The rock juggernaut Bon Jovi has been around for decades, but not a lot is known about what goes on behind the scenes. Now, the band’s past and present members are opening up in the new Hulu docuseries, Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story, which premieres April 26. The four-part series follows the band through a decade of change and growth — including lead guitarist Richie Sambora’s departure in 2013, bassist Hugh McDonald’s arrival, and drummer Tico Torres’ battle with cancer.
Jon Bongiovi, born in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, started his musical career by learning how to play the accordion, but he quickly moved on to guitar. He was inspired by musicians such as Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton and played in a few bands before forming Bon Jovi in 1983.
Initially, the band was called the Wild Ones. But Bongiovi wanted a name that was more memorable and came up with the idea of Bon Jovi after a trip to Greece. He recorded a demo of their first single, Runaway, at his cousin’s studio in 1980 and it began to get airplay on local radio stations. The band caught the attention of a record producer, Derek Shulman, who changed the group’s name to Bon Jovi and helped them secure their first record deal.
As the band released more music, they shifted away from heavy metal and collaborated with songwriter extraordinaire Desmond Child to create hits such as You Give Love a Bad Name and Livin’ on a Prayer. Bon Jovi continued to find success with their records and toured the world, but the ’90s also saw the band expand into TV and film. They had starring roles in movies such as New Year’s Eve and Cry Wolf and guest starred on television shows such as Ally McBeal.
In the 2000s, the band remained popular and had successful tours. But it was in the 2010s that Bon Jovi really found a foothold as political activists and socially conscious artists. They started donating to charitable causes, creating their own foundation and helping others in need. They also began speaking out on a variety of issues, including homelessness and hunger.
Today, Bon Jovi is still going strong. The band continues to tour and release albums, including their most recent, 2020, which debuted in October of this year. Bon Jovi has also found success in TV and films with starring roles in New Year’s Eve and Pay It Forward and a number of guest appearances on shows such as Sex in the City and 30 Rock. But the biggest accomplishment is their legacy in the music industry, where they are the sole act from the hair-metal era to remain relevant and stay at the top of the charts for so long.