Bon Jovi is an American rock band that has become a worldwide hit in the 1980s and continues to be a successful act into the 21st century. The group’s energetic guitar riffs and emotional power ballads have made them an inescapable part of the music landscape. The band was formed in Sayreville, New Jersey, in 1983 and is led by Jon Bon Jovi and includes the members Richie Sambora, David Bryan, Tico Torres, and Alec John Such (later replaced by Hugh McDonald). The band has sold over 120 million albums worldwide.
Bon Jovi was an arena-ready hard rock band with a sound that took influence from contemporary arena-ready bands such as Aerosmith and Deep Purple. Their first two albums were moderately successful, but with the release of Slippery When Wet and New Jersey, Bon Jovi really took off. The songs You Give Love a Bad Name, Wanted Dead or Alive and Livin’ on a Prayer established the band as one of the premier rock acts of the 1980s.
The band’s success continued into the 1990s as they kept releasing new material, including their ninth album The Circle in 1996 and its first number one single, Always. Bon Jovi stayed relevant by incorporating more of a pop sound into their music and they were also able to stay away from the grunge era by focusing on their fans and staying true to themselves.
During the 2010s, Bon Jovi continued to put out great music and they released their fifteenth album in 2020. The record features some slower songs that allow the band to showcase their ability to still deliver power ballads, but it also addresses real-life issues such as gun control and the coronavirus crisis. The album also includes a cover of the Rolling Stones’ classic “You Can’t Always Get What You Want.”
As the years went on, Bon Jovi kept up with the times by adjusting their sound and style to appeal to a younger audience. The band’s popularity has remained strong, as they continue to tour and release new music. It is not uncommon for Bon Jovi to sell out stadiums and arenas across the world. Jon Bon Jovi’s voice is as powerful as ever and his chemistry with Richie Sambora on the guitar makes for a perfect match. The band’s legacy is one that will last for many decades to come and they will likely remain one of the most popular bands in rock history. Their timeless music and powerful lyrics have touched many lives.