Bon Jovi announces N. American tour

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J., Oct. 22 (UPI) -- The rock 'n' roll band Bon Jovi has announced plans for a North American concert tour to begin in May in its native New Jersey.

The rockers made the announcement at New Jersey's New Meadowlands Stadium during a concert and media event Thursday.

Band members Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, David Bryan and Tico Torres performed a set for a select group of 5,000 contest winners, fan club members and on-site construction workers building the new stadium. It was there the group announced it is preparing to spend nearly two years spanning the globe on The Circle World Tour, which is to start at the stadium May 26-27. Bon Jovi said it expects to perform 135 shows in 30 countries.

"It is often said that the third time is a charm, and in the case of the Bon Jovi/AEG Live relationship, this axiom certainly holds," Randy Phillips, president and chief executive officer of AEG Live, said in a statement. "AEG Live has been honored to serve as the band's worldwide tour promoters, from the 2005 'Have A Nice Day' tour to the highest grossing tour of 2008, 'Lost Highway,' to the upcoming 'The Circle World Tour' in 2010. Bon Jovi is one of the most prolific and exciting live rock bands in the world."