Bon Jovi
“Slippery When Wet, a surname on a stadium, and a kitchen that still takes a night of dishes.”
After two modest albums, Jon Bon Jovi and his New Jersey band exploded in 1986 with Slippery When Wet, fusing arena rock with pop hooks. Back-to-back No. 1 singles 'You Give Love a Bad Name' and 'Livin' on a Prayer' made it the best-selling album of 1987 and turned the band into global superstars.
Jersey Beginnings
Born John Francis Bongiovi Jr. in 1962, he idolized hometown heroes like Bruce Springsteen. He was gigging in clubs as a teenager and formed his namesake band in 1983.
Arena-Rock Domination
The 1986 album Slippery When Wet launched 'You Give Love a Bad Name' and 'Livin' on a Prayer' to No. 1. The record topped the charts for eight weeks and became the best-selling album of 1987.
Lasting Power
Bon Jovi reinvented the band repeatedly, scoring a 2000 comeback with 'It's My Life.' The group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018.
Career Timeline
- 1962Born John Francis Bongiovi Jr. in Perth Amboy.
- 1983Runaway. The band takes the name.
- 1986Slippery When Wet.
- 2000It's My Life. The second audience.
- 2013Sambora leaves. The firm continues.
- 2018Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Biggest Hits
- Record executive Derek Shulman anglicized John Bongiovi's surname to 'Bon Jovi' when the band signed in 1983.
- Slippery When Wet was the first glam-metal album to land three Top 10 singles on the Billboard Hot 100.
Portrait: David Shankbone · CC BY 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons