Bon Jovi is in hot water with some local fans after the band backed out of its upcoming New York State Fair concert — but only days earlier are performing at a private fundraiser for Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Ultimate Classic Rock reported that the band was set to play on August 28th for 17,000 fans and even had its agent sign the deal paying the band $650,000. On July 30th, “a lawyer for New York’s Department of Agriculture & Markets requested the contract be withdrawn — a move that could cost the state more than $1 million in lost ticket sales and other revenue.” On Friday (August 9th) Gov. Cuomo was quoted by The New York Daily News as saying in upstate Watkins Glen: “An entertainer like Jon Bon Jovi is very busy and sometimes the dates of when you want them and when they’re available don’t line up.”
On August 25th, three days before the scrapped gig, Bon Jovi will perform for the governor, with tickets reportedly running $5,000 per head for the 100-person fundraiser. Cuomo spokesman Rich Azzopardi said: “The contract (for the State Fair) was pulled at the request of the band for scheduling conflicts” — with Bon Jovi’s people agreeing. Yet insider whispers are alleging that the State Fair gig was canceled, quote, “to avoid anyone seeing a conflict in. . . playing a private show for the governor and then three days later being paid $650,000 to perform at the fair.”
- The reason why this is a big deal is that him supporting a politician comes at the expense of his fans. 17,000 people that would be supporting the band — and most importantly putting money back into New York State — has been sidelined to raise money for a politician.
- Forget what side this governor plays on — it’s the wrong thing to do. And Jon Bon Jovi’s doing it for vanity. Jon Bon Jovi loves to be around important people, he always has. Being a rock star isn’t enough. He’s not bigger that Springsteen, or Jagger, or even Petty. He needs to get it somewhere else.
- Putting a politician above the fans is bad form on any day, but let’s be honest here — this guy has been passing off a Bon Jovi tour for the last six months without Ritchie Sambora and getting away with it because of HIS FANS. The fans decided to say: “OK, if YOU show up, WE’LL show up.” A tremendous leap of faith was afforded him by his fan-base. To pull a stunt like this — especially so close to home — shows that he doesn’t get it. This dude could write a check and be done with it. He needs to be more important than he is. 17,000 fans isn’t important enough. A shame.
