New York Post editor William Kenton has been listening to Bon Jovi since 1986.
“My friend that lived down the block was super into ‘Slippery When Wet,”‘ he told us. “Ever since then, the album has reminded me of summer, long grass, hanging out. I remember ‘You Give Love A Bad Name’ being in heavy rotation on MTV back then. I bought the album and wore the grooves off.”
Now, 40 year short years later, the rock fan turned wordsmith was given the opportunity to see the Rock Hall of Fame inductees from his childhood live for the first time at Madison Square Garden as part of the ensemble’s ongoing ‘Forever Tour’ residency.
“It was so much better seeing them live,” Kenton gushed. “You really get the beat and groove of the group in a way that you don’t when listening to them on vinyl, radio or streaming services.”
If you’d like to catch the ’80s legends live, they still have five concerts remaining at MSG. They’re slated to take place:
Thursday, July 16
7:30 p.m.
Sunday, July 19
7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, July 21
7:30 p.m.
Thursday, July 23
7:30 p.m.
Sunday, July 26
7:30 p.m.
At Kenton’s concert, Set List FM reported the Sayreville natives performed 22 songs. Kenton told us “the show started at 7:35, pretty much right on time.”
According to Kenton, they opened with The Beatles’ “With a Little Help From My Friends.”
“The song was a big thank you from JBJ to his fans, and they loved it,” he smiled. “He did it Joe Cocker style and from that moment forward it was a love fest in MSG.”
He was impressed by Bon Jovi’s newer fare, too.
“Their more recent songs from ‘2020’ (‘Beautiful Drug’) and ‘Forever’ (‘Legendary’) were genuine bangers. Tico Torres is truly the beating heart of the group. His driving rhythms and catchy fills propelled the energy in the hall.”
“Rockers were mixed with ballads. The fans got all mushy and sentimental as he crooned ‘Bed of Roses.’ JBJ also said he was taking us to church and sang ‘Lay Your Hands on Me.’”
Of course, it wouldn’t be a Bon Jovi show without the unimpeachable stadium anthem classics from the group’s heyday.
“After a look at some 21st century hits, JBJ counted back the years (“we’re gonna party like its 1999! 1997! 1993! 1989! 1986!” [there were a lot of Prince references in his patter]) and dove into ‘You Give Love a Bad Name’ his breakout MTV hit.”
To kick off the encore, the band rocked “I’ll Be There For You” “Red, White and Jersey.” Kenton told us JBJ said, “I bet you all have a train to catch, but I just love playing for you!”
Once they returned to the stage for the encore, they kicked things off with “I’ll Be There for You’ and ‘Red White and Jersey’ before diving into the mega-hits “Wanted Dead or Alive” and “Bad Medicine.”
“Bon Jovi’s fans were in fits of ecstasy during these barn burners,” Kenton noted.
“Part of the unspoken love in the room was pride that NJ’s native son had come back to singing after vocal cord surgery,” he added. “Tbh, he did sound a bit strained — definitely not the voice of his 20s and 30s self. Still, it was a masterful performance.”
“Hearing the band live and seeing them onstage took me back to the days when rock was what we swam in all summer long,” Kenton grinned.
For more information, our team has everything you need to know and more about the remainder of Bon Jovi’s 2026 Madison Square Garden ‘Forever Tour’ residency below.
Should you attend, make sure to use promo code NYPOST10 for $10 off purchases over $250 at checkout (Editor’s Note: this discount is only valid for users’ first purchase on SeatGeek).
When are Bon Jovi’s last concerts at Madison Square Garden?
A complete breakdown of all the dates, start times and links to buy tickets for each of Bon Jovi’s five remaining MSG concerts can be found here:
What songs does Bon Jovi perform live?
These are the 21 songs Bon Jovi performed on July 7 as part of his 2026 ‘Forever Tour’ at Madison Square Garden:
Here is the formatted setlist according to your specifications:
01.) “With a Little Help From My Friends” (The Beatles cover)
02.) “Beautiful Drug”
03.) “We Weren’t Born to Follow”
04.) “Lost Highway”
05.) “Who Says You Can’t Go Home”
06.) “You Give Love a Bad Name”
07.) “Born to Be My Baby”
08.) “Legendary”
09.) “Whole Lot of Leavin’”
10.) “In These Arms”
11.) “Have a Nice Day”
12.) “It’s My Life”
13.) “Livin’ on a Prayer”
14.) “Lay Your Hands on Me”
15.) “Blood on Blood”
16.) “Living Proof”
17.) “This House Is Not for Sale”
18.) “Keep the Faith”
19.) “I’ll Be There for You”
20.) “Wanted Dead or Alive”
21.) “Bad Medicine”
Bon Jovi new music
In June 2024, Bon Jovi released their 16th studio album “Forever.” The record, which hit No. 5 on the US Billboard 200 charts, was the group’s first since 2020’s aptly-titled “2020.”
And, a little over a year later, they dropped the 12-track “Legendary Edition” of “Forever” on Oct. 24, 2025.
If you’d like to hear for yourself — including the melancholy “Hollow Man” with Bruce Springsteen, stadium anthem-ready “Living Proof” featuring Jelly Roll and uplifting “We Made It Look Easy” alongside Robbie Williams — you can find the star-studded album here.
Other collaborators on “Forever” include James Bay, The War and Treaty, Lainey Wilson, Avril Lavigne and Carín León among others.
Who are the band members in Bon Jovi?
Here’s who we found will be manning their posts on the ‘Forever Tour’ this summer:
Jon Bon Jovi lead vocals, rhythm guitar, maracas, harmonica (1983–present)
David Bryan keyboards, piano, backing and occasional lead vocals (1983–present)
Tico Torres drums, percussion, occasional backing and lead vocals (1983–present)
Hugh McDonald bass, backing vocals (2016–present; session and touring musician 1994–2016)
Phil X lead guitar, talk box, backing and occasional lead vocals (2016–present; session and touring musician 2013–2016; touring substitute 2011)
Everett Bradley percussion, backing vocals (2024–present; session and touring musician 2003–2004, 2016–2024)
John Shanks rhythm guitar, backing vocals (2024–present; session musician 2004–2024 and touring musician 2016–2024)
Note: Former lead guitarist Richie Sambora hasn’t been with Bon Jovi since 2018 when he played a one-off concert with the outfit. Before that, he left the group in 2013. Set List FM reports he most recently performed at the The Galt House Hotel in Louisville, KY on May 1 aka Kentucky Derby weekend.
What do they have at the Bon Jovi pop-up store?
2 Penn Plaza’s U Music Shop has officially been Bon Jovi-fied.
The two-week takeover features exclusive merchandise, special giveaways, and surprise appearances up until July 16.
Fans can shop a wide assortment of tour merchandise, including apparel, hats, tote bags, and exclusive keepsake collectibles and vinyl, only available at UMusic Shop NY. They’ll also have a chance to win an autographed custom-painted guitar, signed vinyl, and complimentary concert tickets, while signed memorabilia will be hidden throughout the store for fans to discover.
Plus, there will be daily surprises and VIP-style moments designed for Bon Jovi’s biggest fans.
“They were also selling MSG ‘official’ vinyl including a clear 45 with what looked like fingerprints in paint,” Kenton shared. “There was a line of fans out the door, so they clearly have what people want.”
Huge rockers on tour in 2026
If you’re still stuck in the 20th century, you’re not alone.
After a bit of parsing the web, we found that many of the biggest names from rock and roll’s heyday are striking out yet again in ’26. Here are just five of our favorites you won’t want to miss live when they take their hits to the people.
• RUSH
• AC/DC
• Robert Plant
• Bryan Adams with Pat Benatar
• Roger Daltrey
Who else is shredding live in the near future? Check out our list of all the biggest classic rockers on tour in 2026 to find the show that makes the most sense for you.
This article was written by Matt Levy, New York Post live events reporter. Levy stays up-to-date on all the latest tour announcements from your favorite musical artists and comedians, as well as Broadway openings, sporting events and more live shows – and finds great ticket prices online. Since he started his tenure at the Post in 2022, Levy has reviewed a Bruce Springsteen concert and interviewed Melissa Villaseñor of SNL fame, to name a few. Please note that deals can expire, and all prices are subject to change.
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