Frontman of the now legendary rock band Bon Jovi recently purchased and officially opened a concert hall with a bar, named JBJ’s Nashville, in Tennessee, USA. The venue is almost 3,500 square meters and has a huge stage on the lowest floor of the building, which can accommodate even large bands. There are photos of Bon Jovi hanging on the walls of the premises from their thirty-year career. The biggest element of surprise that appeared in the newly opened hall is a permanently installed hologram Jon Bon Jovilooking alive.
Jon Bon Jovi has previously spoken out about holograms replacing real musicians during concerts. He himself has been suffering from vocal cord problems for several years, which makes it difficult for him to imagine continuing to be on the road intensively. The singer underwent an innovative surgery to reconstruct his vocal cords, but has not yet regained his full vocal strength. He stated that this does not mean the end of Bon Jovi concerts. The artist is open to performing in the form of a hologram.
Jon Bon Jovi would like people to enjoy his concerts, no matter what form they take. “I don’t mind the idea of our holograms being for people – where they will enjoy it. I don’t think it’s a sin. I don’t think it’s discouraging,” Jon Bon Jovi once confessed. At that time, he was not sure whether the technology was already developed enough to make this possible. Now, however, his fears have been dispelled and the idea has come true.
A modern hologram depicting Jon Bon Jovi was installed in JBJ’s Nashwille concert hall. It was installed by Proto Hologram Inc. Later this year, it will be joined by virtual likenesses of the rest of the Bon Jovi band members. The singer and bar owner will also have the opportunity to upload images of special guests who will unexpectedly appear in the hall alongside rock legends. So far, this is the first hologram of this type permanently installed in a bar, restaurant or concert venue.
The owner of the company that created the Jon Bon Jovi hologram is delighted that he could help the artist stay in touch with his fans. “Our technology transforms live performances into the ‘Runaway’ experience, enabling artists like Jon Bon Jovi to connect with audiences in a way that has never been possible before. It’s an honor to be part of such an innovative project and I can’t wait for fans to experience the magic with my own eyes,” he said David Nussbaum with Proto Hologram Inc.
In early June, Bon Jovi played a surprise concert at the newly opened JBJ’s Nashwille bar. At that time, there were no virtual likenesses of musicians, but real members of the group live. They presented five iconic songs to the audience. Some fans pointed out that Jon’s voice was better than during the 2022 concerts, when his vocal cords were in critical condition. Many commentators, however, emphasized that he was still far from fit. Perhaps this is where the idea of permanently introducing a virtual replacement comes from.