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Bon Jovi & Jon Bon Jovi Biography
Review The Artist (74)
The Bon Jovi story began in Sayreville, New Jersey. Where Jon and his brothers Matt and Tony were raised by they parents Carol and John Bongiovi (Jon later changed his name). By his early teens, Jon was hanging out at local clubs, convinced that one day he would be a rock star.
The area's local music scene was rocking then and there, with the music of rising stars Bruce Springsteen and Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes leading the pack. "Just like Seattle is hot right now, 20 years ago it was Asbury Park, New Jersey", Jon told writer Rick Petreycik. "That was so close to my backyard, and when you're 13 or 14, or 15 years old, you can't help but hear about it and have it affect you. When you went down to Asbury Park, what was the crummy boardwalk became Americana. What was splintered wood became sacred ground, and you went, 'Ooh, aah'. And those things romanticized the idea, The myth became the legend, and one thing led to another, and I think blind faith is what got me here." That, and a little help from his friends.
By the time he was 16, Jon was playing clubs. It was not long before he hooked up with keyboardist David Bryan (real name: David Brian Rashbaum), who played with him in a ten-piece rhythm and blues band called Atlantic City Expressway. Jon also performed with bands called The Rest, The Lechers and John Bongiovi and the Wild Ones.
Meanwhile, Richie Sambora was also performing locally with a funk and fusion outfit called Extremes, before hooking up with Alec John Such in the band The Message. After The Message broke up, Alec played with Tico Torres in Phantom's Opera.
The members of Bon Jovi hade crossed paths in these early days, but the current lineup didn't come together until March of 1983 after th first Bon Jovi single, "Runaway," had become a minor hit.
In one of those right place/right time/right person scenarios, Jon managed to get a job sweeping floors at a recording studio through a relative. His second cousin, Tony Bongiovi, was a co-owner of the power station in New York City. Jon had written "Runaway," and in 1980, he recorded a demo of the song at his cousin's studio, with back-up by studio musicians whom Tony had hired, including Frankie La Roca, Tim Pierce, Hugh McDonald and Roy Bittan.
A local radio station included "Runaway" on a compilation tape, and the song started getting some serious airplay. The success of "Runaway" got Jon noticed, and he realized that he'd need more than session players if he wanted to capitalize on his success by touring the New York clubs to support the single.
Jon gave Dave a call, who in turn tapped Alec and Tico. A succession of guitarists (including Dave "The Snake" Sabo, who went on to form Skid Row) followed, until finally Richie signed on, and the band came together as a whole. They began gigging around New York in earnest.
At one show, where they opened for Scandal, the band caught the attention of record exec Derek Shulman, who signed them to PolyGram. "With Jon, I felt he had an unbelievable desire to be a star", recalls Shulman. "he had a burning desire to be huge".
PolyGram toyed with the name, throwing out monikers like "Victor" then "Johnny Lightening", before Shulman anglicized John Bongiovi's name to Bon Jovi.
Their self-titled debut came out January 21, 1984. Filled with the group's now-signature power ballads and hooked-filled tunes underscored by soaring guitar riffs and well-crafted melodies, the album went gold (sales of over 500,000).
The album was a rugged soulful collection of songs about how tough it is being a teenager. Buoeyed by the renewed sucess of "Runaway", and backed by the follow-up single "She Don't Know Me".
Bon Jovi releasead their follow-up album, 7800 Farenheit, in April 1985 wich included the hit singles "Only Lonely" and "Silent Night", it sold equally to its predecesor.
Tours opening for the Scorpions, Kiss and Judas Priest had helped Bon jovi build up a considerable fan base which appreciated the band's anthemic songs and powerful stage presence. Clearly, Bon Jovi was poised on the edge of greatness.
Slippery When Wet, the band's third album, provided the break-trough. Powered by songs like "Livin' on a Prayer" and "Wanted Dead or Alive", the LP went gold and platinum simultaneously within six weeks of its six weeks of its release. By April of 1987, Slippery When Wet had sold seven million copies.
The world ate and slept Bon Jovi, they won the American Music Award and People's Choice Awards as Band Of The Year, MTV gave Bon Jovi a Best Performance Award for the video "Livin' on a Prayer".
Jon was asked what all this astronomical success meant, to which he answered, "Everything is bigger, and it moves twice as fast. You're recognized twice as often. This is bigger, the whole world gets bigger. You have to sell more records, be huger. You get smarter and you understand the business a little more, so it's more responsability. You understand it now, and you want to make sure everything goes right".
Instead of traveling by bus, Bon Jovi went from gig to gig in a luxuriously converted Grumman G-I jet. By the time the Slippery Tour finished in Hawaii on October 17, 1987, the album had sold in excess of 14 million copies, putting it in the same league af astronomical successes as Thriller by Michael Jackson. |
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Review about Bon Jovi & Jon Bon Jovi
live eat sleep bon jovi | Reviewer: steph | 11/14/09
ive been a dedicated fan of b j since runaway and have been to their concerts we are taking our 5 children to see them next year we named our eldest son jon as his second name and had a cat called b.j cant stop talking bout next years concert my one big dream would be to meet the band but i would be so nervous i wouldnt know what to say
Bon Jovi plays Moncton | Reviewer: Charlene Sampson | 10/1/09
Just had to say that I waited a very long time to see the Band Bon Jovi. I wasn't dissapointed. The band played all my favorites like "Lay your Hands on Me", Saturday Night, I'll sleep when I'm Dead",and not to forget "Halehulia". Gave me goosebumps. Love Bon Jovi's new single,I wasn't Born to Follow. Cant wait for the new release in November/09. Hope they come to Halifax sometime soon as I missed them here in the early 90's.I will make it a point to see them again and again
Bon jovi is great great great!>>awesome | Reviewer: langhu anal | 8/15/09
my name is thotsung from India,n here's somethin' i wanna tell the world about BON JOVI.>>>>>> HE's reall..really amazing n i wish i were him.(jealous)when i listen 2 his songs i become crazy-like (IAM)(blaze of glory) etc. There's no word to express how much i like him, he is a big...big fan of mine. love him
amazing <3 | Reviewer: laura | 8/2/09
ill be thirteen soon.... and bon jovi is my favorite band ever. i dont like the new songs either (alleyrockerchick) ... i bought a cd for my birthday, and i fell in love with it. now its all i listen to! im not sure if theyre still touring?? but if they are.... someone let me know please!!!!! <3 bon jovi is the best <3
bonjovi you rock 4eva x by lil beth xx | Reviewer: Anonymous | 6/8/09
Bonjovi is soo awsome i love all his songs especially sturday night and its my life. he is sooo cool and has a great voice my dad likes them to and i found his cd when i was 11 and has loved them ever since. i love you bonjovi you rock x
Bon Jovi Is The Air I Breathe | Reviewer: Yamin Thein | 6/3/09
Nothing can beat Bon Jovi.I'm alresdy 17,and I've loved Bon Jovi all my life.Jon and Richie are truly the sexiest men alive.Just a couple of more lines on their faces but they're still so sexy."It's My Life" is the song that will be in everyone's hearts forever.They're the true meaning of rock and roll.BON JOVI FOREVER.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Keep the Faith | Reviewer: Amanda | 5/20/09
I'm 29 from B-ham,AL and I have been a fan of the group Bon Jovi for the better part of 25yrs. My Mother was a fan she was the one who turned me on to them. She was killed in "88" just before my 8th birthday. Through the years I have still stayed a true Bon Jovi fan there is one song that when I get to feeling down I pop it in the stereo and it makes me think of her and smile,it's the song "THANKYOU FOR LOVIN ME" I know it's a newer song but there was one day about 4yrs ago I had gone by the cemetery to visit her and I was down and it was like she put the words in my mind to get the cd out and listen to that song cause all the sudden the words came out of my mouth from no where I said "Momma thankyou for loving me" and this cool breeze came through the car window and I could smell her perfume she wore chanel but the way it mixed with her own sent was different from any one else. So I put the song in and played it before I drove away and it made me feel alot better. Ever since then that has been the words I say before I walk away from her grave "Thankyou for loving me",so in a way even though she's not here I know like me she's still a Bon Jovi fan. So to the group Bon Jovi thankyou for loving your fans enough to put songs out there such as that one because it's like therapy for the heart and soul.
huck | Reviewer: c.donnelly | 4/20/09
jon you have to be sexisty man alive ,please keep on performing, people out there need to hear your music ,specially our younger generation.and love your songs ,in these arms,be of roses, i'll be there for you.
BON JOVI is GREAT and unbelievable | Reviewer: Mia | 4/15/09
For all the age like me,I am 12,in the first year high school,I'm doing a report for him.HE'S really really great..and I'm jealous...!he's handsome,masculine and he's a true man(not like the others masculine but gayz!!i like he's song always,miracle,and bad medicine.WE ALL LOVE HIM!!
please help my dad please read this | Reviewer: sky proctor | 3/29/09
my name is sky proctor i am a 13 yr old girl life has been very dificul for my dad lateliy we just found out that my grandmar is dieing and its taring my dad apart i no in life these things happen and we need to moiov on but our family is being pulled apart my dad loved bonjovi from the moment he brought the slipry when wet album if any1 has johns email send it to me please this is realy important to me i no its alot to ask for but i am putting my heart and soal into this for my dad please all i want is for john to send a little camera not to my dad saying russell proctor form qld australia everything will work out please help me
mt email is PRINSESS_SKY@hotmail.com
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