SamboraBlog

Tuesday, November 16th (yesterday) was the release date for the band's 'think outside the box' set in the US and CANADA. We hope all the fans who have been able to buy the box set are enjoying it so far... alot of work and care went into making it a collection of music, images and content that fans would enjoy immensely. Hey, we don't wanna say we told you so but... we told youso! Next Monday, NOVEMBER 22 is the INTERNATIONAL RELEASE DATE (some countries might be a few days later due to shipping issues.) The release date in JAPAN is now DECEMBER 15th and while the box set itself is exactly the same, the label in Japan will be packaging it with a few Japan-only extras: postcard of the band featuring images from the box set, Japanese translation booklet and a 'Best of the B-Sides/Japan' cd featuring the following songs that have previous been released in Japan:
1) WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS (live)
2) LOVE IS WAR
3) BORDERLINE
4) HUSH
5) I WISH EVERYDAY COULD BE LIKE CHRISTMAS
6) SAVE A PRAYER
7) FIELDS OF FIRE
8) ANOTHER REASON TO BELIEVE
9) LET'S MAKE IT BABY
10) THE END

WWW.BONJOVI.COM & AMERICAN XS PLATINUM
So yesterday also saw the launch of AMERICAN XS PLATINUM (of AXP for short) the paid level of membership here at www.bonjovi.com and so far, so good. We hope those of you who have joined are loving what is available there - exclusive audio files, exclusive video footage, email accounts @bonjovi.com... it's great stuff. And trust us, there's much more to come. Not just a the AXP level but overall - this box set has a lot of content as does this website. Please be patient while we update and augment what we have already and add new elements both on the regular site and on the AXP level. There are some glitches to be smoothed out yet so stick with us and we think you're REALLY going to like the things we're making available to fans via www.bonjovi.com in the next few months. We are definitely launcing an online merchandise store... thats being created. And so much more... you should be really happy.

THE AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS
Well, by now all of you have heard or read about the American Music Awards but here's the recap and behind-the-scenes info we were able to access for you... The band rehearsed in Burbank, CA for the third day in a row on Saturday -- working on the AMA medley and the songs for the Borgata... Wow is that gonna be a great show. So many box set songs like ______________ and _______________ and wow you should hear ______________ when he_______________ . Sorry, but you knew we wouldn't give it all away, right? (Don't worry - the band's trusty engineer and all-around class clown, Obie, had his videocamera with him the whole time they were in LA... so you have footage on the way.) Sunday was spent on the premises at the Shrine. The band had a 12:30 rehearsal and then had to wait around on site. They were in an old trailer with poor TV reception trying to watch football. The trailer was next to the storage area for stage props so they'd peek past the curtain by their trailer to find huge teacups and clocks from Gwen Stefani's peformance and surfboards and fake sand, palm trees from Kenny Chesney's!

Jon did the red carpet (in a brown crushed velvet pinstipe suit he purchased himself at the Beverly Center just the day prior according to radio interviews he did.) Then Tico and David did the red carpet. Followed by Richie Sambora who was joined by his wife Heather Locklear. Then they all sat down in the Shrine Auditorium for the American Music Awards.
The band left their seats about an hour into the show to get ready for their performance. Nicolette Sheridan and Eva Longeria from the ABC show 'Desperate Housewives' introduce a ninety-second clip (it was compiled by Dick Clark Productions, along with Jon's brother, Anthony M. Bongiovi) featuring the band's achievements. Then the actresses intoduce BON JOVI to perform 'one familiar hit and a sneak peak at a new song.' BON JOVI performed IT'S MY LIFE and then segued into a one minute snippet of 'HAVE A NICE DAY' which is a song from the new Bon Jovi studio album slated for release in Spring 2005 (no release date has been set at all, regardless of ANY information or emails some people may have read/received.) Following the performance, the band made their way to the podium where they accepted their Award of Merit. Jon spoke on behalf of the band and gave the thank yous. And thanks to the great team at Dick Clark Productions, BON JOVI'S AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS FOOTAGE WILL BE ADDED TO THIS WEBSITE WITHIN THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS SO EVERYONE CAN WITNESS WHAT THE US VIEWING PUBLIC SAW!!

After the show, the band headed to a private dinner hosted by their record label in their honor at the very hot and trendy LA sushi restaurant KOI. (FYI - Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey were also hosting their post-awards dinner there, as was John Mayer.) Certainly the place to be seen! And thus wrapped up the band's LA adventure.

BILLBOARD MAGAZINE
The September 20th issue hit stands and offices this weekend featuring a SPOTLIGHT SECTION honoring BON JOVI. The band got their copies at AMA rehearsals Friday nite and loved it - if you can pick up a copy, do so. It's informative, funny and endearing and a great collectible.

THE BORGATA
This coming Sunday, November 21st is the BON JOVI concert at BORGATA in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Those of you attending have an incredible night in store. This is a big, loud, sweaty, raucous rock 'n' roll concert (i.e. this is NOT a taping for the 'This Left Feels Right' DVD!!) so make sure you have a big, loud, sweaty, rock 'n'roll time!
CAN I BRING A CAMERA? YES! You can bring a personal camera (35mm or digital is fine.) No video recording equipment. No audio recording equipment. No professional equipment of any sort. You will be hauled out by your collar and thrown into the swamps of Jersey (oh, and your film will be trashed or images eased.) If you're archiving this as a personal memento, that's fine. If you're trafficking and peddling anything you shouldn't be, you're not wanted at the show.
CAN WE BRING SIGNS AND BANNERS? YES -- but use common sense. Please, nothing in appropriate. Nothing too big that blocks other fans' views. And if anyone affiliated with the band, the building or the production team of this live TV broadcast ask you to take it down, you need to listen!
WHAT SHOULD I WEAR? This is a ROCK 'N' ROLL SHOW. It's not cabaret style like last time; it's not a quiet evening. Dress to impress.
WHAT'S THE SET LIST? We can't tell you the songs but yes, the band will be performing songs from the BOX SET. They rehearsed them all last week and they're sounding great...
THIS IS A TV SHOW -- please keep this in mind. There may be some stops or starts and lots of cameras. We ask all attending to listen to the directions of the staff at all times!
WILL THERE BE MERCHANDISE SOLD? YES! There will be some commemorative stuff, not a alot.

More news as we get it... there's a lot going on so strap in baby, we're going 'round the world...