've known about what Sam has said for a long time, but I honestly had never seen these quotes from Al before.

I personally think the band should have just played smaller theaters doing their own longer shows, like that surprise gig in Holland(?) coinciding with the album release that was posted on here a couple months back. Sure, smaller crowds, but if they played well they could've begun building their base back up over there and wouldn't have had to do it as an opening act for one of the cheesiest hair metal bands of all time.

**JUNGLE DRUMMER** · 04.08.21, 09:36 AM

Originally Posted by Dave's Dreidel

A band of VH's stature should have never agreed to be an opening act for fucking Bon Jovi.

If they couldn't sell out arenas in Europe, play large clubs and theatres. That being said, I have a hard time thinking that VH in 1995 couldn't sell out the 8-9K seat arenas that are all over the place in Europe.

DLR was still playing those size arenas in Europe just three years earlier as a solo act, and he couldn't sell out a rib fest back in the states by that point.

Exactly.