Bon Jovi — Cumberland County Civic Center, Portland, 1985

On October 8, 1985, Bon Jovi played the Cumberland County Civic Center in Portland, Maine, during the ‘7800° Fahrenheit’ tour. At this point the New Jersey band had not yet detonated with ‘Slippery When Wet’ (1986) and was touring behind its first two albums in front of arena crowds. This filmed full concert is a compact seven-song set that opens with ‘Tokyo Road’ and ‘Breakout,’ moves through the ballads ‘Only Lonely’ and ‘In and Out of Love,’ then delivers the early classic ‘Runaway,’ a cover of Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes’ ‘I Don’t Want to Go Home,’ and ‘Get Ready.’ The performance features the classic lineup: Jon Bon Jovi on vocals, Richie Sambora on guitar, David Bryan on keyboards, Alec John Such on bass and Tico Torres on drums. The show captures a rising Bon Jovi built on melodic hard rock and club-level energy, only months before global stardom. Filmed live in Portland in 1985, this document is a valuable window into the band’s early touring years in a Maine venue, at a pivotal moment in their career.