On Sunday, iconic rock star Bon Jovi officially confirmed that he will perform in Tel Aviv’s Hayarkon Park next year, The Jerusalem Post reported.
“Guess what? We’re coming back,” Bon Jovi said in a video announcing the upcoming performance in July 2019. “Looking forward to ending the tour in Israel, and celebrating the end of a wonderful tour. Get ready, we’ll see you July 25.”
50,000 fans attended Bon Jovi’s first concert in Israel in 2015.
“Israel really has a special audience. The 2015 show was hugely memorable to us,” the 56-year-old singer told Israeli reporters via email. “The fans were absolutely incredible and amazing, there was an electric energy in the air.” Although Bon Jovi said he doesn’t speak any Hebrew, he indicated, “If someone wants to help me out, I would be very happy to greet the Israeli audience with some Hebrew on the stage!”
The band expressed excitement to be returning to Tel Aviv, although it is very likely that they will face some backlash from the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) campaign. BDS activists, especially former Pink Floyd frontman Roger Waters, frequently pressure artists not perform in Israel.
This was the case in 2015, when the band announced their show in Israel. Waters later wrote a letter to band members criticizing them for their decision. However, at the concert, Bon Jovi said that his only response to Waters was “that I’m coming to Israel and I’m excited to come.”
At the 2015 show, Bon Jovi introduced a new song, “We Don’t Run,” and dedicated it to the people of Tel Aviv.
Waters is known to bully artists that plan to perform in Israel.
Earlier this month, the UK Pink Floyd Experience canceled a scheduled performance in Israel, after Waters wrote on their Facebook that performing in Israel would be “an act of unconscionable malice and disrespect.” The band, at first, decided to cancel their performance, and Waters celebrated the cancellation. Only a few days later, the band reversed their decision and will be performing in Israel.
UK Pink Floyd Experience also invited Echoes — the Israeli Pink Floyd cover band — to join them on a few shows.
[Photo: Yifat Cohen / YouTube ]