Bon Jovi is an American rock band, formed in Sayreville, New Jersey, in 1983. The band features singer Jon Bon Jovi, keyboardist David Bryan, drummer Tico Torres, guitarist Phil X, and bassist Hugh McDonald. They’ve garnered worldwide attention with hits like “Say It With a Song” and “The Chain” and have played stadiums and arenas around the world.
The band’s sound grew in complexity as the band evolved. They grew tired of arena-rock guitars and shifted their sound towards ballads and melody. Nonetheless, they never really rejected hard rock altogether, but incorporated elements of country music and soft rock to keep their popularity alive. They’ve stayed relevant, and their popularity continues to increase. Although they don’t plan on changing their sound anytime soon, their enduring influence can’t be denied.
The third album by Bon Jovi catapulted the band to international prominence. This record spawned three #1 hits, including “Slippery When Wet.” The album was written by Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora, and features a full production sound that included classic 80s reverb on the snare drum. But the song doesn’t have any obvious political message. Instead, Bon Jovi’s appeal lays in its enduring popularity with a large audience.
Bon Jovi’s sixth studio album, These Days, was released at the height of the group’s European tour. It reached number one in the UK, where it spent four weeks at the top. It was also successful in other countries. The band’s first single, “This Ain’t a Love Song,” became a top-ten hit, and went on to become a favorite with music lovers. And with his success, the band continues to inspire millions of fans worldwide.
The band members had several side projects in the early 2000s. Richie Sambora released a solo album in 2012, “Aftermath of the Lowdown” and “Inside Out” was a video of Bon Jovi’s live performances at London’s O2 Arena and the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Bon Jovi reformed in 2013 with their eighth studio album, “What About Now.” Like “The Circle,” the album peaked at number one on the Billboard Top 200. It also charted in Australia, Canada, and the U.K.
The band has released nine studio albums since 1981. In 1985, they released their first live album, “This House Is Not For Sale,” and in 2004 they performed at the Concert for New York at Madison Square Garden following the 9/11 attacks. The band has sold more than 100 million records worldwide and performed over two thousand shows in fifty countries. They have been recognized by the UK Music Hall of Fame and inducted into the US Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018.
Slippery When Wet was a smash hit in the U.S. and led to the emergence of pop-metal. The band’s hit singles “You Give Love a Bad Name,” “Livin’ on a Prayer,” and “Wanted Dead or Alive” all helped the album to sell more than nine million copies. In addition, Bon Jovi became a household name in their native Canada, Japan, and Australia.