Bon Jovi To Play In Spain For Free

Bon Jovi have waived their fee for an upcoming concert in Spain to help fans in the crisis-torn country afford tickets for the show.

Spain was one of the worst-hit nations in Europe in the aftermath of the 2008 financial meltdown. It’s still suffering high inflation, high unemployment and low growth, with latest estimates suggesting the country hasn’t yet emerged from recession.

The idea of the band working for nothing came from frontman Jon Bon Jovi himself.

He tells El Mundo: “When we were planning the tour we did a study and found that, due to the economic situation, Spain was not on the road map.

“But we didn’t want to stop playing to the fans of a country that’s treated me so well for 30 years.”

As a result of the gesture, tickets for the show in Madrid on June 27 were sold for as little as £15, with the income covering the costs of staging, crew and venue staff. That compares to £65 for a standard ticket to the band’s show in Manchester next week. Madrid tickets have sold out.

Bon Jovi are on the road without guitarist Richie Sambora, who failed to appear for the current leg of their world tour. Neither Bon Jovi nor Sambora have explained the reason behind his absence, although the singer recently admitted he was finding it difficult not to discuss the situation. That led to retaliation from his bandmate.