Bon Jovi is an American rock band from Sayreville, New Jersey, formed in 1983 by frontman Jon Bon Jovi alongside longtime members David Bryan (keyboards), Tico Torres (drums), and guitarists Richie Sambora (until 2013), Phil X, and John Shanks, with bassist Hugh McDonald. Their blend of hard rock, glam metal, arena rock, and pop-rock propelled them to international fame.
They debuted with the single “Runaway” in 1984 and achieved global success with their third album Slippery When Wet (1986), featuring iconic tracks like “You Give Love a Bad Name,” “Wanted Dead or Alive,” and “Livin’ on a Prayer.” The latter topped the Billboard Hot 100 for 14 weeks, becoming one of the most iconic rock anthems of the 1980s. Hits continued with New Jersey (1988), Keep the Faith (1992), and a resurgence in 2000 with Crush and the anthem “It’s My Life,” along with the country crossover “Who Says You Can’t Go Home,” which earned them a Grammy.
Bon Jovi has released 16 studio albums, sold over 130 million records worldwide, and performed more than 2,600 concerts across 50 countries. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018, they released their 16th album Forever in 2024 after Jon recovered from vocal surgery. The band’s journey and enduring friendship are chronicled in the Hulu docuseries Thank You, Goodnight.
