Story

This band has a massive following in Australia, they go mental for em over here ! I admit Im not a huge fan, I liked their big hits of the 80’s and I respect them as artists, they’re all very talented and they certainly look the part, I had to paint them when I knew they were touring in January 08.

They announced their tour passing through Australia quite late, so I had to work quickly to get a painting ready. I took it with me on the day of their arrival and waited for their private jet to arrive, I was early but didn’t want to take risks and find they came early if I got their too late.

I had a clear view of the jets arrival and it was good experience seeing it come in, I watched them come off the jet and I waited at an entry where I knew they would drive by. Before too long they each began the drive over the tarmac in vans towards where I was standing, the first tinted van drove out an I was clearly in sight, but the van only stopped to give way to traffic and then left, as did the second one,. I thought it was over, as a lady working at there told me that was Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora.

The third van stopped to give way to traffic and this one wasn’t tinted, inside I could see Tico nearest me, and David over the other side. The window opened, Tico was there smoking a cigarette and held his hand out to sign the painting for me, he never said a word, but was pleasant. As he was signing for me I asked David if he would mind too, and I welcomed them to Sydney. Tico passed the painting across for David to sign, and then gave it back to me, they smiled and I thanked them as they drove off.

I walked back to my car and decided to meet my friends at the hotel where Bon Jovi were staying.
I took the 30 min drive there, found a parking spot and walked to the hotel, as I got there I saw my friends and a few other fans waiting, and I assumed they’d met the band. When I got to them they told me the band hadn’t arrived yet. Straight away we thought they must be at a different hotel. As we were talking about possible places to try, we saw the bands vans arriving, I was baffled as to how I beat them back, they must have stopped on the way for a snack or something, either that or their drivers didn’t know Sydney street to well !

Still it was good for me, all I could think was that the band would see me and my painting again and probably ask themselves the same questions I was thinking. We all approached the vans, security amazingly was relaxed, the band got out their vans. Jon Bon Jovi seemed to take forever to get out of his van, maybe he was fixing his hair ?, I stopped Richie as he signed, very quietly I watched Jon get out his van and try to walk into the hotel getting stopped by fans just beside me for photos and autographs, once Richie I signed I turned directly to Jon and he signed for me, all the time trying to walk into the hotel. This was another missed chance of a photo, it was just a bit to crazy, sometimes tackling a big painting, fans and a camera all at once is not easy and so I couldn’t get my photo im afraid, however my friends managed to get some, I was happy for them.