#75 - 1989/03/28 - Carver-Hawkeye Arena, Iowa City, IA, USA
Location: Carver-Hawkeye Arena, Indianapolis, IA, USA
Capacity: 11.570
Attendance: 11.570
Support Act: Skid Row
Setlist:
Notes:
Even though a recording of the show doesn’t seem to exist (making the exact setlist unknown), some information surrounding the concert could be pieced together.
In an article released in the “Des Moines Register” on March 30th, Jon explained how he preferred playing audience in areas like Iowa or South Dakota over New York or L.A., simply for the fact that they enjoyed to “simply rock out” more rather than always needing to be impressed. He further added that the band usually arrived at 5 pm at the venues for soundcheck and then went backstage for picking up some good junk food, adding “we got Oreos yesterday, so that was a good night.” As it is known, he elaborated further about the band taking a shower and having some beers at the arenas after the shows until the main traffic has cleared out.
A review from “The Gazette from Cedar Rapids” on March 30th confirmed the following songs:
Lay Your Hands On Me
You Give Love A Bad Name
Let It Rock
Walk Away Renee
Runaway
Livin’ On A Prayer
Bad Medicine
Shout
Never Say Goodbye
Regarding the last song, the band fell victim to an indelicate prank, as reviewed in the newspaper mentioned above:
“Bon Jovi taken in by fan letter hoax - Bon Jovi ended its Iowa City concert Tuesday by dedicating a song to the family of an Iowa City West High School student who died in a car accident Trouble is, the student and family don't exist. It seems Bon Jovi was duped by a fan letter, which lead singer Jon Bon Jovi read from stage at the end of the Carver-Hawkeye Arena show. The letter described the victim, Greg, as an athletic West High School student with a 4.0 grade-point average. Greg, the letter said, died in a car accident March 24. The letter, reportedly written by a cousin, also said Greg loved to play basketball, was the youngest of five siblings and was a Bon Jovi fan. The letter described Greg's burial and how Greg's father put his Walkman tape player and a cassette of Bon Jovi's multiplatinum "Slippery When Wet" in the casket. The letter moved Jon Bon Jovi, who with guitarist Richie Sambora came back on stage after a nearly two-hour show and performed a touching version of "Never Say Goodbye," dedicated to Greg's family. HOWEVER, NONE of Iowa City's funeral homes knew of the existence of an Iowa City high school student who died in a car accident. Neither did Julie Ostrander, Iowa City West's athletic director. She was at the concert with her eighth-grade daughter and heard the dedication. "I just cannot recall a West High student especially one on the basketball team who died in a car accident," she said. Bon Jovi's publicist in New York said the band rarely dedicates songs to individuals, and that she would contact Mrs. Bongiovi (Jon Bon Jovi's mother and the head of the band's fan club) to see if she had seen the letter. The rock critic who reviewed Bon Jovi's Indianapolis concert Sunday said there was no dedication at that show, indicating the dedication isn't part of the band's act.”
No recording from that night could be found.