‘Tell ‘Em You Had A Threesome With Bon Jovi’

As media types assemble, Bon Jovi tunes and video footage play on screens either side of the heavily branded backdrop reminding us that Dainty Group have brought Bon Jovi to us and Telstra Thanks (loyalty program) are presenting partner. Discussion opens up as to why aging rockers end up sporting the same haircuts as middle-aged lesbians and then the sound of camera shutters alerts us to the fact the band – Jon Bon Jovi, David Bryan and Tico Torres – are here. While being told to put our phones on silent, Bon Jovi gets a text, looks guilty and then retrieves his phone from his back pocket to switch it to silent. They flew in from Japan this morning, “hence the sunglasses inside”, Bon Jovi jokes.

We've all seen the 150-foot-wide 1959 Buick Electra 225 backdrop we'll experience for this Because We Can tour by now, it's called “Sophia” as it happens, and they joke that there will be “a used car for sale on December 19” since this is the end of the tour. Bon Jovi points out that these Melbourne shows are “number 88 and 89 of the tour”.

Bon Jovi's Because We Can tour supports (apart from Kid Rock) are Telstra Road To Discovery winners Jesse Teinaki (aged 21 from Somerset) and Angie McMahon (aged 19 from Alphington, Victoria) and the first question directed toward the band is whether they've heard Angie McMahon before. Surprise, surprise, Bon Jovi didn't have anything to do with the selection process, but Bon Jovi promises to get acquainted with these emerging artists today.

Other questions include: How do you keep doing it? (“Every show it comes down to that desire to be the best… and we do it 'cause we love to do it”); Can I have a cuddle? (A group hug is granted and then Bon Jovi cheekily suggests, "Tell 'em you just had a threesome with Bon Jovi"); What's your secret to a longstanding rock'n'roll marriage? (HATE that one. Don't we always wanna fantasise that our rockers are available?); and Telstra's Jon Bon Jovi No 1 Fan Competition winner Lisa Klein's question: Has your humanitarian work changed the person you have become and how has it influenced your music? Bon Jovi graciously deems this a “good question”.

Even though Bon Jovi expresses his excitement by saying, "Holy Christmas tree!" today, he'll always be Wanted Dead Or Alive. And his hair looks good.