Bon jovi is one of the most popular American rock bands of all time. They have sold more than 130 million albums worldwide. They are a staple in rock music and have been honored with several awards throughout their career. The band has been active since the early 1980s and continues to tour to this day.
In a world of pop-metal posers, the enduring juggernaut from New Jersey has managed to transcend the big hair and the cheesy glitz to become an icon of the rock scene. Their 1986 blockbuster Slippery When Wet and its megahit singles You Give Love A Bad Name, Wanted Dead or Alive, and Livin’ on a Prayer became the soundtrack of the 1980s. But Bon Jovi forged their own path by taking control of the marketing, sticking to their roots, and telling stories that touched people.
When high school ended, most of Jon Bongiovi’s classmates went on to college or found factory jobs, but he stayed with the music. He began writing his own tunes and assembling a group to perform at little showcases, as an opening act for bigger bands, or just entertaining friends at backyard barbeques. He penned a song called Runaway that got some attention, but no major labels showed any interest. So he decided to do some direct lobbying of “the loneliest man in the record business,” the radio DJ. He walked into a station in New York City so new that it didn’t even have a receptionist, but he managed to schmooze the DJ and get his song aired.
The success of Runaway spurred a bidding war for the group, and Bon Jovi (still Jon Bongiovi at that point) signed with Polygram/Mercury in 1983. He replaced guitarist Tico Torres with Richie Sambora, who had been a working musician.
During their heyday, Bon Jovi was one of the top-selling American bands in the world, with the chart-topping albums New Jersey, Slippery When Wet, and Keep the Faith as well as the inescapable singles You Give Love a Bad Name, Wanted Dead or Alive, Never Say Goodbye, and Livin’ on a Prayer. The band also toured extensively, selling out stadiums worldwide.
In the ’90s, the band continued to put out studio albums, and their acoustic album This Left Feels Right and MTV Unplugged appearance both proved popular. Bon Jovi stretched their musical horizons, combining their usual hard rock with confessional adult contemporary and reflective country music.
In 2005-2006, the band embarked on their Have a Nice Day world tour. The show was a great success, and the band is still performing to this day. The band is currently promoting their new album, Unbroken. The band has also branched out into film composing with songs for the Al Pacino movie Stand Up Guys. Jon Bon Jovi and his family live in New Jersey, where he owns a restaurant. He has four children, including son Romeo Jon. He and his wife, Dorothea Hurley, have been married for 30 years.