Enjoy poignant, cuddle-rock sung by a sensitive dude who sounds like the Bee Gees on novocaine? Wish you could combine the tenderness of spending a week in a sleeping bag with a tear-stained diary and the feeling you and your pals get when you're six Jäger shots deep and ready to rawk the karaoke bar? Thankfully, there's Bon Joviver. more ›

Twitter death hoaxes, so amusing if you're soulless and also aren't a friend or family member or fan of the person whose death is being spread by ReTweets. Anyway, as you know Jon Bon Jovi is still with us, but for a short time earlier this month he was declared dead via a rumor that spread quickly online. Who was behind the rumor—a scorned lover? An ex-manager? Sebastian Bach, for some reason? No! It was a lone wolf in Pennsylvania, who acted alone after being frustrated with JBJ's recent career path. more ›

With Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora having checked himself back into rehab, what's a Jon Bon Jovi to do with himself? He already opened up a homeless shelter for teens and young adults in Philadelphia last weekend. Could he somehow top that endeavor with an even more altruistic one this week? If you have to ask that, then you don't really know Chef John Francis Bongiovi, Jr. more ›

A man who is accused of stealing over $100,000 of jewelry from Jon Bon Jovi's NJ palace earlier this month was caught and arrested this week. Nichols Tracy, 21, allegedly stole $500,000 worth of jewelry in raids on four homes in the Middletown Township area. But maybe Tracy used to work at the docks, the union is on strike, he's down on his luck, and it's tough, so tough? more ›

We already knew that Gov. Andrew Cuomo supports gay marriage, his girlfriend's cooking, and chilly rooms. And of course, he worships at the altar of muscle cars. But in an email interview with the News, he reveals his entire OKCupid profile: more ›

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announced the newest nominees for its 2011 induction ceremony in the lost city of Cleveland, Ohio. Among the 15 artists nominated are NYC scientist-rappers the Beastie Boys, NJ's second son Bon Jovi, Kurt Weilian crooner Tom Waits, chicken-enthusiast Alice Cooper, vanilla hippie Donovan, and Jewish Elvis Neil Diamond. more ›

Jersey's own Jon Bon Jovi is (allegedly!) creating a stink over being left off the 2010 Forbes magazine top celebrity lists. Not only was his name missing from their Power 100 roster, but he was also left off the Musicians' Rich List—which even Britney Spears made it on to! Instead of gracefully ignoring his absence, however, the musician allegedly "kicked up a huge fuss and got his people to complain," according to a Page Six source. Forbes confirmed they received complaints from the musician's people, but those people say, "That's ridiculous. Last year, the band took an eight-month break from touring, so there was no expectation that they would rank on this year's list." Aw, you'll get 'em next year Jon Bon. more ›

Proof that all you need is a crowd of thousands cheering you on to forget about your pain, Jon Bon Jovi managed to keep rocking at the New Meadowlands last night despite a calf injury. TMZ reports that the rocker was limping on stage during the performance, and had to be carried off by his bandmates. But that didn't stop him from belting out "Livin' on a Prayer." more ›

New Jersey's 2nd favorite son Bon Jovi has signed on to become the first "artist-in-residence" at NBC. In a feature in this week's Observer, Felix Gillette traces the strange pairing, profiling both the pragmatism of self-described CEO Bon Jovi, as well as NBC's love of synergy and refusal to acknowledge criticism. more ›

We all know by now that Wall Street turns to Congress when it needs a bailout. But where in turn do the House and Senate turn when their failed presidential bids are still mired in debt for their bailout ? Why, Bon Jovi, of course. Fresh off the Lost Highway Tour, Bon Jovi will play at Town Hall on the 15th on behalf of another lost highway of sorts: Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign. Hillary and Bill will be in attendance for photo ops for $1000 ticket holders who they hope will help eradicate the $6 million plus the campaign was still in debt as of last month. The invitation to the concert told donors who had already hit the limit in donating to Clinton that they can attend the event if they recruit two or more people at a certain seating level. Before the concert, VP-elect Joe Biden will help out the cause with a fundraiser in Philadelphia. With all of the love JBJ has shown the Democrats in hosting fundraisers previously for President-elect Obama and the losing Kerry and Gore bids that preceded him, we're surprised that he won't get to burn a "Blaze of Glory" through the inaugural ball. more ›

The McCain/Palin campaign is having zero luck with their song choices. Following Heart, Survivor, the Foo Fighters, John Mellencamp and Jackson Browne speaking out against the two-some using their songs, Bon Jovi has now spoken up after their tune "Home" was used at a rally or two. They released the following statement today: "We wrote this song as a thank you to those who have supported us over the past twenty-five years. The song has since become a banner for our home state of New Jersey and the defacto theme song for our partnerships around the country to build homes and rebuild communities. Although we were not asked, we do not approve of their use of 'Home.'" Still, probably didn't sting as badly as when Van Halen protested the use of one of their songs being used by the campaign (Palin's son's middle name is Van, as an homage to the band). more ›

Barack Obama made his way through New Jersey yesterday, capping off a day of campaigning and fund raising with a $30k a head dinner party at Bon Jovi's house last night. Bon Jovi joked about Barack being more than experienced enough for the Oval Office saying, "When I look at Barack, I see an old man." (Obama is one year Bon Jovi's senior.) Obama spoke briefly saying he expected the attacks to worsen, following the aggressive tone set at the RNC. He even questioned how his opponent truly felt about the campaign his party was about to wage saying, "If you asked John McCain if this is the kind of campaign he intended,' he might say 'No.'" A few miles away , McCain's campaign held a rally at the Lincroft Inn. "We'll have to make due with Jon Bon Jovi on stereo," said state coordinator Rick Mroz. more ›

Ever since Jon Bon Jovi gave up his childhood home for a fan on MTV in 1989, he was on his way to sainthood. Or at least the "good guy" title. Now the rock star has teamed up with Newark Mayor Cory Booker and NJ Gov. Jon Corzine to bring more affordable housing to his home state. NJ.com reports the trio "dug shovels into a vacant lot in the city's North Ward" yesterday. The $15 million-project will ultimately provide 51 homes to low-income and special needs people, and permanent housing for HIV/AIDS clients. Jon Bon put in about $1 million through his Philadelphia Soul Charitable Foundation, which has also helped folks in Brooklyn. He declared ever so poetically at the press conference that a difference can be made: "one street, one neighborhood, one soul at a time." more ›

If you were wondering why the crowd at the free Bon Jovi concert in Central Park was numbered at a measly 48,538 people when previous concerts by entertainers like Garth Brooks reportedly drew 750,000, former city parks administrator Doug Blonsky is here to tell you that those old numbers were totally bogus. “You would get in a room with the producer, with a police official, and a person from parks, and someone would say, ‘What does it look like to you?’ The producer would say, ‘I need it to be higher than the last one.’ That’s the kind of science that went into it.” The Times has more on how they come up with the numbers these days. more ›

Incase the news managed to escape you, Jon Bon Jovi came, sang and conquered Central Park over the weekend. Of the over 60K tickets given away to fans, around 50K showed up to the Great Lawn...leaving a reported 150K plastic bottles and aluminum cans. The AP reports, "Major League Baseball, which sponsored the event, said that more than 100 volunteers worked into the next day collecting the recyclables," an effort made in collaboration with the Natural Resources Defense Council -- there's no word yet on how the 13 acres of Kentucky bluegrass fared during the show. And if you weren't rocking, rolling and littering in the crowd on Saturday, some of the show has landed on YouTube. more ›

The eagerly anticipated free Bon Jovi concert attracted an estimated 48,500 people to Central Park yesterday. And were the audience members pumped: People were waiting since Friday for prime seats on the Great Lawn while others settled for arriving many hours before the concert, after having cased the stage set-up ahead of time. The NY Times spoke to one woman who had Jon Bon Jovi's signature tattooed on her back (immortalizing the time he signed her back in 2005) and her friend who gave her daughter the middle name "Jovie." more ›

Aside from the music, this evening's Bon Jovi concert on Central Park's Great Lawn will be different from the regular Metropolitan Opera or NY Philharmonic concert-- primarily because of the things one won't be able to bring into the park. While security is generally laissez-faire towards alcohol and food at the classical music events, today's free show is another story. Ticket holders will not be allowed to bring strollers, umbrellas, alcohol, cameras, backpacks, large bags, coolers, glass or metal containers, recording devices, and, of course, weapons. With people lining up hours before the start of the show to get a good vantage point (gates open at 2 p.m., show begins at 8 p.m.), it should be a long hot day for many. Hope you lucky ones have your sunscreen. more ›

Will the Bon Jovi madness never end? amNewYork reported that the line for the Saturday concert was expected to form last night. Hard core fans want to secure good spots, and not get pushed into the overflow section. As we mentioned earlier this week, only 50K of the 60K will have spots with a view, the rest are sent to a space with no sightline of the stage or their precious Jon Bon -- though they will allegedly be able to hear the Jersey rockers. more ›

It's no surprise that ticket prices for the Bon Jovi concert being held in Central Park this Saturday went from free to $1500 in no time. As we mentioned yesterday, Spitzer had signed a legislation making online scalping legal, and Bloomberg agrees that there's not much that can be done. The mayor declared to the NY Post:

"The scalping is just a way of life. I can't tell you it's not worth that kind of money. It's up to you if you want to spend the money. But whatever the scalping laws are, you're going to have to comply with them."

As the big Bon Jovi concert approaches tickets to the free show are going for as much as $1500/pair, The NY Post reports. The show is going down this Saturday on the Great Lawn in Central Park, and an additional lot of tickets will be released at the Javits Center this Friday (more details at MLB.com). Hardcore fans of Jon Bon who don't get their hands on the freebies will have to lay down some serious cash via online outlets like eBay and Craigslist.

An eBay search at midday yesterday found 267 listings for the sold-out concert, with prices ranging from 99 cents to $1,500 a pair from one especially audacious seller identified as "agttickets."

Yesterday Bon Jovi fanatics rushed to the closest ballparks to pick up their tickets to a free concert on the Great Lawn next weekend. NY1 reports that fans lined up for hours at all four stadiums; the concert is part of the upcoming All-Star Game celebration. One fan declared of JBJ: "Back in the day he was number one and he still is," while others were happy he was doing the show for free and giving back to his other hometown. more ›

Die hards are surely in line already, but here's your reminder that today is the big day -- in just a short time from now (at 9 a.m.) tickets to the July 12th Bon Jovi concert in Central Park will be handed out at Yankee, Shea, KeySpan Park and the Staten Island Yankees stadiums. Bon Jovi's site states that "free tickets can also be obtained on a first-come, first-served basis, two per fan," and that additional tickets will be distributed in Manhattan. No details on location or a date for those yet, though yesterday they announced a ticket distribution on July 11th at the Javits Center. More details on the concert, and how to get in, can be found at MLB.com. more ›

Yesterday came the announcement of a free concert that would be held on Central Park's Great Lawn this month featuring Mr. Jon Bon Jersey himself (now a Manhattanite). Today more details about the July 12th show and how to procure your golden tickets are unveiled via Bon Jovi's official website. Essentially, tickets will be made available at every major, and some minor baseball stadiums beginning July 2nd. Starting at 9 a.m. that day Bon Jovi fans will descend upon Yankee, Shea, KeySpan Park and the Staten Island Yankees stadiums...get more details here if you want to be one of them. And note that tickets will also will be available in Manhattan at DHL All-Star FanFest at the Jacob K. Javits Center on Friday, July 11th. more ›

Mark your calendars: Bon Jovi will be giving a free concert in Central Park next month. The concert will be on Saturday, July 12, and is apparently a "prelude to the July 15 All-Star baseball game." Bon Jovi is touring this summer and has two concerts at MSG on July 14 and 15, with The All-American Rejects opening. more ›

The NY Times reports on Mr. New Jersey's ties with the political elite. With it being common practice for high-ranking politicians to attend his concerts, it's seems it's a two way street, with Bon Jovi also showing his support at their functions.

He calls her “Mrs. C.” And she calls on him to add a little celebrity gloss to her presidential campaign. more ›

Naked Guy at Ted Leo Concert It's a tad early for year end awards, but this story is making a strong, late push for the greatest live moment of 2007. At the Ted Leo show at The Music Hall of Williamsburg Wednesday night, some dude from Jersey took off his shirt and threw it on the stage. Not satisfied with merely being topless in a crowd on that snowy night, he eventually followed the shirt... more ›

You know you’ve finally arrived when your name appears in an Onion headline. The satirical paper of record paid that respect to the decades-spanning indie-rock phenomenon Yo La Tengo some years back with an article titled “37 Record-Store Clerks Feared Dead In Yo La Tengo Concert Disaster.” Since 1984 the band, started by husband and wife duo Georgia Hubley and Ira Kaplan, has been blazing an independent trail of restlessly inventive guitar rock. Their most... more ›

This week ended with the launch of the seventh and final Harry Potter installation. But while the world was consumed with Pottermania, it's important to remember that there were more serious things going on in the world, too - two of them in -Ist cities. more ›

• Today on the Gothamist Newsmap: a suspicious fire in the area of Ludlow and Stanton Sts. in Manhattan, a crane vs. overpass incident at Westchester and Prospect Aves. in the Bronx, and an armed robbery on Shell Rd. in Brooklyn.
• Musician/actor Jon Bon Jovi is suing the maker of an energy drink for selling a coffee-based beverage called Mijovi. The owner of the NJ beverage company says that the name of his product is derived from that of his girlfriend, Jovita. No word yet on whether the rocker will be suing pastry chain Cinnabon.
• A 13-gigapixel interactive panorama of Harlem taken from a neighborhood rooftop.
• Brooklyn is undergoing a building boom of hotels and completed ones are running high occupancy rates.
• A man was found guilty of a 2003 murder today and faces 25 years to life in prison for forcing a man who was dating his ex-girlfriend out of a 5th story window on the Upper West Side, and the man fell to his death.
• A Jersey City woman whose home is in the flight path of Newark Liberty Airport found an inoperable rocket launcher in her front yard this morning. The FBI said the launcher was part of an AT-4 anti-tank weapon.
• The owner of a Brooklyn bagel store near Bruce Ratner's proposed Atlantic Yards project thought it would be a good idea to name his new business Arena Bagels. After widespread criticism of the massive real estate project, and in turn his store's name, the store has been renamed A.R.E.A Bagels & Bialys.
• Time shares are a growing market in NYC real estate, for vacationers who want to own a portion of a city apartment and occupy it for just a few weeks a year.