Rock Music Menu: Bon Jovi announces return to the road in 2026

Way back in 1986, Jon Bon Jovi sang “Never Say Goodbye” on his namesake band’s smash LP “Slippery When Wet,” but for anyone who watched last year’s hit Hulu docuseries “Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story,” which detailed his vocal cord surgery and ensuing rehab, it looked like he’d already said farewell.

But the second favorite musical son of New Jersey has proven all the doubters wrong with the announcement of a 2026 “Bon Jovi Forever” tour set to kick off with four shows at Madison Square Garden next July.

“I’m ready and excited!” the singer said in a statement released in conjunction with details of the tour, which will head overseas after the New York City shows for dates in Scotland, Ireland and England.

“There is a lot of joy in this announcement, joy that we can share these nights together with our amazing fans and joy that the band can be together,” Bon Jovi added. “I am lucky enough to be able to hold a light out to the audience each night and stand in their reflection for a tremendous collective experience. I get to stand in the ‘we’ of our concerts.”

“And I’ve spoken extensively on my gratitude, but I will say it again, I’m deeply grateful that the fans and the brotherhood of this band have been patient and allowed me the time needed to get healthy and prepare for touring.”

It’s been a long road to recovery for Bon Jovi following his much-talked-about 2022 reconstructive surgery on his vocal cords.

He was adamant that he would not be returning to the road under the group’s name unless he could deliver, determined not to tarnish the legacy of the outfit known for hit singles like “Runaway,” “Livin’ on a Prayer,” “Bad Medicine” and “Always.”

To mark the news, the band livestreamed a three-song performance that included “Legendary,” the live debut of “Red, White, and Jersey,” and “It’s My Life.”

Tickets for the Madison Square Garden shows on July 7, 9, 12 and 14, go on sale Oct. 31, to the general public, with pre-sales beginning Oct. 27.

There’s a good amount of time between the dates, though it’s not clear if that’s to preserve Bon Jovi’s voice, or to leave room to addadditional nights. There’s also been no indication that the tour will continue past those seven shows.

The last time Bon Jovi toured extensively was in 2022, before Jon’s surgery.

Regionally, they haven’t played since the spring of 2018, with shows at the then-Wells Fargo Center and Allentown’s PPL Center.

In tandem with this week’s tour announcement, the band revealed they will be re-releasing last year’s studio album “Forever” as “Forever (Legendary Edition)” this Friday.

The version of the record is a star-studded collaboration album featuring reimagined takes on the songs from the album with some of the biggest names in music, including Bruce Springsteen, Lainey Wilson, Jelly Roll, Jason Isbell, Joe Elliott, Robbie Williams, Avril Lavigne and more.

“This album is more than just a collection of collaborations, it is an album borne out of necessity,” Jon said of the release. “My vocal cord surgery and subsequent rehab was a well-documented journey that played out while releasing ‘Forever’ in June 2024. I was singing well enough in the studio for the recording, but the vocal demands and rigors of touring were still out of reach for me.

“Without the ability to tour or promote an album we were all very proud of, I decided to call on some friends to help me in mytime of need. All are great singers, artists, and also just great people.

“The result is an album with a new viewpoint and new spirit, a collaboration album that proves we all get by in this world with a little help from our friends. I feel tremendous joy and gratitude releasing this album, and I think it shows in the music. I can say with certainty that there is always something bigger than me, and that’s we.”

Vinyl of the Week

Keep an eye on this spot as each week we’ll be looking at new or soon-to-be-released vinyl from a variety of artists. It might be a repressing of a landmark recording, special edition, or new collection from a legendary act.

This week, it’s a not-quite-live album that still stands as one of the greatest of its genre.

Oasis: “(What’s The Story) Morning Glory? [30th Anniversary Edition]”

Few bands have come back from the dead as big as Oasis this year with their highly acclaimed reunion tour, 16 years after breaking up in spectacular fashion before going onstage at a festival in France.

Now, perhaps as a reminder of what made the Britpop titans so great in the first place, comes the 30th anniversary edition of their sophomore LP, “(What’s The Story) Morning Glory?”

Released in October 1995, the record stands out as one of the all-time era-defining great rock albums, propelling Oasis, led by brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher, to worldwide success.

Following just 14 months after their stunning debut “Definitely Maybe,” “(What’s The Story) Morning Glory?” was hugelysuccessful and awarded Best British Album at the 1996 BRIT Awards.

To date, “(What’s The Story) Morning Glory?” has sold in excess of a staggering 22 million copies globally, including over 5.5 million in the United States, and is the UK’s third biggest selling studio album of all time.

The album was also announced by National Album Day as the Official Most Streamed Album of the ’90s, with “Definitely Maybe” as second.

To celebrate the landmark 30th anniversary, the deluxe configuration features new unplugged versions of five recordings: “Cast No Shadow,” “Morning Glory,” “Wonderwall,” “Acquiesce” and “Champagne Supernova.”

They were produced and mixed by Noel and Callum Marinho from the original master recordings at Noel’s studio, Lone Star Sound, in London.

The deluxe album features new artwork shot by original sleeve designer Brian Cannon and new sleeve notes.

“(What’s The Story) Morning Glory? [30 th Anniversary Edition]” is available in two-CD and three-LP formats as well as digital formats.

The three-LP set is pressed on 180-gram vinyl, and exclusive colored vinyl formats are available, including an Amazon “Wonderwall” inspired sepia marble three-LP and official Oasis store exclusive “Acquiesce”-inspired neon orange three-LP.

All formats include the 2014 remastered version of the album.

“(What’s The Story) Morning Glory? [30th Anniversary Edition]” can be found online and from all respectable retailers who carry vinyl.

To contact music columnist Michael Christopher, send an email to rockmusicmenu@gmail.com. Also, check out his website at thechroniclesofmc.com.

Source: Berkshire mont