The American rock band Bon Jovi has released 15 studio albums, five live albums and three compilations and sold over 100 million records worldwide. Their best-known hits include You Give Love A Bad Name, Slippery When Wet and Livin’ on a Prayer. The band is one of the most successful rock bands of all time. The band was founded in 1983 in Sayreville, New Jersey. The band is currently made up of Jon Bon Jovi as the lead vocalist, David Bryan as the keyboardist, Tico Torres as the drummer and bassist Hugh McDonald. Original guitarist Richie Sambora left the band in 2013 and was replaced by Phil X.
The film Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story, which is currently streaming on Hulu, tells the story of the band. The documentary features interviews with the members of the band, as well as many of their past and current managers, label reps and producers. It also features archival footage and live performances. The film focuses on the band’s rise to success and the highs and lows of their career.
Jon Bon Jovi, his big rock barnet now in that grey area between “still got it” and “yer nan’s had her hair done”, still has the voice, but the years of relentless touring have taken their toll. Despite endless rounds of vocal exercises and humidifiers, he can’t sing like he used to. Those reckless key changes in Livin’ on a Prayer have taken their toll on his overworked larynx.
While the show focuses on the band, it is definitely Jon’s story. It’s clear that he created the band, set its direction and sound, and kept it focused on achieving success. He makes all of the decisions about personnel and is clearly the de facto CEO of the enterprise. He’s even the band’s chief archivist, seen cataloging a stack of cassette tape demos in the first episode.
It’s a shame that the documentary doesn’t devote more energy to placing Bon Jovi in a larger cultural context. There are a few fleeting sketches of the working class New Jersey scene that gave rise to Bruce Springsteen and that influenced Bon Jovi’s style, and there is some interesting discussion about how the band was able to transcend their metal-tinged roots and appeal to a broader audience.