Bon Jovi is one of the most popular American rock bands in history. The group has sold more than 120 million albums worldwide. The band rose to fame in the 1980s with a style of hard rock that incorporated energetic guitar riffs and power ballads. In 2009, Bon Jovi was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Jon Bon Jovi grew up in Brooklyn, New York City, and spent his youth playing music. He played local showcases, open mic nights and backyard barbecues. He was influenced by the guitarists who surrounded him, including Jeff Beck and Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page. When high school ended, many of his peers headed off to college or the military, but Bon Jovi decided to stick with his dream and form a band.
By 1984, he had put together a four-piece band and started performing regularly. They recorded a demo and sent it out to radio stations, which led to some gigs opening for bigger acts. As the group honed their craft, they began writing original tunes and cutting their teeth as a live act.
In 1986, Bon Jovi released their third album, Slippery When Wet. The record was a commercial smash, generating three Top Ten hits with “You Give Love a Bad Name,” “Wanted Dead or Alive” and “Livin’ on a Prayer.” The band’s popularity exploded. The band was soon selling out concerts in arenas and stadiums around the world.
Following the success of Slippery When Wet, Bon Jovi returned to the studio to record Keep the Faith in 1992. The album was less successful than its predecessors, but produced a hit with the adult contemporary-styled “Bed of Roses.” Bon Jovi released a greatest hits compilation called Cross Road in 1994 and a live album for video called Inside Out, which reached number one on the Billboard charts in the U.S. and was a success overseas as well.
After a hiatus in 2000, Bon Jovi released Come Back to Paradise in 2002, an album that featured several strong ballads, including the hit “When Love Is Gone.” The album was followed by 2003’s Have a Nice Day, which also went platinum. The band’s popularity remained strong throughout the decade, and they continued to sell out concerts.
In 2004, the band released One More Day, an album that included a duet with country star Faith Hill. The album was a modest hit, but it set the stage for the band’s 2005-2006 worldwide Have a Nice Day Tour, which grossed $191 million.
Despite his massive success, Bon Jovi remains grounded and keeps family first. He has written songs for several movies and TV shows, including the hit Al Pacino film Stand Up Guys. He has also donated money to charity and has built community restaurants and a food bank in his native New Jersey. During his spare time, Bon Jovi enjoys golfing and riding his motorcycle. He and his wife, Dorothee, have two children, Stephanie and Danielle.