BON JOVI’S SURPRISE
Bill Clinton surprises crowd at campaign rally for his wife
Jon Bon Jovi ended up being the opening act Thursday night at his Love Trumps Hate campaign rally for Hillary Clinton at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall.
Wrapping up a four-song acoustic set with “Here Comes the Sun,” the rock star from New Jersey spoke of how difficult the job of being president is and said he knew of someone with firsthand experience. With that, he introduced a surprise guest: former President Bill Clinton.
Bon Jovi has been friends with the Clintons since the mid-’90s and has worked with the former president to fight homelessness with the Clinton Global Initiative.
Bon Jovi and Mr. Clinton share the current cover of Billboard magazine in an issue about rockers and activism. “He is one of the most effective philanthropists of anybody in entertainment,” Mr. Clinton said, while joking about the rocker being the better-looking one on the cover.
He gave a brief speech, emphasizing, “There’s a lot at stake in this election. We’re going to
decide not between a Republican and a Democrat, but we’re going to decide what America is going to be like in the future... We’re going determine whether you prefer anger and name-calling or answers and empowerment.”
Bon Jovi, who also performed at President Barack Obama’s inauguration in 2009, held a fundraiser at his home in June for Ms. Clinton’s campaign. She also is getting concert support in battleground states from Jay Z, Katy Perry and Jennifer Lopez.
Thursday night’s Get Out the Vote concert was free, but the crowd of about 1,000 had the option of pitching in $2,700 for a backstage meet-and-greet with Bon Jovi.
Scott Mervis: smervis@post-gazette.com or 412-263-2576.