Bon Jovi's main success was in the 1980's, the era of pretty-boy pop-rock, big hair and big ballads. Their success has endured into the new millenium, despite changing tastes, thanks to Jon Bon Jovi's keen knack for an anthemic hook.

Jon Bongiovi had started playing music and performing in bands when he was at school. When he left school he worked at his cousin's recording studios and took the opportunity to record some of his own demos. It was when he convinced a local radio station to include the song 'Runaway' on its compilation album of homegrown talent that good things began to happen. Jon pulled a band together (Dave Bryan/Rashbaum (keyboard), Alec Such (bass) Richie Sambora (lead guitar) and Tico Torres (drums)) in order to showcase the songs which were now being eyed by circling record companies.

The result was the debut Bon Jovi which was released in 1984, followed in 1985 by 7800° Fahrenheit, though the second performed less well than the first. However, when the third album Slippery When Wet was released in 1986, the tide turned forever in Bon Jovi's favour. The album sold over 26 million copies worldwide and contained seminal hits "Livin' on a Prayer" and "You Give Love a Bad Name".

Hard on the heels of the success of Slippery... came New Jersey (1988). With this album they proved they were capable of continuing their success. Further well known hits were included such as "Bad Medicine" and "I'll Be There for You". By this time they were headlining at rock festivals and touring extensively. All that touring began to have an effect and by the early 90s the band took a break in order to re-gather their strength and stomach for the job.

Jon, Dave and Richie each undertook solo projects during this time and returned to the studio in 1992, refreshed and ready to record Keep the Faith. It was around this time that Such left, being unofficially replaced by Hugh McDonald.

In 1995 the band released These Days, a slightly darker album that was well received. The album sold well enough, going platinum in the US. At the end of the tour for this album the band took more time out.

2000 saw the release of Crush and, in 2002, Bounce appeared. The band's style was evolving and they managed to maintain their momentum and gain new fans all the time. The This Left Feels Right project was released in 2003 and with this album they took the opportunity to re-work a lot of their old hits in an acoustic vein.

2005 found them releasing their ninth studio album which sold 202,000 copies in its first week alone, a high spot of their career to date. Lost Highway, a more country flavored effort, was released in 2007 and topped the previous best, selling 292,000 copies in the first week.