Bon Jovi keeps faith for concert; EXCLUSIVE: NEW ALBUM AND TOUR THIS

Sunday Mirror, Apr 2, 2000 by MAEVE QUIGLEY

STADIUM rockers Bon Jovi have revealed they will play a huge summer concert in Ireland.

The famous New Jersey group, led by Jon Bon Jovi, will delight their Irish fans with a live show at the Royal Dublin Showgrounds.

The show is part of the European tour to promote Bon Jovi's new album Crush which will be released here on May 29.

Bon Jovi last played Ireland in 1996 during their These Days album tour, when they played in the same venue to a capacity crowd.

Now sources close to the band say they are delighted to be coming back to Dublin.

A close friend of Bon Jovi said: "Ireland will be one of the highlights of the European tour for Bon Jovi. Jon and the rest of the boys always say the atmosphere is electric during their Irish shows.

"Last time the crowd were going crazy and the guys are determined to get Ireland rocking again in 2000."

The band's new single, It's My Life, is the first to be taken from Crush , the band's first album release for five years.

Since they released their first self-titled album back in the 1980s, Bon Jovi have become one of the biggest bands in the world.

They have had a string of number one successes including Livin' On A Prayer, Bad Medicine and Keep The Faith.

And Aiken Promotions are expecting the 40,000 tickets to sell out in record time. A spokesperson said: "The last Bon Jovi concert was a brilliant success and we're expecting this one to sell out too."

Tickets for the gig will not be available until May.