Originally comprised of Garden State natives, frontman Jon Bon Jovi, keyboard and backing vocalist David Bryan, drummer Tico Torres, lead guitarists Richie Sambora, and bassist Alec John Such, the group has remained a fairly solid lineup since its formation. The band began playing around New Jersey, opening for touring bands, which is how they caught the attention of record executive Derek Shulman. He subsequently signed Bon Jovi to Mercury Records and released their debut, self-titled album in January 1984. Peaking at No. 43 on the Billboard 200, the record introduced the band’s huge, dramatic and heavy guitar-driven sound, which resulted in the band opening for the Scorpions in the U.S. and Kiss in Europe.
After a disappointing second album “7800° Farenheit” was released in 1985, Bon Jovi issued their breakthrough album “Slippery When Wet” in August 1986. Holding the top spot of the Billboard 200 for a remarkable eight weeks, the record was led by the No. 1 knockout singles “You Give Love a Bad Name” and “Livin’ on a Prayer”, turning the group into household names the world over. The group’s 130-show supporting tour became a huge success and earned the band nearly $30,000,000. Building on this success Bon Jovi’s fourth, “New Jersey” once again found the top of the charts aided by the No. 1 singles “Bad Medicine” and “I’ll Be There for You”. With a reputation as one of the best and most intense touring bands in the world, Bon Jovi set off on a 232 show tour which included a show in the Soviet Union.
The constant cycle of recording and touring began to take its toll on the group and in 1990 Bon Jovi took a hiatus to focus on family and individual pursuits. After a conversation about the longevity of the group in St. Thomas, the members agreed to start making a new album. That new album proved to be “Keep the Faith” released in November 1992. Marked by its mature, thoughtful lyrics, the album was succeeded by the compilation “Cross Road”, which featured the band’s most successful single to date, “Always”. Bassist Alec John Such was subsequently fired from the band and unofficially replaced by Hugh McDonald.
Following another huge worldwide tour, Bon Jovi issued their sixth album “These Days” in 1995, followed by “Crush” in 2000, and “Bounce” in 2002. In 2003 the band reworked a number of their biggest hits and compiled them onto the studio album “This Left Feels Right” in November. Prior to the arrival of their 10th studio album, “Have a Nice Day” in 2005, Bon Jovi was bestowed with the Award for Merit at the American Music Awards in 2003. Playing to nearly two million fans the world over, the “Have a Nice Day” Tour grossed nearly $200 million, following close behind successful tour by The Rolling Stones and Madonna.
The full-length “Lost Highway” followed in June 2007, led by the singles “(You Want to) Make a Memory” and “Lost Highway”. Following the subsequent tour, Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora were inducted into the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame in 2009, the same year they released their 12th studio album, “The Circle”.
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