The song Runaway which was written by Jon Bon Jovi and George Karak reached the first place in a radio talent contest in 1983. So Jon became the possibility to sign a recording contract. Coincidentally he founded Bon Jovi in 1983 with Richie Sambora, Alec John Such, Tico Torres, and David Bryan. The self-titled debut album "Bon Jovi" was released in 1984. The single Runaway was the band's first hit and reached #39 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1984.
Fahrenheit and Slippery When Wet (1985–1987)
Bon Jovi's second album 7800° Fahrenheit (1985) had also only moderate success. In fact, every member of the band had lost their girlfriend at the time, they were all heartbroken; those feelings were showing in the songs. Some members, especially Richie, were afraid because they had not put out a hit song since "Runaway".
The band then went to Vancouver to record another album. They lived together while they were recording. In 1986, Bon Jovi's third album Slippery When Wet was released. It brought them some of the band's most successful songs, including You Give Love a Bad Name, Livin' On A Prayer, and Wanted Dead or Alive.
Also involved was Desmond Child, Bruce Fairbairn, and Bob Rock, and Desmond co-wrote some of the songs on the album. "Slippery When Wet" has sold over 28 million copies worldwide. The Slippery When Wet Tour let the band become even more famous in Europe and North America.
New Jersey, Keep the Faith and These Days (1988–1995)
After the enormous success with Slippery When Wet and the following tour, Bon Jovi released their fourth album 1988's New Jersey. It was also successful and contained the hit Bad Medicine and the ballad I'll Be There for You.
Between 1990 and 1992, the band members went their separate ways for a while. Jon Bon Jovi released his first solo album "Blaze of Glory", that served as the soundtrack for the movie Young Guns II. In 1992, Keep the Faith was released. The album signified a music genre change. Bon Jovi turned away from heavy drums and wild guitar solos, and their new sound was lighter and calmer than in the eighties. The piano had a bigger influence now and the lyrics had a different meaning. The song Keep the Faith is about social and religious problems.
The singles Bed of Roses, Keep the Faith and "In These Arms" reached the Top 40 in the United States. In 1994, Bon Jovi's first greatest hits album was released: The Best of Bon Jovi, Cross Road. It includes the hits from 1983 to 1992 and two new songs.
One of them, Always, became one of the most successful songs of Bon Jovi. "Always" is a love song and a power ballad written by Jon Bon Jovi alone. The 1995 album "These Days" was the band's sixth studio album. "This Ain't a Love Song" was the lead single of "These Days" who sold over 11 million copies all around the world.
Crush and Bounce (1996–2002)
From 1995, till, 2000, Bon Jovi had a longer break. The band members focused on solo projects and family. In 2000 the first album after 5 years was released: Crush. The album itself was not as prosperous as Slippery When Wet and Keep The Faith.
However, the hit-single It's my Life became the most successful song of Bon Jovi. It reached the first place in the charts of many countries. The next album was Bounce in 2002. It's was influenced by the September 11 attacks.
The Circle
The Circle was released in 2009. They were on tour in 2010 in places like New Jersey. It consists of songs like We Weren't Born To Follow, Thorn In My Side, and Bullet.
Top 100 (Kent Music Report) peaks to June 12, 1988: Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (Illustrateded.). Sydney: Australian Chart Book. p.41. ISBN0-646-11917-6. N.B. there is a printing error in this book for "You Give Love a Bad Name" - its peak should be 32, not 23. The Kent Music Report chart was licensed by ARIA between mid-1983 and June 12, 1988.
Top 100 (ARIA) peaks from January 1990 to December 2010: Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDFed.). Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p.37.
"This House Is Not for Sale" (ARIA) peak: "CHART WATCH #382". auspOp. August 20, 2016. Archived from the original on September 15, 2016. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
