Bon Jovi To Play One-Off Christchurch show
18th October 2007 By FIONA JARDEN - The Press


ROCK TREAT: New Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker
announces the Bon Jovi concert to be held at the
AMI Stadium in Christchurch on January 27, 2008.

Christchurch rock fans' long-lived prayers have been answered – Bon Jovi will play their only New Zealand concert in the city next January. Over the past decade, die hard Bon Jovi fans in New Zealand have been resigned to travelling overseas to see the band known for hits such as Livin' On A Prayer and You Give Love A Bad Name. A website petition has more recently been circulating requesting a full Bon Jovi tour for Australia and New Zealand.

The group - which has sold more than 120 million albums and played 2500 concerts in more than 50 countries - yesterday announced it will be stopping over in New Zealand to play a one-off concert at Christchurch's AMI Stadium on January 27.

The band will arrive from Japan via Australia on their Bon Jovi – The Lost Highway tour. After playing in Christchurch they head home to the United States to play at a half-time show of the American Football Super Bowl.

AMI stadium is expected to be sold out with fans from around New Zealand attracted by the award-winning group's mix of classic rock anthems and ballads. Christchurch Mayor-elect Bob Parker announced the Bon Jovi concert yesterday. He said it would be the first of many as part of the city council's strategy to bring in big acts.
"Christchurch is a creative city, with stunning facilities such as the AMI stadium and the Westpac stadium, capable of hosting these large scale events," he said. Parker, a keen guitarist, said he would definitely be in the Bon Jovi audience: "Absolutely. Can't wait."

Christchurch rock stalwarts The Valves have been hand picked from a swag of talented New Zealand and Australian artists to be the opening act for this legendary, multi platinum selling rock band.

Bon Jovi
January 27, 2008: AMI Stadium, Christchurch
Official website: www6.islandrecords.com/bonjovi
Myspace: www.myspace.com/bonjovi
Live:  Watch clip