The numbers speak for themselves. New Jersey rock band Bon Jovi have sold over 40 million albums in the US and over 120 million worldwide. Since their debut album in 1984, the group has released 8 top 10 albums and 10 top 10 pop singles including 4 #1's. Nearly 25 years after formation, Bon Jovi carries on with the same 4 core band members as they had in the beginning. They have earned a place as one of the top American pop-rock bands of all time.
Band Formation
Jon Bon Jovi first began putting together rock groups at the young age of 13. However, it wasn't until he was out of school, age 21, in 1983 that circumstances dictated he had to put together a group quickly. Jon Bon Jovi had been shopping around demo tapes of his own work when a recording of one of his songs, "Runaway," caught the ear of record label scouts. Suddenly, Jon Bon Jovi needed to put together a band.
By late 1983 the group christened "Bon Jovi," after a respelling of Jon's original last name Bongiovi, was signed and ready to record. Their first, self-titled, album landed in record stores in January, 1984. The album went gold and the band found themselves performing on American Bandstand.
Band Members
- Jon Bon Jovi - Lead vocals, rhythm guitar
- Richie Sambora - Lead and rhythm guitars
- David Bryan - Keyboards
- Tico Torres - Drums
- Alec John Such - Bass - 1983-1994
- Hugh McDonald - Bass - 1994-Present
- Bobby Bandiera - Rhythm guitar - 2004-Present
Jon Bon Jovi
Photo by Scott Gries / Getty ImagesRichie Sambora
Photo by Amy Sussman / Getty ImagesDavid Bryan
Photo by Amy Sussman / Getty ImagesBon Jovi keyboardist David Bryan was born David Bryan Rashbaum on February 7, 1962. He dropped out of college to attend Juilliard, the famed New York music school. David Bryan has released 3 solo albums, Netherworld in 1991, On a Full Moon in 1994, and Lunar Eclipse in 2000. He is also the author of a successful off-Broadway musical, Memphis.
Tico Torres
Photo by Amy Sussman / Getty ImagesBorn on October 7, 1953 of Cuban-Italian descent, Tico Torres was already an accomplished musician before joining the group Bon Jovi. He was a veteran studio musician that had played on 26 albums by artists ranging from Pat Benatar to Stevie Nicks. Tico Torres is also a successful visual artist. He has been displaying his paintings since 1994.
Top Bon Jovi Albums
© Mercury Records- 1986 - Slippery When Wet - #1
- 1988 - New Jersey - #1
- 1992 - Keep the Faith - #5
- 2002 - Bounce - #2
- 2005 - Have a Nice Day - #2
Top Bon Jovi Singles
- 1986 - You Give Love a Bad Name - #1
- 1986 - Wanted Dead or Alive - #7
- 1987 - Livin' On a Prayer - #1
- 1988 - Bad Medicine - #1
- 1988 - Born to Be My Baby - #3
- 1989 - I'll Be There for You - #1
- 1989 - Lay Your Hands on Me - #7
- 1994 - Always - #4
The Future for Bon Jovi
In May, 2006, Bon Jovi became the first rock band to hit #1 on the US country singles chart. The song was "Who Says You Can't Go Home," a duet with singer Jennifer Nettles from the band Sugarland. Following this success, the band considered recording an entire country album. Instead they put together Lost Highway, released in June, 2007. In the words of Jon Bon Jovi, it is an album "influenced by Nashville."
The band received significant positive exposure on the 2007 version of American Idol. Jon Bon Jovi was widely recognized as the most successful celebrity coach on the show during the season, and Blake Lewis' performance of Bon Jovi's "You Give Love a Bad Name" was considered an instant classic.
