Bon Jovi to play Vancouver after cancellation

TORONTO (AP) -- Jon Bon Jovi announced that he will perform in Vancouver this weekend, after his show was initially cancelled when the concert's promoter went bankrupt.

Bon Jovi was determined to find a way to perform in the city after promoter Paper Rain filed for bankruptcy, he said Thursday in a statement by his touring company.

The New Jersey rocker has something of a following in Canada. Two years ago, Bon Jovi's band was the first inducted into Toronto's Air Canada Centre Hall of Fame after playing a record 17 shows there since the arena opened in 1999. His band has played almost 30 times at various other venues in Canada's largest city.

Last year, Bon Jovi kindled hopes that Canada could get its first NFL team when he joined with Toronto's Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment to buy the Buffalo Bills, an effort that failed.

In Vancouver, the city said earlier this week that promoter Paper Rain did not have the required permits for Bon Jovi to perform at Stanley Park.

Instead, Bon Jovi is now slated to play Rogers Arena on Saturday with Kings of Suburbia, a New Jersey band that backs the singer for his solo shows.

"Through it all, it has been Jon's main concern that he find a way to make good on the promoter's failed attempt to put on the show," said a statement by Bon Jovi Tours Inc. "Vancouver is a special city for Jon, who recorded three albums and (has) given countless performances here....Jon has always been willing, able and excited to perform on Saturday - now it's real."

Saturday's show is scheduled a day after Bon Jovi's band planned to release an album called "Burning Bridges," the first without guitarist Richie Sambora.

(© 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed)