a day ago
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
What happened when Bon Jovi shocked everyone with a surprise gig in Cardiff's Queen Street
Bon Jovi, the legendary American rock band, once lived up to their song, "I'll Sleep When I'm Dead", by performing three UK shows in a single day back in June, 1995.
The band, consisting of Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, David Bryan and Tico Torres, played sets in Glasgow, Cardiff and London all on June 14, 1995.
We've taken a trip down memory lane to that whirlwind day some 30 years ago. At the time, the band were enjoying a career high following the release of their greatest hits album, "Cross Roads", the previous year and were preparing for the launch of their sixth album, "These Days".
In between shows in Barcelona and Lisbon as part of their Cross Road/These Days European tour, the band made a quick stop in the UK. They kicked off the day with a performance in front of thousands of fans at Tower Records in Glasgow, where they played an acoustic set featuring their latest single, "This Ain't A Love Song", and their iconic hit, "Livin' On A Prayer".
After Glasgow, the band flew south to Cardiff's bandstand on Queen Street. Word quickly spread about their surprise appearance, drawing thousands of fans who got to see the band perform for free just a week before their scheduled show at Cardiff Arms Park.
After Cardiff, Bon Jovi made a beeline for the capital, gracing the South Bank in London for the final performance of the day, where the band lit up the crowd with their electric stage presence. The three shows were a surefire way to promote the upcoming tour
The rock group began their roaring 6-date UK tour just a week later - commencing at Cardiff Arms Park and continuing for three exhilarating nights at Wembley Stadium in London, followed by performances at Gateshead International Stadium and Don Valley Stadium in Sheffield.
Without a doubt, the enthusiasm was palpable among band members and fans alike as seen in the exciting snapshots from all of the shows.
