As a teenager in the small-town New Jersey music scene that spawned Bon Jovi, band namesake Jon Bongiovi played in local bands and perfected his stage showmanship. By the time he was 22, he had recorded a demo called Runaway at his cousin’s studio, which got some local radio airplay and helped land gigs opening for acts like Kiss and the Scorpions (per Kids Britannica).
Bon Jovi’s music is influenced by a number of genres, but their blue-collar roots are most evident in their dedication to working class values and their New Jersey loyalty (see Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band). Bands like Van Halen and Aerosmith inspired their hard rock and pop metal sound during the hair metal era, while bands like The Beatles and The Rolling Stones shaped their harmonies and over-the-top performances.
While the first two Bon Jovi albums were minor hits, their third album, Slippery When Wet, was a huge success. It topped the Billboard charts and introduced the band to a wide international audience. It was during this time that they teamed up with producer and manager Derek Shulman, who gave them their big break. He anglicized their name to Bon Jovi and changed their image from a girl-fronted rock band to one with more male members.
After the group’s heyday in the ’80s, Bon Jovi went on to record more hit records and sell out stadium shows around the world. They are known for their dedication to their fans and have a strong presence in social media, with over 3 million followers on Twitter and 2 million Facebook fans. The band also has a large following in Japan, where their songs are frequently ranked on popular music charts.
In the early 2010s, all of the Bon Jovi members pursued solo projects. Sambora released a solo album in 2012, while Such and Torres worked on a number of musical projects, including acting (see Ally McBeal). In 2014, the band recorded What About Now, their first new album in four years.
Drummer Tico Torres began playing drums in 1967 and cites Joe Morello, The Beatles, and Stevie Nicks as influential artists. He was introduced to Bon Jovi drummer Alec John Such by a mutual friend and joined the band in 1983, reports Drummerworld. He has performed with the band through their acclaimed ’80s era and is a favorite of many fans. He has also toured with artists such as Pat Benatar and Chuck Berry.