Bon Jovi, the most popular rock band in the world with over 120 million albums sold, has been going strong for almost five decades. Its members, including the legendary Jon Bongiovi, have spawned solo projects, launched charitable endeavors and even dabbled in the nitty-gritty of professional sports (the group co-owned Arena Football League’s Philadelphia Soul).
But a tour in 2022 brought their career to an abrupt halt when Sambora’s vocal cord began atrophy and forced him to have surgery. Now, two years later, the New Jersey rockers are still recovering and unsure if they’ll ever be able to resume a schedule that saw them performing two and a half hours a night, four nights a week. Their recovery is the subject of a new four-part docuseries, Thank You, Goodnight.
The band was formed in 1983, and while it has gone through several personnel changes over the years (including the departure of longtime guitarist Richie Sambora in 2013), its core is the same: Bon Jovi is led by Jon Bongiovi on vocals and guitar, singer David Bryan on bass, drummer Tico Torres and keyboardist Phil X.
A longtime survivor of the AIDS epidemic, the band also is known for giving a hand up to struggling musicians and other community members through its Bon Jovi Foundation. The foundation supports “innovative efforts to break the cycle of poverty, homelessness and hopelessness.”
Despite their success, the band has never been one for resting on its laurels. Bon Jovi has responded to musical trends — from 90s alternative to dance club sounds to country — and their hits have influenced pop-rockers like the Goo Goo Dolls.
They’ve even ventured into acting, with Bongiovi starring on shows such as Sex and the City and Ally McBeal, and the band’s music has been featured in more than 40 movies.
It’s this sense of responsibility to the community that has set Bon Jovi apart from many of its rock-star peers. The 59-year-old married his high school sweetheart, Dorothea Hurley, in 1989, and they have four children, Stephanie, Jesse, Jacob and Romeo Jon. In addition to philanthropic activities, the couple has started an art gallery and their own private sanctuary in Florida.
With his famous heartthrob grin and shock of white hair, Bon Jovi exudes warmth and infectious energy. But there’s a hint of melancholy, too — perhaps the result of a lifetime of singing through pain. “I’ve been in this business for a while, so I’ve heard my fair share of bad news,” he says. “You learn to accept it.” “Life is fragile. And I’m grateful for that.” — Jon Bon Jovi, from the Netflix series Thank You, Goodnight.