From the moment Bon Jovi’s first hit, “Runaway,” topped the charts in 1982, the New Jersey-based band has become synonymous with all-American rock music. The group’s legacy has been forged by the sound of their iconic songs and the power of their concerts, which have toured the globe countless times over the years. With 14 studio albums, five compilations and three live recordings to their name, the band is one of the most successful American rock groups in history.
While the band has had its ups and downs through the decades, one of the most tumultuous chapters in its long history came with the departure of guitarist Richie Sambora in 2013. That fateful day is chronicled in the four-part Hulu series Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story (now streaming). The show pulls back the curtain on the legendary group’s three decades together. Throughout the series, frontman Jon Bon Jovi opens up about Sambora’s absence like never before and reveals the tumult that led to his abrupt exit in 2013.
Bon Jovi originally consisted of drummer Tico Torres, bassist Alec John Such, keyboardist David Bryan and lead guitarist Robbie Duvall. While they were still in high school, they formed their first band, Steel Panther, and recorded demos at the Manhattan recording facility Power Station Studios where Jon’s cousin Tony was co-owner. The group’s first album, Bon Jovi, was released in 1984. Jon was the band’s most recognizable member, and his voice and stage presence helped them gain a following in the early ’80s.
By the ’90s, the group had grown more mature and started to incorporate more songs that reflected realities of life into their repertoire. Although they had plenty of party anthems, their commercially successful albums, Cross Road and These Days, also had a darker sound that broadened their artistic style.
With the release of Crush in 2000, the band shifted again to a more pop and adult contemporary sound. While some fans were taken aback by the change in image, it was a necessary move to stay relevant in the music industry. By the end of the decade, Bon Jovi was a household name and had expanded their audience to include a younger generation of music fans.
After Sambora’s departure in 2013, the band’s remaining members, namely frontman Jon Bon Jovi, drummer Tico Torres, keyboardist David Bryan, percussionist Everett Bradley, guitarist Phil X and bassist Hugh McDonald, continued to record and tour with great success. They were inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2006 and the U.S. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018.
The band’s current lineup continues to work hard for their fans. Their new album, Forever, was released in June of 2024 and features the single “Legendary.” Bon Jovi is currently on a world tour, which will run through October of this year. The group has been working on a follow-up to 2020, and are expected to drop another studio album later this year.