Daily Star

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Variety Show, in 2007, saying: “Between the sound check and the show, there was nothing to do so we started driving around in our smart jackets and ties to try to find John Lennon’s childhood home.

“To our surprise, we found it and went and knocked on the door. It was all being refurbishe­d at the time and wasn’t open. But amazingly they let us in and we all got pictures of us in his childhood bedroom. It’s a very special memory to say the least.”

Another one will be stepping out in front of 50,000 fans for one of the first concerts at Anfield for a decade.

Jon understand­s the significan­ce of the occasion – not least because he is good pals with Liverpudli­an legend Sir Paul McCartney, one of the last to play the iconic sporting venue more than a decade ago.

They met up last month and Jon shows me recent pictures on his phone of them chilling on a sunkissed veranda.

“Two old men sitting in a rocking chair,” Jon laughs, as he scrolls through the snaps of them relaxing following a long lunch, one of maybe “four or five” they like to enjoy each summer.

He adds: “I have always loved The Beatles – my mum had the records and I have been blessed over the years to have become friendly with Paul.

“I am fortunate to see him every summer. I only address him as Beatle Paul. I don’t address him as Paul. I want to say Mr McCartney, but I am a little too old for that.” As for the Anfield show next June, he says: “I will tell him about that – I know he’s performed there too. There isn’t much Paul hasn’t already done. He is the benchmark.”

Jon says he’s been trying to soak up as much informatio­n as he can about Liverpool Football Club before the dates next summer.

He says: “I know the team is beloved – at least by the red half of the city – and a lot of people over here in the US like them.

“While I will have to plead the fifth amendment when it comes to football generally, I’ve heard Liverpool are winning a lot at the moment. I know the manager’s a fan of the band too, which is great.”

He has also, he explains, unfinished business under the famous Wembley arches.

“We closed the old Wembley and we were meant to open the new one – I even took a photo in front of the new one,” he says.

“I should have gone in and realised it was a constructi­on site.

“I am still mad at the contractor­s for not finishing after we sold out two nights and then had to displace 120,000 people.

“That was a heartbreak­er. It would have been cool to close the old Wembley and open the new one – but it will be good to be back at last.”

 ??  ?? BON Jovi play Anfield Stadium, Liverpool, on June 19, London’s Wembley Stadium on June 21 and Coventry’s Ricoh Arena on June 23, 2019. (livenation. co.uk/artist/bon-jovi-tickets) ®ÊGUITAR HERO: Jon on stage and, top, with the rest of the band
BON Jovi play Anfield Stadium, Liverpool, on June 19, London’s Wembley Stadium on June 21 and Coventry’s Ricoh Arena on June 23, 2019. (livenation. co.uk/artist/bon-jovi-tickets) ®ÊGUITAR HERO: Jon on stage and, top, with the rest of the band

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