Bon Jovi’s New York fans were left wanting more when frontman Jon Bon Jovi ended the show early on Thursday, July 23, due to illness.
The Rock And Roll Hall of Fame-inducted band cut short their set at Madison Square Garden, the eighth in a nine-show stand, as the singer struggled with the effects of a sinus infection.
“Jon Bon Jovi spoke from stage and told fans he has been battling a sinus infection which led to the show’s early ending,” a rep for Bon Jovi tells People. “As part of the Bon Jovi residency at Madison Square Garden, Jon has said numerous times that it has been a joy to return to live shows for the band. Updated information will be available shortly.”
According to reports, Bon Jovi completed 90 minutes of a set that featured a guest performance by Train’s Pat Monahan, who joined-in for a version of the Slippery When Wet hit from 1986, “Livin’ On a Prayer.”
The dates are part of the band’s Forever Tour, presented by Live Nation, which represents a return to the road after Jon Bon Jovi underwent reconstructive surgery on his vocal cords and then a years-long rehabilitative process.
“Don’t throw away your ticket stubs I’m going to figure something out okay, don’t [fear],” Bon Jovi told the Garden, People reports. “Just hang onto it, I’m going to figure out how to reschedule.”
“I’m gonna have to cool it for a night,” he added, prior to exiting the stage. “I feel great, I’ll see you again soon, bye bye.”
Bon Jovi’s MSG run is scheduled to wrap this Sunday, July 26, after which time the band crosses the Atlantic for five stadium shows in Scotland, the Republic of Ireland and England, the final of which is booked for Sept. 9 at London’s Wembley Stadium, the last of three concerts at the venue.
Jon Bovi has been candid about his recovery, saying the band assembled every month to rehearse to gauge his progress, but that until he felt he could confidently sing through a two-and-a-half-hour show, they weren’t hitting the road. “Day to day, I’m working hard on it,” he told Entertainment Tonight in 2024. “Nothing else matters until I work on getting better. It’s up to God at this point. I’ve done everything I can do. I won’t fake it … the legacy matters too much.”
