BON JOVI ALBUM PROFESSIONAL

Their fame was not limited to the U.S., though, as the album also turned into a significant hit in Europe, Canada, Japan, and Australia.īon Jovi built upon Slippery When Wet's formula with 1988's New Jersey, which shot to number one upon its release. alone, establishing Bon Jovi as superstars in their home country. Supported by several appealing, straightforward videos that received heavy rotation on MTV, the record took off on the strength of “You Give Love a Bad Name,” followed quickly by 'Livin' on a Prayer' and 'Wanted Dead or Alive.' Those three Top Ten Hits helped propel Slippery When Wet to sales of nine million in the U.S. The trio composed 30 songs in total and auditioned them for local New Jersey and New York teenagers, basing the album's running order on their opinions.

BON JOVI ALBUM PROFESSIONAL

Paul Stanley had given Jon and Richie the phone number of professional songwriter Desmond Child, and together they wrote two of the album's biggest hits in Richie's parents' basement. Before the group entered the studio, though, Bon Jovi replaced Sabo with Richie Sambora, a working guitarist with a long résumé including a stint as a member of Message.īon Jovi released their eponymous debut album in 1984, generating a Top 40 hit with the original version of 'Runaway.' The following year, 7800° Fahrenheit was released and went gold, all serving as a prelude to the band's 1986 breakthrough, Slippery When Wet. 'Runaway' spurred a major-label bidding war, leading to a contract with Polygram/Mercury in 1983. One of those demos, 'Runaway,' became a hit on local New Jersey radio and led to the formation of Bon Jovi the band, as Jon and Bryan were supported by guitarist Dave Sabo, bassist Alec John Such, and drummer Tico Torres.

Jon's cousin Tony Bongiovi owned the celebrated New York recording studio the Power Station and Jon spent many hours there, working as a janitor and recording demos after hours, sometimes supported by members of the E Street Band or Aldo Nova. They slowly peeled away the arena rock guitars of the '80s, occasionally scoring on the adult contemporary charts and sometimes singing country music without ever rejecting hard rock, a move that illustrated how they never abandoned their roots and became second only to Bruce Springsteen in defining the sound and spirit of New Jersey rock & roll.īon Jovi took their name from lead singer Jon Bon Jovi (born Jon Bongiovi), who spent his adolescence playing in local Jersey bands with David Bryan (born David Rashbaum). As the times changed, so did the band's sound.

After ushering in the era of pop-metal with their 1986 blockbuster Slippery When Wet and its hit singles 'You Give Love a Bad Name,' 'Wanted Dead or Alive,' and 'Living on a Prayer,' Bon Jovi wound up transcending theĪfter ushering in the era of pop-metal with their 1986 blockbuster Slippery When Wet and its hit singles 'You Give Love a Bad Name,' 'Wanted Dead or Alive,' and 'Living on a Prayer,' Bon Jovi wound up transcending the big-haired '80s, withstanding changes in style and sound to become one of the biggest American rock bands of their time - selling over 120 million albums worldwide and sustaining their popularity well into the new millennium.

Bon jovi album