BON JOVI OPENS TOUR AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN ( SET LIST + PHOTOS )

Photo: Theo Wargo

Bon Jovi returned to the stage Tuesday night, launching their Forever Tour with the first of nine sold-out shows at Madison Square Garden — the band's first full-scale concerts since 2022, and their first since frontman Jon Bon Jovi underwent vocal cord surgery.

The night's real question was whether the voice had survived. It had. It took a couple of songs to warm — the Joe Cocker–style reading of "With a Little Help From My Friends" was cautious — but by "Lost Highway" he'd found his footing, and the familiar rasp was back. On the highest reaches of "Livin' on a Prayer" he leaned on his bandmates, then turned the chorus over to 20,000 people: "One more time… for me."

At 64, grayer and now a grandfather, Bon Jovi still worked the room on charisma alone — two hands on the mic, that leg-kicking bounce, fists in the air. Original members Tico Torres and David Bryan anchored a band playing every note live, no teleprompter. Between songs he kept stopping to look around, visibly moved. "I'm grateful and humbled by this whole ordeal," he told the crowd. "Thank you for letting me have this."

Photo: Theo WargoPhoto: Theo WargoPhoto: Theo Wargo

Setlist:

With a Little Help From My Friends (The Beatles cover)
Beautiful Drug
We Weren't Born to Follow
Lost Highway
Who Says You Can't Go Home
You Give Love a Bad Name
Born to Be My Baby
Legendary
Whole Lot of Leavin'
In These Arms
Have a Nice Day
It's My Life
Livin' on a Prayer
Lay Your Hands on Me
Blood on Blood
Living Proof
This House Is Not for Sale
Keep the Faith