Bon Jovi goes full circle with classic, new hits at MGM Grand

Tom Donoghue/www.donoghuephotography.com

Bon Jovi performs at MGM Grand Garden Arena on March 6, 2010.

By Robin Leach (contact)

Monday, March 8, 2010 | 10:06 a.m.

Bon Jovi at MGM Grand Garden Arena

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Tom Donoghue/www.donoghuephotography.com

Bon Jovi performs at MGM Grand Garden Arena on March 6, 2010.

Samantha Fisher/Cashman Photography

Richie Sambora and Jon Bon Jovi at Love in The Mirage.

Talk about high energy. Talk about unrequited passion. Talk about giving it your all. For Bon Jovi, the New Jersey rockers' Las Vegas weekend stop for the new Circle Tour simply had to be the best of the 135 shows — and it was!

Bon Jovi gave until there was no more to give. Electrifying, extraordinary, exciting, enthusiastic and exuberant. There aren't enough words in Webster's to use (starting with "e"!) to describe the power — and the wattage. The band went full circle with old and new hits. They put The Circle in the square MGM Grand Garden Arena!

Contributing photographer Tom Donoghue was the only outside photographer permitted to shoot the sensational show. This is a remarkable photo gallery of top rockers at work and at play simply enjoying themselves and their talents while thrilling fans in the sold-out arena.

After playing Los Angeles, Bon Jovi took two days off from the crazed tour schedule to play and rest in Las Vegas in advance of the Saturday night show.

While here, Richie Sambora, a huge fan of The Beatles, finally managed to introduce frontman Jon Bon Jovi to one of his favorite shows last night, Love by Cirque du Soleil at The Mirage. Richie and Jon plus a group of 16 friends and family members enjoyed the early performance before going to dinner at Japonais in The Mirage.

After the performance, the entire group went backstage to meet the cast, where Jon and Richie were greeted with loud applause. The rockers instantly returned the applause, telling the cast how much they enjoyed the show. They also met some members of the audio team, where Richie talked about guitar riffs from the show's remastered recording of "While My Guitar Gently Weeps."

Bon Jovi headed out of town yesterday giddy with the success of the Las Vegas tour stop. In all, the band will be playing in 30 countries through next year.