Jon Bon Jovi is a multi-platinum selling rocker, actor and philanthropist. His solid songcraft has helped him amass an arsenal of All-American songs that have captivated audiences around the globe. He has sold over 120 million records worldwide and has charted seven number one singles and countless Top Ten hits. He also has a successful charity foundation that helps break the cycle of poverty through innovative community efforts.
Born John Francis Bongiovi Jr in Perth Amboy, New Jersey on March 2, 1962, he was surrounded by music and the arts from an early age. He began singing in local bands and performing at clubs by his early teens. He met keyboardist David Bryan and drummer Tico Torres while in high school and formed a band called Atlantic City Expressway with them. After their first release, Runaway, gained some traction on local radio, Jon realized that they would need more than session musicians to sustain a full-time career as a band. He enlisted the help of guitarist Richie Sambora and vocalist Desmond Child, and the band was launched to international fame with their third album, Slippery When Wet.
The anthem for a generation, this evocative power ballad is the antithesis to the band’s glam metal sound of their earlier albums. Its lyrics reference grueling road life and the need to keep on moving, which is a theme that runs throughout all of Bon Jovi’s work. Its emotive power and catchy melody made it a hit and a live favourite.
Part of the soundtrack to the 1989 movie Blaze of Glory, this country rock tune is a great showcase for Sambora’s voice and his distinctive guitar tone. It’s one of the few Bon Jovi songs to make it into the Billboard top five and has a very catchy chorus that you can’t help but sing along with.
Undoubtedly the greatest track that the band ever released, this multi-generational anthem is the ultimate Bon Jovi classic. It’s impossible to not feel energized by the infectious chorus and it is definitely one of those songs that gets you singing, no matter what your age. It’s a song that will always be remembered and one of the most iconic of the 1980s.
The band’s first number one hit, this ballad is an ode to those who are lost in the darkness of addiction. It was the first of Bon Jovi’s more mature output that signalled a move away from their stadium rock anthems, and its poignancy has made it a fan favourite. It’s an empowering track that will stay with you long after the song has finished playing. It has even been covered by artists like Snoop Dogg and Courtney Love.