Jon Bon Jovi stepped back into the spotlight Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden, delivering his first full concert in four years following surgery to repair a damaged vocal cord.
The 64-year-old rock icon kicked off Bon Jovi's "Forever Tour" at the iconic New York venue with a set that spanned more than two hours and included 21 songs, according to Geo tv . The performance marked a significant milestone for the singer, who had publicly expressed uncertainty about whether he would ever tour again.
Bon Jovi opened the show with a playful nod to his recovery, singing the opening line of The Beatles' "With a Little Help from My Friends" — "What would you do if I sang out of tune?" — before addressing the crowd's reaction .
"I haven't heard the roar of a crowd in four years and I didn't know if I would remember what that was like," the singer told the sold-out audience .
The 21-song set included classic hits such as "Livin' on a Prayer," "You Give Love a Bad Name," "It's My Life," "Wanted Dead or Alive," and "Keep the Faith," along with tracks from the band's 2024 album "Forever" . Bon Jovi was joined on stage by original members Tico Torres and David Bryan, along with Hugh McDonald, John Shanks, Phil X, and Everett Bradley .
The return was far from guaranteed. Following his 2022 surgery for vocal cord medialization, Bon Jovi faced a lengthy and challenging recovery . The rocker had previously told PEOPLE that the vocal cord damage was particularly confusing because he had always taken care of his voice.
"I'd often joked and said the only thing that's ever been up my nose was my finger. I never did anything to hurt the cords; I didn't have any excesses," he said. "I'm a trained vocalist. I've practiced the craft. So when a doctor had to explain to me that one of the cords was literally atrophying, it was confusing" .
When asked during his recovery whether he would consider lip-syncing or using auto-tune, his response was blunt: "I'd rather get hit by a bus on the highway" .
The singer, who described himself as "grateful and humbled by this whole ordeal," also credited his bandmates for their unwavering support throughout the four-year hiatus .
"They never doubted me and never looked for work or decided to retire," Bon Jovi told PEOPLE in a recent interview . "The sacrifices that each one of them have made to be there for me is on a whole 'nother level" .
Tuesday's performance was the first of nine sold-out shows Bon Jovi will play at Madison Square Garden, with the residency continuing through July 26 . The "Forever Tour" will then move to Europe, with dates scheduled in Scotland, Ireland, and London in August and September .
Why this matters
Bon Jovi's return marks a significant moment for the rock icon, whose career spans more than four decades and includes induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. For fans and the music industry, his successful comeback after a potentially career-ending vocal injury represents a testament to medical advancements in vocal cord treatment and the importance of rehabilitation. The nine-show Madison Square Garden residency also underscores the enduring popularity of a band that has sold more than 100 million records worldwide.
