Bon Jovi is an American rock band from New Jersey, formed in 1983. The band consists of vocalist Jon Bon Jovi, keyboardist David Bryan, bassist Hugh McDonald, guitarist Phil X, and drummer Tico Torres. Over the years, the band’s lineup remained virtually unchanged, only in 1994, bassist Alec John Sach left them and was replaced by Hugh MacDonald. In 2013, guitarist Richie Sambora left the band. In 2016 Hugh McDonald and Phil X became full members of the band. The album Slippery When Wet (1986) contributed to Bon Jovi’s worldwide popularity. In 1990, after heavy touring and a large number of hits, the band suspended activity; at the same time, Jon Bon Jovi and Sambora each released a solo album. In 1992, the album Keep the Faith was released. Their 2000 song “It’s My Life” was able to appeal to a younger audience. Bon Jovi used different styles in their music: for example, the album Lost Highway (2007) included elements of country music. The band’s latest release to date, This House Is Not for Sale, was released on November 4, 2016.
Bon Jovi have released 13 studio albums, six compilations, and two live albums. In total, their albums have sold 130 million copies. They have played more than 2,600 concerts in 50 countries to audiences of 34 million and were inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2006. In 2004, the band won a music achievement award at the American Music Awards, and in 2009, Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora were inducted into the Composers Hall of Fame.
Bon Jovi Facts and Quotes
The band’s story began when John Bon Jovi started playing guitar in local bands at age 13. Life in the working suburbs of New York City left a mark on the young musician – he really wanted to create his own band and record his own songs.
John worked very hard not only on the music, but also on finding a better cut for his future band. He started by getting a job at Power Station Studios in New York. The jobs were very varied – John drove to the laundromat, bought hamburgers and donuts, swept the floor, drove the recording tapes, and made coffee. That’s how he carved out a place to record his own songs.
At local clubs, John would hang out till morning: he had to win over the local crowd. One day Bon Jovi auditioned for his first Atlantic City Expressway band. A high school keyboardist, David Bryan, showed up there.
In 1982, the first demo recording of the song Runaway appears, which would later appear on Bon Jovi’s 1984 debut album. And then it made its way on the radio station WAPP 103.5 FM. What followed was a chain reaction. New York radio stations grabbed hold of the song, and the rotation took on more serious proportions.