Ah, so that's why The O2 people were so cagy when I asked them whether the previously reported Justin Timberlake shows would be the first to take place at the revamped Millennium Dome. Because no they won't. Timberlake plays there in early July, but it was announced yesterday that Bon Jovi will play the first gig at the new bumper arena on 24 Jun, following the 11 Jun release of their new album 'Lost Highway'.
Whether the decision to open The O2 with a Bon Jovi concert is a little dig at a rival venue on the other side of the capital, I don't know. As you'll remember Bon Jovi and the Dome's owners AEG had planned to stage the first ever concert at that other big new London venue, the revamped Wembley Stadium, back last June, Bon Jovi having been the last band to play the old Wembley Stadium. But, of course, new Wembley wasn't ready (and only just is) so the Bon Jovi gig was moved away from the capital to the Milton Keynes Bowl. With the all new The O2 seemingly going to be ready on schedule, unlike its rival, it is perhaps apt they open it up by bringing Bon Jovi back to London.