Bon Jovi are one of the most popular rock bands in history. They defined the rock anthems of the 1980s, capturing audiences with energetic guitar riffs and emotionally charged power ballads. The band has stayed relevant into the 21st century, changing their sound but keeping it hard-rock rooted.
Jon Bon Jovi began writing songs in his teenage years, and by the time he was 20, he had formed a full-fledged band with singer David Bryan. They recorded a demo tape featuring studio musicians, and when local radio stations began to play Runaway, Bon Jovi knew they had something special. The band began to open for bigger acts, and soon the word was out. By 1983, they were touring nationally, and that’s when they caught the attention of record executive Derek Shulman.
The band’s next album was New Jersey, which included the singles Love Is a Song and Living in Sin. The album reached Number 1 in the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Bon Jovi followed that up with New Jersey II in 1987, whose lead single, You Give Love a Bad Name, made them even more famous. They continued to tour and produce more hits with New Jersey III in 1988, and New Jersey IV in 1989. In 1994, the band released a compilation album called Cross Road, which featured two new songs. That same year, the band also released These Days, another major hit in both the U.S and Europe.
Bon Jovi remained successful in the ’90s, but their albums didn’t reach the heights of their late-’80s success. They did release two more studio albums, Keep the Faith and Bounce, and had a string of Top Ten singles including Livin’ on a Prayer and It’s My Life. In addition to their music, Bon Jovi has become a philanthropist, co-owning an arena football team and founding the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation non-profit that helps fight hunger in the United States. They have also launched a line of rose wine, Diving into Hampton Water, with their son, Jesse.
Over the years, the band has released a few more albums, including Lost Highway in 2007, The Circle (2009), and Burning Bridges (2015). Bon Jovi has toured all over the world and has sold more than 100 million albums. They continue to be a top act in concert, and their music continues to inspire millions of people around the world. They have been awarded multiple RIAA platinum and gold records. In 2018, the band received the Billboard Music Award for Longevity. It is their ninth nomination for this category. In addition, the band has won many other awards and has been nominated for several Grammys over the years. Their first nomination for Best Selling Rock Artist was in 1997, and they won in 1999. The band is still going strong today, and they have a few more projects in the works. They have a movie and a documentary on the way, and they are planning to record a new album.