Bon Jovi is an American rock band from Sayreville, New Jersey. Formed in 1983, Bon Jovi consists of lead singer and namesake Jon Bon Jovi (born John Francis Bongiovi, Jr.), pianist and keyboard player David Bryan, and drummer Tico Torres. The band's lineup has remained mostly static during its history, with the only exceptions being the 1994 dismissal of bass player Alec John Such, who was unofficially replaced by Hugh McDonald, and the departure of longtime guitarist and co-songwriter Richie Sambora in 2013. In 1986, Bon Jovi achieved widespread global recognition with their third album, Slippery When Wet. The band's fourth album, New Jersey was equally successful in 1988. After touring and recording non-stop during the late 1980s, the band went on hiatus following the New Jersey Tour in 1990, during which time Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora both released successful solo albums. In 1992, the band returned with the album Keep the Faith. Their 2000 single "It's My Life", which followed a second hiatus, successfully introduced the band to a younger audience. Bon Jovi have been known to use different styles in their music, which has included country for their 2007 album Lost Highway. On March 12, 2013, Bon Jovi released their 12th studio album, What About Now.
This far, Bon Jovi has released 12 studio albums, plus two compilations and two live albums. They are one of the world’s best-selling bands of all time, having sold more than 100 million records worldwide and performed more than 2,700 concerts in over 50 countries for more than 34 million fans. Bon Jovi was inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2006. The band was also honored with the Award of Merit at the American Music Awards in 2004, and as songwriters and collaborators, Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora were inducted into Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2009.
Musical Style
Bon Jovi's musical style has generally been characterized as 'hard rock', 'pop/hair metal', 'arena rock' and 'pop rock', although they have also experimented and varied from these genres at times.
The band's first four albums blended the pop metal and hard rock genres, although they had mostly shed the pop metal sound by their fifth studio album, Keep the Faith, and their sixth, These Days, utilizing a more mature hard rock sound. Crush was characterized as "far enough into pop/rock to actually stand a chance of getting airplay", while Bounce was described as "heavy, serious rock". Have a Nice Day was also characterized as being heavier than Crush.
The band altered their sound dramatically in their next release, Lost Highway, blending influences from country music and country rock, a sound Jon Bon Jovi described as "a Bon Jovi album influenced by Nashville". Bon Jovi returned to a more typical rock sound on The Circle, which was described by Allmusic as "conjured by echoed, delayed guitars, shimmering keyboards, and spacious rhythms."
Some of the band's influences are Bruce Springsteen, The Rolling Stones, Aerosmith, Van Halen, The Beatles, Tom Petty and The Animals.
Band Members
Awards
American Music Awards
2004
Won Award of Merit
1988
Won American Music Award
category Favorite Pop/Rock Band, Duo or Group
Bambi Awards
2007
Won Bambi Award
category Music International
Billboard Music Awards
2014
Won Billboard Music Award
category Top Touring Artist
Brit Awards
1996
Won Brit Award
category Best International Group
CMT Music Awards
2008
Won CMT Music Award
category Collaborative Video of the Year for "Till We Ain't Strangers Anymore"
2006
Won CMT Music Award
category Collaborative Video of the Year for "Who Says You Can't Go Home"
Grammy Awards
2007
Won Grammy Award
category Best Country Collaboration with Vocals for "Who Says You Can't Go Home"
MTV Europe Music Awards
1995
Won MTV Europe Music Award
category Best Rock Act
MTV Video Music Awards
1991
Won Video Vanguard Award
1987
Won MTV Video Music Award
category Best Stage Performance for "Livin' On A Prayer"
My VH1 Music Awards
2001
Won My VH1 Music Award
category Hottest Live Show
People's Choice Awards, USA
2007
Won People's Choice Award
category Favorite Rock Song for "Who Says You Can't Go Home"
World Music Awards
2005
Won World Music Diamond Award
This far, Bon Jovi has released 12 studio albums, plus two compilations and two live albums. They are one of the world’s best-selling bands of all time, having sold more than 100 million records worldwide and performed more than 2,700 concerts in over 50 countries for more than 34 million fans. Bon Jovi was inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2006. The band was also honored with the Award of Merit at the American Music Awards in 2004, and as songwriters and collaborators, Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora were inducted into Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2009.
Musical Style
Bon Jovi's musical style has generally been characterized as 'hard rock', 'pop/hair metal', 'arena rock' and 'pop rock', although they have also experimented and varied from these genres at times.
The band's first four albums blended the pop metal and hard rock genres, although they had mostly shed the pop metal sound by their fifth studio album, Keep the Faith, and their sixth, These Days, utilizing a more mature hard rock sound. Crush was characterized as "far enough into pop/rock to actually stand a chance of getting airplay", while Bounce was described as "heavy, serious rock". Have a Nice Day was also characterized as being heavier than Crush.
The band altered their sound dramatically in their next release, Lost Highway, blending influences from country music and country rock, a sound Jon Bon Jovi described as "a Bon Jovi album influenced by Nashville". Bon Jovi returned to a more typical rock sound on The Circle, which was described by Allmusic as "conjured by echoed, delayed guitars, shimmering keyboards, and spacious rhythms."
Some of the band's influences are Bruce Springsteen, The Rolling Stones, Aerosmith, Van Halen, The Beatles, Tom Petty and The Animals.
Band Members
- Jon Bon Jovi – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, acoustic guitar (1983–present)
- David Bryan – keyboards, piano, backing vocals (1983–present)
- Tico Torres – drums, percussion (1983–present)
- Hugh McDonald – bass, backing vocals (1994–present)
- Phil X – lead guitar, backing vocals (2013–present; touring member 2011–2013)
- Richie Sambora – lead guitar, talkbox, backing vocals (1983–2013)
- Dave Sabo – lead guitar, backing vocals (1983)
- Alec John Such – bass, backing vocals (1983–1994, one-off show in 2001)
- Bobby Bandiera – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (2005–present)
- Rich Scannella – drums, percussion (2013)
- Lorenza Ponce – viola, backing vocals (2005–2009)
Awards
American Music Awards
2004
Won Award of Merit
1988
Won American Music Award
category Favorite Pop/Rock Band, Duo or Group
Bambi Awards
2007
Won Bambi Award
category Music International
Billboard Music Awards
2014
Won Billboard Music Award
category Top Touring Artist
Brit Awards
1996
Won Brit Award
category Best International Group
CMT Music Awards
2008
Won CMT Music Award
category Collaborative Video of the Year for "Till We Ain't Strangers Anymore"
2006
Won CMT Music Award
category Collaborative Video of the Year for "Who Says You Can't Go Home"
Grammy Awards
2007
Won Grammy Award
category Best Country Collaboration with Vocals for "Who Says You Can't Go Home"
MTV Europe Music Awards
1995
Won MTV Europe Music Award
category Best Rock Act
MTV Video Music Awards
1991
Won Video Vanguard Award
1987
Won MTV Video Music Award
category Best Stage Performance for "Livin' On A Prayer"
My VH1 Music Awards
2001
Won My VH1 Music Award
category Hottest Live Show
People's Choice Awards, USA
2007
Won People's Choice Award
category Favorite Rock Song for "Who Says You Can't Go Home"
World Music Awards
2005
Won World Music Diamond Award