Bruce Springsteen joins Bon Jovi for MSG finale
Bruce Springsteen surprised Madison Square Garden as Bon Jovi closed a nine-night New York residency with two Jersey rock staples.
By Poppy Nakagawa · Culture Writer
3 min read
Bruce Springsteen Bon Jovi fans got the New Jersey summit they wanted Sunday night, when Springsteen walked onstage near the end of Bon Jovi’s July 26 concert at Madison Square Garden, according to Rolling Stone.
The appearance came during the last show of Bon Jovi’s nine-night run at the New York arena. A residency is a string of concerts by one act at the same venue, and this one marked Bon Jovi’s return to a major live run after several years away from touring.
Rolling Stone reported that Jon Bon Jovi introduced Springsteen as a close friend and hailed him as a defining voice of rock and New Jersey before bringing him out to the crowd.
What did Bon Jovi and Bruce Springsteen play at Madison Square Garden?
According to Rolling Stone, Springsteen joined Bon Jovi for “Who Says You Can’t Go Home,” the song from Bon Jovi’s 2005 album Have a Nice Day. Jon Bon Jovi and Springsteen shared vocals on the track.
The pair then moved into Springsteen’s 1978 song “The Promised Land.” Fan video cited by Rolling Stone showed the two musicians onstage together, with the band behind them, before they linked arms, lifted their guitars and took a group bow.
The Garden cameo was not their only recent team-up. Last month, Jon Bon Jovi appeared at Springsteen’s Music America: The Songs That Shaped Us concert series at Monmouth University, Rolling Stone reported.
At that Monmouth event, Bon Jovi performed “Johnny G. Goode” and later joined Springsteen for “Raise Your Hand” and “I Don’t Want to Go Home,” according to the magazine.
Why was Bon Jovi’s MSG run a comeback moment?
Rolling Stone reported that before the Madison Square Garden residency, Bon Jovi had not toured for four years while Jon Bon Jovi recovered from a badly damaged vocal cord that required surgery.
In June, Jon Bon Jovi told People that he was “fully recovered,” adding that the process took longer than he expected but had to be right.
The MSG run also hit a snag. Rolling Stone reported that Bon Jovi ended the July 23 concert early because of a sinus infection. Jon Bon Jovi told the audience he was hurt, apologized and asked fans to keep their ticket stubs while he figured out a way to reschedule.
What is next for Bon Jovi and Springsteen?
Bon Jovi’s tour is scheduled to resume Aug. 28 at Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh, Scotland, according to Rolling Stone. The itinerary then goes to Croke Park in Dublin and finishes with three nights at London’s Wembley Stadium.
Rolling Stone reported that no extra shows have been confirmed, though the magazine said more dates are likely.
Springsteen’s busy weekend also included the ACLU’s inaugural Ralph Ellison Award for Defenders of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties in the Arts, Business, Science and Sports, which he received July 24 at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C., according to Rolling Stone. He performed “Streets of Minneapolis” at the ceremony.
The next night, Springsteen attended John Mellencamp’s Greatest Hits tour stop at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, New Jersey, with his sister Pamela, Rolling Stone reported. He did not perform there.
Springsteen’s next listed date is Oct. 3, when he is due to appear at Tom Morello’s Power to the People festival at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland, according to Rolling Stone.
This story draws on original reporting from Rolling Stone.