Kent State Students Get Rare Behind-The-Scenes Look at Concert Business

Five Kent State University students will be working alongside the road crew of the rock group Bon Jovi in Cleveland this weekend as part of the band’s community service initiative recognizing students with top leadership skills and a history of volunteerism.

The hugely successful rock band has opened up its 2013 tour production to local college students through the “Bon Jovi ‘Because We Can’ Community Service College Campaign.” Selected based on their exemplary volunteer efforts and community leadership skills, the five students from Kent State will gain hands-on experience in different areas of tour production when the Bon Jovi tour stops at Cleveland’s Quicken Loans Arena on Saturday, March 9.

The Kent State students chosen for this rare opportunity are Eric Courtney, a junior visual communication design major; Jeffrey Hammond, a senior health and physical education major; Elizabeth Holton, a senior advertising and marketing major; Justin Lagore, a senior advertising and public relations double major; and Aaron D. Radcliffe, a senior justice studies major.


The students will work closely with the band’s tour management and production teams to learn the ins and outs of what it takes to put together a major tour production. The students also will have the opportunity to see all of the pieces come together as the band take the stage for the show on Saturday.

Formed in New Jersey in 1983, Bon Jovi consists of lead singer and namesake Jon Bon Jovi (born John Francis Bongiovi, Jr.), guitarist Richie Sambora, keyboardist David Bryan and drummer Tico Torres. The band built a strong fan base through its energetic live shows and hit it big in 1986 with the release of the album Slippery When Wet, which yielded hit songs such as “Livin’ On A Prayer” and “You Give Love a Bad Name.”

Over the decades, Bon Jovi has established themselves as one of the pre-eminent American rock and roll bands working today. Fans at the Saturday’s show will experience an unforgettable night of chart-topping hits, as well as the live debut of new tracks from Bon Jovi’s upcoming album What About Now, which will be released on March 12.

For more information on Bon Jovi, visit www.BonJovi.com.

For more information on Kent State University, visit www.kent.edu.

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Media Note:
To make arrangements for backstage credentials to shadow the Kent State University students at the Bon Jovi concert, contact Jenn Yokley at jyokley@cavs.com or at 216-420-2087.


Media Contacts
Jenn Yokley, jyokley@cavs.com, 216-420-2087
Bob Burford, rburford@kent.edu, 330-672-8516