Bon jovi supported by royal docks band

By Rob Virtue on July 2, 2008 1:27 PM |

Tagged with:

UNTIL last week, Ivyrise’s biggest gig had been in front of a crowd of 1,000 people.

So warming up more than 40,000 screaming fans while they were waiting for legendary rock act Bon Jovi to appear was a bit of a step up.

It came just a couple of days after Ivyrise were told they had won a competition to perform at the show at Twickenham on Saturday night, but the band from the Royal Victoria Dock rose to the occasion.

Ivyrise frontman Ben Falinski, 23, said: “It was pretty surreal, but it went great. As far as the technical side went it was all to plan.

“The crowd were great and got behind us and we’ve had lots of messages of support since Saturday.�?

The band, which also includes guitarist Paul “Cro�? Cronin, drummer Liam Maison and bassist Oliver Patterson, were first on before The Feeling and then the main act.

Not all of the 60,000 crowd had arrived by the time Ivyrise got on stage, but they were at least 40,000 who saw their performance.

Ben said: “I openly admit I always get nervous before going on stage, but this time you could say it was a bit different. Certainly like nothing I’ve experienced.

“We had a team talk before, a few high-fives and back slapping. Then as soon as it kicked off the nerves went.

“When we finished up we looked at each other and were really pleased. We just wanted to stay out there.�?

Delighted at having performed their biggest gig, they then received some words of encouragement from Bon Jovi.

Ben said: “We met them 10 minutes before they went on stage. We came out of our room and their tour manager ushered us over to them.

“Jon Bon Jovi came up to me, Richie Sambora came up to Cro.

“They said they really enjoyed the show and asked what it felt like out there. We said we were buzzing and wished them luck.

“They then disappeared to go on stage and we heard a huge noise erupt.�?

Ben entered Ivyrise into the-londonpaper competition for a chance to support Bon Jovi a week before the event. Later that week found out they were shortlisted for the final 20.

The band, who began four years ago after Ben met Cro at university, were told last Thursday that they had edged the public vote.

That rounded off a whirlwind 12 months for the band, who last year were signed by Stage Records to release two singles, the first of which got to number seven in the indie chart.

The second, called Disguise, is out in September, coinciding with a UK tour.