Centrestage - Entertainment Port Elizabeth

Centrestage Presents
“BLAZE OF GLORY - FEATURING WAYNE KALLIS"

Shifting the focus once again as part of their latest series of unplugged acoustic sessions at the intimate dinner-theatre styled venue, audiences will be shown a more melodic, gentler side to Bon Jovi’s music as the rock anthems are acoustically reinterpreted.

Kallis will be joined by the versatile Gino Fabbri on drums and percussion, Khanya Matomela on keyboard and Mike McAuly on bass. While the talented foursome will give Centrestage fans the opportunity to see a more personal side of the Bon Jovi repertoire, they promise to ensure that none of the trademark intensity is lost.

Blaze of Glory follows their popular Jack Johnson tribute, staged earlier this year, as well as the Folk Heros, which also successfully followed the stripped down format.

Kallis, who previously brought the house down with his renditions of Living on A Prayer and Bed of Roses in the hit Centrestage show “The Vagabonds of Rock n Roll”, has long been a fan of the American hard rock band.

With over 120 million albums sold world-wide, Bon Jovi has evolved through three distinct decades and phases of their career - the big hair days of the 80's, the sensitive sex symbol of 90's and the more adult contemporary noughties - growing their fan base with each new generation.

“With such a huge, varied repertoire, it’s not surprising that they often strip down their songs to the most basic elements and rebuild them acoustically”, says Kallis.

“This preserves the essence of what no one can deny are great rock tunes, and breaks down the boundaries of age and genre. I've always been a big fan of 'unplugged' style sets, and I'm looking forward to combining the tuneful melodies and instrumentation with the powerful vocals that carries the Jon Bon Jovi stamp”

“I've always been able to relate to the power he puts behind his vocal performances and I'm looking forward to doing it justice in this show”.

“Of course, we will rock out towards the end of the show”, laughs Kallis.

Fans will enjoy the twist on classics such as “You Give Love a Bad Name", "Wanted Dead or Alive", "Keep the Faith", "Always", "It's My Life", "Have a Nice Day" and their latest hit single "We Weren't Born to Follow."

“We also take on some covers which Jon Bon Jovi made his own, so you might also be surpised to see songs such as Bob Geldorf’s ‘I Don’t Like Mondays’ and Neil Young’s ‘Rocking in A Free World’ and making the final setlist.