Bon Jovi's Sambora Says Olympic Gig Is 'Significant' To Band's Image

SALT LAKE CITY (Top40 Charts) - Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora is pleased with the group's inclusion at the closing ceremonies at the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City on February 24, where the band will perform along with *NSYNC and Christina Aguilera.

He tells that their participation suggests that American audiences have come around to Bon Jovi in a way that the rest of the world did some time ago. "We've been in the consciousness, the world consciousness and the global consciousness, for a long time as an American rock 'n' roll band," he says. "Now it's starting to come around in America, so I do think it's quite significant. The band and I are very, very proud that we're getting asked to do all these things now, like we are a perennial American artist, you know? And that feels really, really good. I guess we've sold enough records - 92 million records now or something like that - where it becomes relevant."

The event will also include performances by Harry Connick Jr., Charlotte Church, and Josh Groban. Tickets range from $320-$885. They are available from 1-800-Tickets or at saltlake2002.com.