Bon Jovi
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Tagged as one of the popular Rock Band worldwide, Bon Jovi produced several hit singles and albums including their biggest one, Slippery When Wet which is a Certified 12x Platinum.
Contents |
About
Bon Jovi was formed by "Jon Bongiovi". At the age of thirteen, Jon already plays piano and guitar. At that same age, he became a member of the band name, "Raze". He studied in an all-boy Catholic School St. Joseph High School in Metuchen, New Jersey. Bon met "David Ryan" at the age of 16. The two became a member if a 12-piece cover band called "Atlantic City Expressway". They played at New Jersey clubs, even though they were still minors. In 1982, after he graduated from college, he took his first job at the Power Station Studios where his cousin, "Tony Bongiovi” was part of the owner. Bon has sent several demo tapes to several producers but failed to impress them. He was helped out by a number of famous local faces including members of Bruce Springsteen's "EStreet Band.”
Bon visited the local radio station WAPP 103.5FM at New York in 1983. He gave one of his demos, "Runaway" to them and immediately they picked it up and aired in to the listerner. Other radio stations picked up the song and began airing it. Suddenly, the record labels that had passed on the demo were scrambling to find out whom this unsigned artist was. Bon formed a band named The Wild Ones with "David Ryan". They recruited "Alec John Such" on bass, "Dave Sabo" on guitar and "Tico Torres" on drums. After they signed a recording contract, Dave left the band. He was replaced by, "Richie Sambora" Jon was persuaded that the demo sample, "Runaway" has been released under his name. The band was confused and lose them ground. Immediately, Bon had a compromised and changed the band's name to Bon Jovi.
In January 21, 1984, the band's self-titled debut album was released. It features the singles, "Runaway" which chartered at #13 on the US Rock Chart and "She Don't Know Me" landed at #29 at the US Rock Chart. The album is a certified 2x Platinum. Their second album, 7800°Fahrenheit was released in 1985. It issued the singles, "Hardest Part is The Night" and "In and Out of Love". The album is certified Platinum.
Their third album, Slippery When Wet became the biggest break of the band. It was released in August 1986. The album has spawned hit singles such as, "You Give Love a Bad Name" reaching #1 at the US Hot 100 and #9 at the US Rock Charts, "Wanted Dead or Alive" landed #7 at US Hot 100 and "Livin' On A Prayer" reaching #1 at both US Hot 100 and US Rock Charts. The album sold 26 million copies worldwide and a Certified 12x Platinum.
Their next hit album, New Jersey was released in 1988. The album became the first hard rock album to issued five Top Ten singles such us, "Bad Medicine" and ""I'll Be There for You" both are #1 at the US Rock Chart. Other top 5 singles include, ""Born to Be My Baby" landed at #3, " "Lay Your Hands on Me" #7 and "Living in Sin" #9 at the US Rock Charts. The album has sold 18 million copies worldwide and a certified 7x Platinum.
The group when separate ways between 1990 and 1992 to think about their next album while Jon pursue a while his solo career. They returned in 1992 and released their next album, Keep The Faith. The album spawned the singles, "Bed of Roses", "Keep The Faith" and "In These Arms". They all hit the Top 40 US Chart. It became a certified 2X Platinum. In 1994, they released their compilation album entitled, Cross Road. Included in this compilations are two new tracks, "Always" and "Someday I'll Be Saturday Night". The song "Always" spent 32 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100. It also chartered at #4 on the US Singles Chart and #1 in Europe, Australia and Asia. It became one of the band's biggest hits. After the released, Alec left the band, which was replaced by, "Hugh McDonald".
Their next studio album, These Days was released in 1995. It spawned only one hit single, "This Ain't A Love Song". Nevertheless, the album is a Certified Platinum and topped the UK Charts. The album sold over 20 million copies worldwide. After their album tour, the band decided to take a break again and pursue other interest. Some of the members released their solo albums. Jon went into acting.
After three years of absence, the group decided reunited in 1999 to record the song, "Real Life" which was included in the movie entitled EdTV. They released their next album, Crush in 2000. It issued hit singles such as, "It's My Life" which chartered #5 at the US Rock Chart and "Thank You For Loving Me". It became one of their most successful studio albums. The album is a Certified 2x Platinum. While they are on tour, the released their first live album, One Wild Night: Live 1985-2001 in May 2002.
In 2002, they issued their next album, Bounce. It spawned only two hit singles, "Everyday" and "Bounce". In November 2003, their next album, This Left Feels Right was released. Their ninth studio album, Have A Nice Day was released in September 2005 which reached chart toppers worldwide. It sold 202,000 copies on its first week alone. It produced the single, "Who Says You Can't Go Home".
Their latest and tenth studio album, Lost Highway was released last June 2007 and debuted #1 on the Billboard Charts. The album sold 292,000 copies on its first week alone and became their third US number one album. It issued the singles, ""(You Want to) Make a Memory" which debuted #27 in the Billboard Hot 100. The album is also number one in several countries such as Japan, Canada, Australia and Europe.
Awards & Certifications
| Year | Award | Category |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | MTV Video Music Awards | Best Stage Performance |
| 1988 | American Music Award | Favorite Pop/Rock Band, Duo or Group |
| 1991 | MTV | MTV Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award |
| 1995 | World Music Awards | Best Selling Rock Band Of The Year |
| 1995 | MTV Europe Music Awards | Best Rock |
| 1996 | BRIT Awards | Best International Band |
| 2001 | My VH1 Music Awards | Video Of The Year for "It's My Life" |
| 2002 | My VH1 Music Awards | Hottest Live Show |
| 2004 | American Music Award | Award of Merit |
| 2005 | World Music Awards | Chopard Diamond Award for "selling 100 million albums" |
| 2006 | CMT Music Awards | Best Collaborative Video for "Who Says You Can't Go Home" |
| 2007 | People's Choice Awards | Best Rock Song for "Who Says You Can't Go Home" |
| 2007 | Grammy Awards | Best Country Collaboration for "Who Says You Can't Go Home" |
Certifications
| Year | Album | RIAA Certification |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Bon Jovi | Certified 2x Platinum |
| 1985 | 7800° Fahrenheit | Platinum |
| 1986 | Slippery When Wet | Certified 12x Platinum |
| 1988 | New Jersey | Certified 7x Platinum |
| 1992 | Keep The Faith | Certified 2x Platinum |
| 1995 | These Days | Platinum |
| 2000 | Crush | Certified 2x Platinum |
| 2002 | Bounce | Gold |
| 2005 | Have A Nice Day | Platinum |
| 2007 | Lost Highway | Gold |
Chart Toppers
Singles
| Year | Title | US Hot 100 | US Rock | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Runaway | 39 | 18 | Bon Jovi |
| 1984 | She Don't Know Me | 48 | 29 | Bon Jovi |
| 1985 | In and Out of Love | 69 | 37 | 7800°Fahrenheit |
| 1986 | You Give Love a Bad Name | 1 | 9 | Slippery When Wet |
| 1986 | Wanted Dead or Alive | 7 | 13 | Slippery When Wet |
| 1986 | Livin' On A Prayer | 1 | 1 | Slippery When Wet |
| 1987 | Bad Medicine | 1 | 3 | New Jersey |
| 1988 | Born To Be My Baby | 3 | 7 | New Jersey |
| 1987 | I'll Be There For You | 1 | 5 | New Jersey |
| 1989 | Living in Sin | 9 | 37 | New Jersey |
| 1992 | Keep The Faith | 29 | 1 | Keep The Faith |
| 1992 | Bed of Roses | 10 | 25 | Keep The Faith |
| 1994 | Cross Road | 4 | 3 | Cross Road |
| 1994 | This Ain't a Love Song | 14 | 5 | Cross Road |
| 1999 | It's My Life | 33 | 5 | Crush |
| 2005 | Who Says You Can't Go Home | 23 | - | Have A Nice Day |
Albums
| Year | US Album Chart | UK Album Chart | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | 43 | 71 | Bon Jovi |
| 1985 | 37 | 28 | 7800°Fahrenheit |
| 1986 | 1 | 6 | Slippery When Wet |
| 1987 | 1 | 3 | New Jersey |
| 1992 | 5 | 1 | Keep The Faith |
| 1995 | 9 | 1 | These Days |
| 2000 | 9 | 1 | Crush |
| 2002 | 2 | 2 | Bounce |
| 2005 | 2 | 2 | Have A Nice Day |
| 2007 | 1 | 2 | Lost Highway |
News
Tours & Concerts
Oct 25, 2007 Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey United States
Oct 26, 2007 Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey United States
Oct 28, 2007 Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey United States
Oct 30, 2007 Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey United States
Nov 01, 2007 Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey United States
Nov 03, 2007 Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey United States
Nov 04, 2007 Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey United States
Nov 07, 2007 Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey United States
Nov 09, 2007 Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey United States
Nov 10, 2007 Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey United States
Announcements
There are no announcements as of this time
Discography
Albums
 January 1984 Jambco |
 April 1985 Mercury |
 August 1986 Mercury |
 September 1988 Jambco |
 November 1992 Jambco |
 1995 Mercury |
 June 13, 2000 Island |
 October 8, 2002 Def Jam |
 November 4, 2003 Island |
 September 20, 2005 Island |
 June 19, 2007 Island |
Singles
| Date | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Runaway | Jambco |
| 1984 | She Don't Know Me | Jambco |
| 1985 | In and Out of Love | Mercury |
| 1986 | You Give Love A Bad Name | Mercury |
| 1986 | Wanted Dead or Alive | Mercury |
| 1986 | Livin on A Prayer | Mercury |
| 1988 | Born To Be My Baby | Jambco |
| 1988 | I'll Be There For You | Jambco |
| 1992 | Keep The Faith | Jambco |
| 1992 | Bed of Roses | Jambco |
| 2000 | Say It Isn't So | Island |
| 2000 | Thank You For Loving Me | Island |
| 2002 | Everyday | Def Jam |
| 2002 | Misunderstood | Def Jam |
| 2002 | All About Lovin You | Def Jam |
| 2003 | Bounce | Def Jam |
| 2005 | Have A Nice Day | Island |
| 2007 | Lost Highway | Island |
Compilations & Live Releases
 December 2, 1991 Alex |
 October 4, 1994 Mercury |
 May 23, 2000 Mercury |
 May 22, 2001 Island |
 November 3, 2003 Universal |
 October 27, 2003 Universal |
 May 20, 2003 Island |
 November 16, 2004 Island |
 February 21, 2006 Chrome Dreams |
 March 28, 2006 Mercury |
February 19, 2007 Music Club |
August 7, 2007 Classic Rock Legends |
Augsut 28, 2007 UMVD |
Other artists
Similar artists
Contemporaries
Influences
Trivia
- Bon Jovi became the first Rock & Roll Band to have a #1 hit on Billboard's Hot Country Chart.
- On November 14, 2006, Bon Jovi were inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame alongside James Brown and Led Zeppelin, joining music legends such as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, U2, Madonna and Elvis Presley.
- Jon Bon Jovi's "patchwork" coat, worn during the New Jersey Tour, designed by legendary stage clothing designer, Ray Brown, is on display at the Smithsonian Institute.
