And Just like That, Bon Jovi's Tour is Over

On July 31, Bon Jovi posted this message on Facebook: " 135 shows, 22 countries, 18 months..... 3 million fans in attendance. From our heart to yours THANK YOU for making this last year and a half on the road so spectacular. We have the best jobs in the world and it's all because you believe in us and help us stay on this crazy ride. We will see you all again shortly, friends. Thanks for making our 2010/2011 tour one of the best!"

At about the same time, Matt Bongiovi, brother of the front man of the band, posted this: " No more shows....Just a wake up call..... 144 shows 29 countries....Just one flight home to go...."

Whether it was 135 shows or 144, 22 countries or 29, one thing is sure: Bon Jovi's year-and-a-half long Circle/Live 2011 Tour made history and memories for fans worldwide.

In February 2010, the tour unofficially started with two pre-shows in Honolulu. Then later that month, the tour officially started in Seattle. Was it really only last year that it started? So much has happened between then and now . . .

The first leg, a North American one, ended in late May 2010 when Bon Jovi opened the New Meadowlands Stadium in a three-night stand on their home turf in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

The second leg, in Europe, started only a few days later with one-night stands in Spain and the Netherlands before Bon Jovi started their historic twleve-night residency at London's O2 Arena. About halfway through the residency, they took a night off in London to play Paris.

For the start of the third leg of the tour, it was back home for one more night at New Meadowlands. During that concert, Jon Bon Jovi suffered his first leg injury of the tour with a torn calf muscle in his left leg, but he didn't miss a beat in either the show or the tour.

After playing dates in the United States and Canada, Bon Jovi took a much-needed two-month break before heading south for the fourth leg of the tour with stops in Mexico, Costa Rica, Peru, Chile, Argentina, and Brazil.

After the fourth leg, the band had a "break" during which they performed a free concert on the beach in Gulf Shores, Alabama in mid-October; a one-off in Spain in early November (remember the "secret gig" with Rihanna?) while they were in the neighborhood to receive the first ever Global Icon award at the MTV Europe Music Awards; and an intimate concert at New York's Best Buy Theater (with a live YouTube stream!).

The fifth leg began in Tokyo before heading to New Zealand and Australia and ending in mid-December 2010.

When the tour resumed at the end of January 2011, it was no longer the Circle Tour but was the Live 2011 Tour, reminiscent of when the Crush Tour became the One Wild Night Tour in 2000 and 2001.

The first part of the Live 2011 Tour was in North America and lasted through May. On April 30, Richie Sambora missed the gig in New Orleans because he had entered rehab a few days before; he wouldn't re-join the band until June when they went to Europe. In the meantime, session guitarist Phil "X" Xenidis filled in for him.

Then in June, it was back to Europe. On June 17, in Helsinski, Finland, Jon Bon Jovi again injured his left leg, and even though he had to have surgery this time, it did not affect any performances: all went on as scheduled. The tour ended last night, July 31, in Portugal.

For the record, Matt Bongiovi was correct: it was 29 countries. And by this writer's count, there were 147 concerts if you include every show from Hawaii in February 2010 to Portugal in July 2011.

Already, fans are in mourning, but take heart: Bon Jovi teased in their Facebook post (above) that they would see everyone again shortly. Rumor had it at various times throught this tour that it would be their last, but who knows, maybe they have another tour in them yet.