BACK in 1994, a group of friends from Crewe, Nantwich and Dudley formed a small band and called themselves - By Jovi.

Needless to say, they weren't a tribute act for The Rolling Stones.

Now, more than two decades on, a Worcestershire audience can say By Jove to By Jovi and go on a Bon Jovi nostalgia rock-fest down ol' Memory Lane.

A spokesman for By Jovi, now wisely re-named, The Bon Jovi Experience, said: "They are still the best of friends yet had no idea all those years ago that they would become the number one Bon Jovi tribute band in the world, endorsed by Jon Bon Jovi himself: The Bon Jovi Experience."

Tony Pearce, who is still very much the face of the band, has actually performed with Bon Jovi himself, and so has his band.

The spokesman added: "It was at The Hard Rock Cafe in London, and Jon Bon Jovi had asked the band personally to appear at the official fan club event during his well deserved induction into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame.

"Together they performed 'Who Says Ya can't Go Home' to a sell out crowd."

Jon had apparently known about the band for many years, even the name change, and The Bon Jovi Experience had been chosen over and above every other Bon Jovi Tribute band in the world to appear that night.

Tony Pearce said: “Amazing doesn't really cover it. I sat in the dressing room after the show and pinched myself and asking. did that just really happen. Did we just perform with Jon Bon Jovi?"

The Bon Jovi Experience will be playing at Huntingdon Hall on April 29.

Tickets and further details on, 01905 611427.