Four years. One repaired voice. Twenty one songs. Jon Bon Jovi’s comeback was worth every second of the wait.
The rock legend returned to the stage on Tuesday night, launching his Forever Tour with a sold-out performance at New York’s Madison Square Garden – his first live concert since undergoing voice surgery.
Bon Jovi wasted no time addressing the elephant in the room. Like The Beatles’ With a little help from my friends played, he cheekily sang, “What would you do if I sang out of tune…?” earning instant laughs from the crowd.
The jokes quickly gave way to emotion.
“I haven’t heard the roar of an audience in four years and I didn’t know if I would remember what it was like,” Bon Jovi told fans, adding that he was “grateful and humbled by this whole ordeal.”
He also thanked the nearly 20,000 fans in attendance, calling them “personal, private guests because they come here to give love and support us. I’m just honestly grateful.”
Backed by longtime bandmates Tico Torres, David Bryan, Hugh McDonald, John Shanks, Phil X and Everett Bradley, Bon Jovi powered through more than two hours of hits, including Livin’ on a Prayer, It’s My Life, Wanted Dead or Alive and Keep the Faith.
The comeback follows years of recovery after doctors discovered one of his vocal cords had deteriorated.
“One of the wires was literally atrophying,” he previously revealed, admitting the diagnosis was “confusing.” But after surgery and extensive vocal training, he says he is “fully recovered”.
Bon Jovi also praised his loyal bandmates for standing by him.
*”They said, ‘No, we’re with you,'” he said. “My love for them has only deepened.”
Judging by the thunderous reception at Madison Square Garden, fans didn’t stop believing either.
