Notre Dame Marching Band Performs Tribute To Bon Jovi

The marching band performed hits like ‘Livin’ on a Prayer’ before the New Jersey rocker guest-conducted a rendition of the school’s victory march.

On Saturday, November 9, the Notre Dame marching band performed a Bon Jovi tribute at halftime. The titular New Jersey rocker was present at the Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana to witness the Fighting Irish play Florida State.

Jon Bon Jovi stood fieldside and watched the band perform renditions of “It’s My Life,” “You Give Love a Bad Name,” and “Livin’ on a Prayer.” Then, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee guest-conducted a performance of the Notre Dame Victory March.

Jon Bon Jovi on field before Notre Dame's big win over Florida State

“Yo, Jon Bon Jovi here on the field!” he said in a video shared by Fighting Irish football. “Notre Dame football – what could be better?”

Jon Bon Jovi and Notre Dame have a longstanding relationship. His son, Jesse Bongiovi, made the team as a walk-on defensive back, and the rocker has been a big supporter of the team. In May, Bon Jovi teamed up with the University of Notre Dame for a special edition vinyl of the band’s 2024 album Forever, which was led by the single “Legendary.” The limited-edition vinyl featured Fighting Irish-inspired design elements. “I have been a longtime fan of Notre Dame and have many incredible memories on campus supporting the Fighting Irish with our family,” Bon Jovi said.

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In April, Hulu released the docu-series Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story. The four episodes cover Bon Jovi’s rise to superstardom, as well as the vocal troubles that have plagued the band’s frontman in recent years.

Earlier this year, Bon Jovi reissued its classic compilation album, Greatest Hits, on 2LP vinyl. Originally released in 2010, the album made the Top 5 of the Billboard 200 in addition to capturing No.1 on the U.S. Top Rock Albums Chart and the U.S. Top Hard Rock Albums Chart. That album includes a number of the band’s hits, including “Livin’ on a Prayer,” which was recently Diamond-Certified by the RIAA nearly 40 years after its initial release, marking the band’s first song to achieve the milestone.